Memory, Mystery, and Melismas (with Dr. Rebecca Maloy)

On this episode of Rhythms of Faith, Kim and JJ sit down with Dr. Rebecca Maloy, Director of the Sacred Music Program at the University of Notre Dame. A renowned musicologist specializing in liturgical chant, Dr. Maloy shares how she first became fascinated by the mysterious world of “Old Hispanic” (also known as Mozarabic or Hispano-Mozarabic) chant. Drawing on her decades of scholarship, she explains how this ancient tradition—independent from Roman chant—wove together texts, melodies, and theology to foster Nicene Christianity on the Iberian Peninsula.Listeners will hear why, despite its elusive notation and origins, Old Hispanic chant provides a window into the power of liturgical music to shape both memory and belief. Dr. Maloy also reflects on Gregorian chant, the Carolingians’ project of “correctio,” and the creative tension between oral tradition and fixed musical forms. Finally, she offers insight into how her historical research directly informs her leadership of today’s Sacred Music Program—where new generations of conductors, composers, and performers carry forward the Church’s living musical heritage.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:26 Rebecca Malloy's Background and Interest in Chant00:53 Exploring Old Hispanic Chant02:58 The Role of Chant in Liturgy04:58 Gregorian Chant and Its Origins08:21 Old Hispanic Chant and Word Painting16:18 The Intersection of Orality and Writing in Chant22:57 Contemporary Relevance and Teaching of Chant31:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.