List of Roman Catholic Church musicians

List of Roman Catholic Church musicians is a list of people who perform or compose Catholic music, a branch of Christian music. Names should be limited to those whose Catholicism affected their music and should preferably only include those musicians whose works have been performed liturgically in a Catholic service, or who perform specifically in a Catholic religious context.

Traditional and hymnal

*Giovenale Ancina, Beatified writer of spiritual songs.
*Thoinot Arbeau, Catholic priest who composed the originally secular Ding Dong Merrily on High.
*Jean de Brébeuf(Canonized Jesuit) who composed the Huron Carol.
*William Byrd, who was active (although somewhat underground in matters of faith) in Protestant England under Elizabeth I.
*Hermannus Contractus, the Alma Redemptoris Mater said to have been written by him.
*Tommaso da Celano, Dies Irae
*Guillaume Dufay, worked for the Papal chapel.
*Frederick William Faber-Catholic convert who wrote Catholic hymns like "Faith of Our Fathers." [ [http://www.webedelic.com/church/faithoft.htm Faith of Our Fathers - Text Only ] ]
*Jacobus Gallus, Slovenian composer of sacred music and member of the Cistercians.
*Hucbald, ninth century Benedictine composer and music theorist.
*Luca Marenzio, Madrigale spirituale
*Domenico Mustafà, Castrato composer for the Sistine Chapel choir.
*Frederick Oakeley, convert who translated Adeste Fideles
*Paul the Deacon, Benedictine who wrote Ut queant laxis.
*Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, "a tremendous influence on the development of Roman Catholic church music."
*Thomas Tallis, "The earliest works by Tallis that survive are devotional antiphons to the Virgin Mary."
*Tomás Luis de Victoria, numerous religious works and was a priest at Descalzas Reales. [ [http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Victoria.html Icking Music Archive] ]
*Samuel Webbe, English composer of Catholic hymns.

=Classical composers who composed Catholic sacred music=

Note: The term "classical music" has been used broadly to describe many eras which do not fit the label. Initially the term specifically meant 1730-1820 (the Classical period), but for this list the period from the Baroque period to the modern era will be included in this section. This is because Renaissance and especially Medieval music tends to be dominated, in the West, by Catholic religious music.

*Ludwig van Beethoven, Missa Solemnis etc
*Paolo Agostino, all his surviving works are religious.
*Mateo Albéniz, Spanish composer and priest.
*Vittoria Aleotti, A nun who was perhaps the first woman to compose sacred music.
*Caterina Assandra, Benedictine nun and composer.
*František Brixi, He wrote some 290 church compositions and was Kapellmeister of St. Vitus Cathedral.
*Severo Bonini, Benedictine and Baroque composer of sacred music.
* Anton Bruckner, Austrian composer who wrote Masses and motets
*Francesca Caccini, some motets.
*Luigi Cherubini, 11 masses [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03648a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] ]
*Edward Elgar, composer whose The Dream of Gerontius is based on a poem by Cardinal Newman
*Gabriel Fauré, composer of a 19th century requiem.
*Cesar Franck, composer of "Panis Angelicus"
*Christoph Willibald Gluck, Knighted by Pope Benedict XIV.
*Charles Gounod, French composer whose religious music includes an Ave Maria and Inno e Marcia Pontificale. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06683b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] ]
*Henryk Górecki - Polish composer who composes religious music. [ [http://ctr.concordia.ca/archives/is191198/art1.html Concordia's Thursday Report____________November 19, 1998 ] ]
*Pietro Guglielmi, In 1793 he became maestro di cappella at St Peter's, Rome.
*Joseph Haydn, 14 Masses, 2 Te Deums and a Stabat Mater. The Catholic Encyclopedia [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07158b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] ] is positive on him, but Pope Pius X was critical.
*Franz Liszt, became a Franciscan and composed some religious themed works. [ [http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Liszt%2C_Franz IMSLP] ]
*Antonio Lotti, Made his career at St Mark's Basilica and composed numerous Masses.
*Olivier Messiaen, "Many of his compositions depict what he termed 'the marvellous aspects of the faith', drawing on his unshakeable Roman Catholicism."
*Claudio Monteverdi, Composed "Vespro della Beata Vergine 1610" (Vespers for the Blessed Virgin) and was ordained in 1633 [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10538a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] ]
*Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - A Regina Coeli and several masses.
*Don Lorenzo Perosi, Catholic priest and Director of the Sistine Choir under five Popes. [ [http://www.seattlecatholic.com/a051130.html Seattle Catholic.com] ]
*Georg Reutter, church composer.
*Josef Rheinberger, twelve Masses and a Stabat Mater. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13018d.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] ]
*Gioacchino Rossini, Stabat Maters and a requiem.
*Franz Schubert, Several religious works and masses
*Antonio Salieri, Ten hymns, nine psalms, and more.
*Antonio Soler, Spanish priest and composer. [ [http://www.naxos.com/composer/soler.htm Naxos] ]
*Giuseppe Verdi, a few religious works with his Requiem the most noted.
*Antonio Vivaldi, called "The Red Priest" because of his hair. His religious music includes several large choral works (such as the Gloria), small solo motets, and hymnals "con instrumenti".
*Carl Maria von Weber, Popular Catholic religious works in the nineteenth century.
*Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli, was appointed choir master of the Sistine Chapel in 1804.

