Matthew Schellhorn, Author at Catholic Herald

Matthew Schellhorn

Obituary: Ennio Morricone, composer with a lot to say about the Church

August 06, 2020

For a composer whose main sphere of influence was in that most secular of institutions – the Hollywood film industry – Ennio Morricone, who has died aged 91, had a lot to say about the path taken by the Catholic Church in the 20th century. His fecund musical voice, which produced over 400 film soundtracks

‘I wonder what we are coming back to’: The future of church music

May 15, 2020

Liturgical musicians need prayers. Many are unable to work during the pandemic – and the nature of their working conditions makes them especially vulnerable. For those with fixed employment contracts – cathedral musicians, for instance – there is government support. But freelancers are in a more difficult position. Along with money worries, many are distressed

It’s time to banish phones from Mass

September 30, 2019

Coming soon to a church near you: a sea of backlit mobile phone and tablet screens creating a fittingly reverential aura round the People of God. I often think of the Catholic Church as resembling a symphony orchestra, and my forecast is based on the news of the BBC Philharmonic’s recent technological initiative. From the