Posted on 11/29/2009 12:36:46 PM PST by NYer
My thoughts tend to wander in church. The lector might open with a biblical passage describing the Israelites assailing Jericho. I’ll picture myself inside the city, as a trader bartering in the ancient streets. This, in turn, will cause me to wonder how people got along in those days without air conditioning.
So it was that, waiting for Mass to begin one recent Saturday evening, I was unruffled by the sweet, dark strains of “Night and Day.”
“It’s just me,” I thought. “Just my wayward imagination.”
It was with a jolt that I realized, “No, it’s not just me.” Someone really was playing a Cole Porter song in church. It was the violinist.
Later, as the parishioners filed out after the recessional hymn, the same musician struck up a Bobby Darin tune, “Beyond the Sea.” This may have been meant to put a bounce in our step as we exited the building, but I was feeling too disoriented to do much bouncing. Bobby Darin? Was this a Catholic church or a nightclub?
Or was it me? Had I at last turned into the brittle old square I always thought my father was? Music, after all, is largely subjective. By what authority could one anoint some musical pieces for admittance into church while excommunicating others?
I checked the hymnal. It contained hundreds of songs composed for church. Sure enough, though, it also contained a small battery of privileged foreigners — songs composed for other forums but that nonetheless enjoy the occasional performance at Mass. Among these interlopers were “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.”
A revelation dawned on me: Admittance into my church depended on a song’s being either composed for Catholic worship or endowed with rightly ordered patriotism. This comported with the idea of a nation under God. (For more on this, see Tim Drake’s essay here.)
That notion, however, exploded in the next instant when I thought of another song I’d heard at Mass, “Ode to Joy.” With music composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, a German living in an era when there was no German nation over which to be patriotic, the ode gets its lyrics from another German, Friedrich Schiller, whose sentiments were neither Christian-specific nor dedicated to any particular country.
I thought also of the church song “Morning Has Broken.” This was a song I’d first heard sung by the popular entertainer Cat Stevens, who, as far as I knew, was now a devout Muslim.
As if “Ode to Joy” and “Morning Has Broken” were not remote enough from orthodox Catholicism and Old Glory, I thought also of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” This hymn is sung in Catholic churches even though its composer, Martin Luther, was a catalyst of the ecclesiastical revolt that would come to be known as the Protestant Reformation. If Luther enjoyed entry into a Catholic church, then why not Cole Porter or Bobby Darin or, heck, the Rolling Stones?
“There must,” I thought, “be something about the music itself.” A song’s melody could have a spiritual temperament that could qualify it for admission into church. In that case, time might be necessary. Like purgatory, time could wash away any stains or taints inappropriate in the house of the Lord, admitting only unblemished gold.
Just so. From its beginnings, the Catholic Church has worked through local cultures to spread its message, honoring differences in expressions of faith. The Catechism, No. 1207, states: It is fitting that liturgical celebration tends to express itself in the culture of the people where the Church finds herself, though without being submissive to it. Moreover, the liturgy itself generates cultures and shapes them.
I was gratified to participate in this process, howsoever humbly, by voicing my views regarding the music played at my church. Locating the church’s website, I left an e-mail message criticizing some of the music I’d heard at Mass. Before receiving a reply, I telephoned the church office. A deacon answered. Briefly and courteously, I explained why I thought some of the music played at Mass had been inappropriate and suggested that the musicians confine their church repertoire to songs of worship.
My efforts seemed to work. Next week, church sounded like church again.
The Catholic Church is no democracy; nor should it be. But through its parishes, it can respond to local, even individual, concerns — like mine — accommodating a vast variety of continually evolving customs, traditions and personal tastes within the compass of a truth that is both universal and eternal.
I used to attend a church (Episcopal) where the original pastor had the bright idea of not having a choir. Congregational hymn singing and full participation would be the order of the day. Only they weren't. By the time we joined that parish, the church had wound up having to make some major physical alterations to squeeze in the choir they thought they didn't need.
Repetition of music is different from repetition of words. Why do you think the Liber Usualis has different chant settings for every day of the liturgical year? And that goes back as far as chant goes back, so it's no modern or pop innovation.
>>Why do you think the Liber Usualis has different chant settings for every day of the liturgical year? <<
And why do you think we only use the common chants at Holy Mass? Just because they are written doesn’t mean they are used, eventhough they are allowed.
Our chants don’t change for our Latin Vernacular nor our Traditional Latin Mass.
They don’t change in our vernacular Holy Mass both English and Slovak.
Perhaps choir directors like liturgical committees perpetuate their jobs by innovations.
