Gregorian Chant, conversion and a composer’s journey to both
August 14, 2025 at 12:37 p.m.
In Catholic liturgical music, Gregorian chant “should be given pride of place,” said composer Dr. Carly York, quoting Sacram Musicam, an instruction on Roman Catholic sacred music.
Dr. Carly York
Dr. York, principal cantor in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, and manager of education and operations for the American Classical Orchestra in New York City, has brought her love of centuries old plainchant to life with the release of her second Gregorian Chant EP, “Glorious Mystery.”
Scheduled for release Aug. 14, the Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption, the album comprises four ancient Marian hymns and two contrasting versions of the Magnificat and is connected to Dr. York’s personal conversion story – from her Baptist upbringing to the Catholic faith and a new understanding of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Conversion through music
Dr. York recalled, “My conversion began with my deep love of early music. As a college student, I became a fan of Gregorian chant, the Renaissance polyphony of Josquin des Prez and Palistrina, and the Baroque music of Vivaldi – and it was all Catholic!
“I went to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. to get a masters in liturgical music, thinking that it would help me be a Protestant music director at either an Anglican or Presbyterian church. However, I was introduced to the theology of Catholicism, specifically the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and my beliefs started to change.”
After years of traveling and working as a music teacher at both international and private schools, Dr. York ended up in New Jersey as music teacher for Holy Cross Catholic School, Rumson. “That position and regular exposure to Catholicism in action reignited my desire to become Catholic, and in 2013 I came into full communion with the Catholic Church,” she said.
As a convert, she noted, one of the biggest stumbling blocks was understanding Catholic teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary. “In the Baptist faith, Mary was only given a passing recognition at Christmastime. And ‘praying to Mary,’ or any saint, was unacceptable in the church of my childhood,” she said.
Dr. York recalled a teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which states, “What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.”
“Mary knew that ‘nothing will be impossible for God,’” Dr. York said, “and her life modeled that faith for all of us to imitate. With this album, I wanted to share the example of Mary’s faith through songs dedicated to her honor as a way to inspire all of us who hear this music to be devoted disciples of Christ.”
‘Feeling’ the prayer
Dr. York explained Gregorian Chant’s uniqueness as “the historical music of the Church. Its melodies and modes are a natural extension of human speech, and with the music’s tie to the prayer texts of the Church, it enables us to pray more completely. We ‘feel’ the prayer in our bodies when it is tied to music.”
Dr. York expressed her hope that both her last album, Deus Ibi Est, released in April, and “Glorious Mystery” will enable listeners to enjoy them “at home for their personal meditation and prayer time. The songs are structured and arranged so that the music is both calming and meditative. If someone is having a stressful day, my hope is that they can turn on one of these songs, and in 3:30 minutes find a sense of peace and calm.”
She added, “My other hope for these albums is to bring wider exposure of the most common chant hymns and melodies of the Catholic Church so that music ministers and parishioners alike can be more comfortable singing them in public liturgical celebrations.”
Dr. York, with more than 25 years of professional performance experience, will join multi-instrumentalist and soprano Christa Dalmazio, director of music in Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, to perform the complete album during an Adoration Holy Hour Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. in Holy Innocents Church, coinciding with the album’s official release.
To read more about Dr. York and her music visit www.thecatholiccantor.com.
Mary Morrell is editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Metuchen Diocese.
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In Catholic liturgical music, Gregorian chant “should be given pride of place,” said composer Dr. Carly York, quoting Sacram Musicam, an instruction on Roman Catholic sacred music.
Dr. Carly York
Dr. York, principal cantor in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, and manager of education and operations for the American Classical Orchestra in New York City, has brought her love of centuries old plainchant to life with the release of her second Gregorian Chant EP, “Glorious Mystery.”
Scheduled for release Aug. 14, the Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption, the album comprises four ancient Marian hymns and two contrasting versions of the Magnificat and is connected to Dr. York’s personal conversion story – from her Baptist upbringing to the Catholic faith and a new understanding of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Conversion through music
Dr. York recalled, “My conversion began with my deep love of early music. As a college student, I became a fan of Gregorian chant, the Renaissance polyphony of Josquin des Prez and Palistrina, and the Baroque music of Vivaldi – and it was all Catholic!
“I went to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. to get a masters in liturgical music, thinking that it would help me be a Protestant music director at either an Anglican or Presbyterian church. However, I was introduced to the theology of Catholicism, specifically the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and my beliefs started to change.”
After years of traveling and working as a music teacher at both international and private schools, Dr. York ended up in New Jersey as music teacher for Holy Cross Catholic School, Rumson. “That position and regular exposure to Catholicism in action reignited my desire to become Catholic, and in 2013 I came into full communion with the Catholic Church,” she said.
As a convert, she noted, one of the biggest stumbling blocks was understanding Catholic teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary. “In the Baptist faith, Mary was only given a passing recognition at Christmastime. And ‘praying to Mary,’ or any saint, was unacceptable in the church of my childhood,” she said.
Dr. York recalled a teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which states, “What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.”
“Mary knew that ‘nothing will be impossible for God,’” Dr. York said, “and her life modeled that faith for all of us to imitate. With this album, I wanted to share the example of Mary’s faith through songs dedicated to her honor as a way to inspire all of us who hear this music to be devoted disciples of Christ.”
‘Feeling’ the prayer
Dr. York explained Gregorian Chant’s uniqueness as “the historical music of the Church. Its melodies and modes are a natural extension of human speech, and with the music’s tie to the prayer texts of the Church, it enables us to pray more completely. We ‘feel’ the prayer in our bodies when it is tied to music.”
Dr. York expressed her hope that both her last album, Deus Ibi Est, released in April, and “Glorious Mystery” will enable listeners to enjoy them “at home for their personal meditation and prayer time. The songs are structured and arranged so that the music is both calming and meditative. If someone is having a stressful day, my hope is that they can turn on one of these songs, and in 3:30 minutes find a sense of peace and calm.”
She added, “My other hope for these albums is to bring wider exposure of the most common chant hymns and melodies of the Catholic Church so that music ministers and parishioners alike can be more comfortable singing them in public liturgical celebrations.”
Dr. York, with more than 25 years of professional performance experience, will join multi-instrumentalist and soprano Christa Dalmazio, director of music in Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, to perform the complete album during an Adoration Holy Hour Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. in Holy Innocents Church, coinciding with the album’s official release.
To read more about Dr. York and her music visit www.thecatholiccantor.com.
Mary Morrell is editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Metuchen Diocese.