Roman School

The Roman School is a group of composers strongly linked to the Vatican and the Council of Trent. Many of them were, or became, priests. Although much of their work is too early to be mentioned here it did survive into the early Baroque. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina is generally seen as the most famous member. As a list of members is in the article on the subject, repetition of names in it should be normally avoided. Although Palestrina is notable enough to be in both.

21st Century Classical School

There is a small but growing school of church composers, favoring a return to Catholic music that can be called "classical," writing original organ, choral, and vocal music that is often based on Gregorian chant. Leonardo Ciampa has composed three organ symphonies and numerous Masses based on Gregorian chant, somewhat in the style of the above-mentioned Perosi.

Twentieth century and contemporary music

Popular composers and artists

Contemporary Catholic music takes many forms, from rock to folk. The genre of music, although not as popular as evangelical Christian music, is continuing to grow.

Contemporary Catholic musicians tend toward two main forms of expression: liturgical and non-liturgical. In a liturgical context, music is performed in a manner intended to heighten the spiritual atmosphere of a liturgical service, such as during Sunday mass, Eucharistic adoration or Stations of the Cross. The non-liturgical context, though very much worshipful, usually takes the form of a concert without the presence of a liturgical service. Non-liturgical settings are mainly focused on building Christian fellowship within Catholic communities. Non-liturgical artists find the opportunity to uniquely share their faith through their personal lyrics, and directly to audiences between songs. Though Catholic musicians tend toward one expression over the other, many will minister within both expressions with the appropriate music styles.

The following popular composers and performers are of note:

"Liturgical Artists"

*John McCormack- sang for an International Eucharistic Congress and declared a Count by Pope Pius XI.
*James MacMillan - contemporary Scottish Composer
*Nicola Montani - compiled "The St. Gregory Hymnal"
*Oddwalk Ministries (Shannon Cerneka and Orin Johnson) - contemporary American composers
*Seán Ó Riada - composed several Irish language Masses
*Dana Scallon - devoutly Catholic Northern Irish singer currently based in USA
*John Michael Talbot - Contemporary Catholic musician who won acclaim in Contemporary Christian music circles.
*Don Kalkhorst - [ Contemporary Catholic and Christian Music] wrote Break Down The Walls for Promise Keepers

"Non-liturgical Artists"

Note: The Unity Awards began in 2001 with the intent of being a Catholic specific equivalent to the GMA Dove Awards. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67048105.html Washington Times by way of Highbeam] ] In certain cases the following mentions winners of this award.