Why is it not appropriate for a processional? It mentions the opening of the day (appropriate to begin the Mass) as well as praising God for the Creation.
Not holding a brief for that particular hymn, it's not one of my favorites (3/4 time is a bit problematic for hymns generally), nor is Farjeon one of my favorite writers (a little too precious, as you can see if you read her Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard). My only point was that the criticism of it was not accurate. Now, if the author had said that it wasn't a Catholic hymn, he would have had a point, at least.
But there's so much truly bad stuff to get rid of before we start attacking hymns for mere associations. And I would get rid of the theologically destructive words and hideous trash tunes in the Haugen-Haas-OCP-St. Louis unholy quadrivium, before I started in on merely non-Catholic stuff with tunes I personally don't like.
We have some serious, heavy-duty work to do to renovate Catholic music, and we're going to have to set some priorities if we expect to make any progress.
>>I used to attend a church (Episcopal) where the original pastor had the bright idea of not having a choir.<<
In our Catholic Church we have two Holy Masses on Saturday and six on Sunday. We have a chant choir at the TLM and another group of adults at the 7:30 Sunday morning. The Slovak Mass has a Cantor.
With an organ, NOT a piano, one doesn’t need a choir at all. Our Holy Mass at 6:30pm never has a choir. We sing.
My point was that the Church from old times has recognized the need for some variation in the music (as opposed to the text, which does not change). That's because the folks compiling the Liber were musicians and understood what music and musicians require in order to do their best.
We do have three Mass settings - one for the Latin Mass and two for the Ordinary Form. The congregation doesn't seem to mind (although they are struggling with the Latin).
Anyhow, there's so much GOOD music to choose from that changing out the hymns is in my opinion a good idea. That's why so many of them were written in the first place. And yes, we sing "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" as well as many of the other old hymns regularly (that's how I found about the habit of 'swooping' on the line 'infinite thy vast domain'.) We have the St. Gregory and Adoremus Hymnals in the choir loft, plenty of good old Catholic music there.
I need to hit the hay myself. Drove 14 hours today. . . . eek!
That’s a line that Choir Directors have been using for years.
Staleness is NOT a "line". It is a massive pitfall. Part of the musician's mission, as outlined by numerous popes, bishops, etc., is to INSPIRE the congregation. That means everyone, including the lukewarm and those who are back for the first time in 30 years. When you sing or play the same stuff over and over again, and you get bored with it, or you think you know it better then you do, you don't pay as much attention and it gets sloppy. From first hand experience, I can say outright it is true.
Before every Mass, our choir says a prayer: "Open my mouth, O,Lord, in praise of thy holy name. Cleanse my heart and inflame my will that I may worthily sing this divine service. As we gather to sing your praise, may we but touch one soul and lead it to thee. May the gift of music we share foreshadow the beauty we shall share forever in your kingdom. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."
How can we possibly inspire anything with staleness. Even the Mass which we all know by heart, gets tired if the priest saying it isn't filled with passion for Christ. Do we hear the same readings and sermons every week? No. Then why should we have the same music?
The reality is that so little emphasis has been put on music in the church and in Catholic schools that we never really learned to sing. And when we do sing, it's what we like. Well, among the congregation. Right now, there's so much chaff in the hymnals it's hard to find the wheat.
So, please understand, it is NOT easy to keep music fresh and sounding good when you're bored with it. And if musicians are there to help inspire, you just can't be bored. Like I said, it's a give and take.
Good for you for speaking up! I’ve been on the receiving end of some of that criticism in my time. I’m still doing penance for singing “Blowin in the Wind” and “Teach Your Children Well”, at folk Masses, when I was in college in the early 70’s ;o)
>>My point was that the Church from old times has recognized the need for some variation in the music<<
No, they have allowed for variation.
But if one is speaking of pre-Vatican II the chant never changed in a low mass nor in a High Holy Mass. The Church recognized that Catholics thrive on repetition. Parish to Parish one heard the same music and same chant.
Vatican II allowed change in the liturgy. With it came the “Kumbaya Catholics” who thought everything should be changed to make it better when nothing was actually broken.
If we want to bring Catholics back to the Church, give them Old Time Catholic Masses. Push for one in every parish. Because I can tell you, in my area, my parish (where we kneel for communion), Assumption Grotto (who’s altar faces east) and San Francisco (that chants every mass) are packed and the other parishes with the great performers are closing and clustering.
No need to be so hard on him. I daresay most folks had never heard the hymn before Cat recorded "Morning Has Broken". Actually the words to the song are quite lovely, and full of praise for God's Creation.
