Daily Archives: November 5, 2007

Incense

Here’s a good incense source from NLM.

Take particular note of the first comment. The charcoal used is critical. Many people (and choirs in masse) are under the impression that they are allergic to incense. Some of them actually are—but most are not. Rather, they have a reaction to bad charcoal! The self-lighting stuff will work in a pinch, but should not be used for a proper liturgy. Smokey Mary’s smoke room has an electric table-top burner on which they light up regular briquettes of Kingsford to stoke the thuribles there. I’d even go the extra step and get natural, less-processed charcoal. This can be obtained rather easily at places like Whole Foods.

All the hypoallergenic incense in the world will not help if you are burning it on bad charcoal…

Office Music Posts

In lieu of substantive content, I’ll point you to those who have it…

bls has discovered a cool music search tool and has been busily putting it to work. Here’s a first post on Office Hymns and mp3s; here’s a second.

On bls’s topic—the search for tunes that fit the Office Hymn texts—I’ve been intending for a while now to scan and post the hymnal of the Order of Julian of Norwich; Fr. John-Julian created a number of fresh translations and adaptations of the classical material and fit them to traditional tunes in square notation chant. Unfortunately, every time I think I have time to start on it something else intervenes…

Fr. Chris offers up a good review of this attractive—yet pricey—book.

Maybe if we beg nicely, Scott and others will add their wisdom to this topic as well…