*Michael Zabrocki - Catholic Recording Artist, Composer Vocalist
*Ceili Rain - Celtic/Pop-Rock with Catholic themes, heavily honored by the Unity Awards [ [http://www.spiritandsong.com/artists/ceilirain Spirit and Song] ] [ [http://www.ceilirain.com/main_content.html Ceili Rain's website] ]
*Cheer Up Charlie - Catholic industrial rock/rap (Florida). They won a Unity Award for Modern Rock / Alternative Album of the Year [ [http://CheerUpCharlie.com Cheer Up Charlie website] ] [ [http://www.ucmva.com/ucmva2/webpages/2006/awards/recipients/recipients2006listing_print.htm Unity Awards for 2006] ]
*CRISPIN - Catholic/Christian funk (Texas). [ [http://www.CrispinMusic.org Crispin] ]
*Critical Mass - Critically acclaimed Canadian rock band, winners of numerous awards, including two Canadian Gospel Music Association Awards for Best Rock Album. Performed for Pope John Paul II in Toronto in 2002.
*Dana - "Songwriter of the Year" and "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the Unity Awards in 2004. [ [http://www.ucmva.com/ucmva2/webpages/2004/awards/recipients/recipients2004listing_print.htm Unity Awards for 2004] ] [ [http://www.dana-music.com/ Dana] ]
*Stan Fortuna - Catholic jazz and hip hop
*Fred-D - Catholic "underground" rap (California) [ [http://sevensorrows.com/fredd/ Fred-D] ]
*Matt Maher
*James MacMillan - contemporary Scottish Composer
*manuel3 - Catholic soul/funk (Ill.) [ [http://manuel3.com Manuel3] ]
*Tony Meléndez - An armless Christian guitarist who was Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2004 Unity Awards [ [http://www.ucmva.com/ucmva2/webpages/2004/awards/recipients/recipients2004listing_print.htm Unity Awards for 2004] ] and performed for Pope John Paul II.
*Aaron Neville - Praise & Worship Album of the Year by the Catholic Unity Awards (2006. [ [http://www.ucmva.com/ucmva2/webpages/2006/awards/recipients/recipients2006listing_print.htm Unity Awards 2006] ]
*Oaks of Justice - Catholic/Christian fusion rock (California) [ [http://OaksofJustice.com Oaks of Justice] ]
*Oremus Catholic Rock [ [http://www.oremusmusic.net Oremusmusic.net] ]
*Outer Fringe - Catholic punk rock [ [http://www.outerfringe.net outerfringe.net] ]
*Pierced - Catholic hard rock (Louisianna) [ [http://PiercedJam.com Pierced] ]
*Point 5 Covenant - Catholic hip-hop (Texas) [ [http://Point5Covenant.com Point 5 Covenant] ]
*Katrina Rae - Evangelist, for Catholicism, and a founding member of the Catholic Association of Music [ [http://www.katrinarae.com/aboutus.html Katrina Rae's website] ]
*Remnant - Catholic hard rock (Texas) [ [http://RemnantBand.com Remnant] ]
*Seán Ó Riada - composed several Irish language Masses
*Righteous-B - Catholic hip-hop (Texas), won several Unity Awards. [ [http://www.RighteousB.com Righteous-B's website] : Also mentioned at Unity Awards site]
*Rise - Catholic rock [ [http://www.risefan.com Rise Fan.com] ]
*Padre Marcelo Rossi
*Dana Scallon - devoutly Catholic Northern Irish singer currently based in USA
*Seven Sorrows - Catholic hard rock/heavy metal (California) [ [http://SevenSorrows.com Seven Sorrows] ]
*John Michael Talbot - Contemporary Catholic musician who won acclaim inContemporary Christian music circles.
*Mary Lou Williams - Catholic jazz in the 1970s
*Notker Wolf - Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation played for a Christian rock group.
*Joe Tritz - Catholic Rock

Liturgical music

: "Main article: Contemporary Catholic liturgical music"

Many composers have contributed to the distinct sound of contemporary Catholic liturgical music, including Marty Haugen, Dan Schutte, and the St. Louis Jesuits. For more details, see Contemporary Catholic liturgical music. The trend has turned to pieces based on Gregorian chant, and liturgical projects like the Chabanel Psalms have now come to the forefront.

ee also

*List of Roman Catholic Church artists
*List of Anglican church composers

Web sources

External links

* [http://www.cammusic.com/ Catholic Association of Musicians]
* [http://www.catholicmusicnetwork.com/ Catholic Music Network]
*
* [http://oddwalkministries.com Oddwalk Ministries]
* [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/sacmus/index.htm Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music]
* [http://www.ucmva.com/ United Catholic Music and Video Association]
* [http://www.chabanelpsalms.org/ The Entire Liturgical Year in Responsorial Psalms]