Get an organ and an organist who can lead. You don’t need a choir. We aren’t Baptists. There is something bigger than the choir going on in Holy Mass.
And now it’s 11:30 and I’m off.
No puppets. No mimes. No secular music. No liturgical dance. None of the idiocy that passes for entertainment in place of humble worship.
I'm Roman Catholic. If the Transubstantiation isn't enough to hold your attention, I'm not sure what to tell you.
You must be blessed being in a Parish of people who love to sing hymns at Mass. It has taken our new choir director over 10 years to get the folks singing on a regular basis. We use some of the old Catholic standards, but also include what many would call 'Protestant hymns', especially ones written for the Anglican Church, because they fit with the Scripture readings for the day, which is why we have music in the first place.
Just because it's considered 'Catholic' music, doesn't necessarily make it good music.
ROTFL!!
My hubby, SirKit has become very sensitive about songs that 'scold' about how we live today, mainly under the banner of 'Social Justice'.
Our Church has HORRIBLE acoustics!! It was built in the 1960’s ‘Prayer Barn’ style, and is just U-G-L-Y!
Yes, we are, and one of those reasons is to PRAISE God, for the gift of His Son, and His awesome Creation. There is a lot of good music out there, and I, for one, as a choir member, love to try out the new stuff, as well as 'oldies, but goodies'.
Ah yes, the dreaded warble!
Hah! We must be in the same voice range! There were many years when I'd have to sing with the tenors in rehearsal, because the guys who we knew would make it to Midnight Mass, couldn't make it to rehearsal, and the ones who were there needed a little support. That was tough, cause I had to learn two different parts.
I found out this morning that six of the 8 altos in our choir won't be at Midnight Mass. I'm not sure about the 7th one, yet. So I contacted a couple of gals who have sung with us at past Midnight Masses. Also, our daughter will be coming home from college the weekend before Christmas, and she's an alto, too. But we all have strong voices, so we'll be able to hold our own with the other voices.;o)
I'm a cradle Catholic, and I LIKE having new music to sing, as do most of the folks who comment to me about the music that we do. THEY get bored singing the same things over and over, as we in the choir do.
Our Choir Director is a convert, and she takes great care to connect the music we sing to the Scripture readings for the Mass. This is important, because I think that by illuminating the text with music, people remember the Scripture more easily, and that's what we want to happen.
Tears came to my eyes this morning as our youth choir (all new members) sang some songs in Latin and then in English. It was so beautiful.
Our young people are showing themselves to be much more conservative than our usual music director. It was beautiful. All live music and no guitars. Real Music!
God bless them — I told the priest “That’s what a Mass is supposed to sound like.”
(Not the pre-recorded OCP junk that the older music director uses.)
PS. Ask your bishops to dump the “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” junk. It was written by OCP — the other mysteries of faith are prayers to Christ.
Singing in church is a wonderful way to "enter into His gates with thanks-giving, and His courts with praise", wouldn't you agree?
When one is needing to connect with the Lord, it's a good way to begin.
Praise & worship, whatever it's form, as long as it's genuine, is just about the very BEST place to start. It need not be limited to song, alone, of course. Or even 'song" at all. It may take many forms, and has throughout history, and still does, in many settings. The Lord knows, and so do His people, whenever & however the connection is made.
The Spirit of the Lord inhabits the praises of His people.
That said, it's easier to be "genuine", if the material one is singing (if the praise and worship be in the form of song), one can get behind with all their heart. Conversely, uninspiring music whatever it's format, sort of just get's in the way. Which I suppose is what many other posts on this thread were about...
Now this isn't quite what others had in mind, or what I have experienced in the first person, but here's another of the previous sort; Sacred Harp Singers At Liberty Church "I'm Going Home"
They do sound well practiced.
Oh, netmilsmom, I am SO with you. I hate the ditties — esp the lilting tune they use with ‘Christ has died (chachacha).’ Ditch the ditties; there is plenty of wonderful, reverential, worshipful music available in the form of hymns.
Which is why we go to the 7:30 mass, where there is NO music. (I hear that a lot of other musicians are at the no-music services, too...).
The Council of Trent reaffirmed traditional Christian teaching that the Mass is the same Sacrifice of Calvary offered in an unbloody manner. People forget what is going on there. The reverence is missing as people celebrate. MountainBunny said it right, “I’m Roman Catholic. If the Transubstantiation isn’t enough to hold your attention, I’m not sure what to tell you.”
Introducing new music is fine. Introducing a new song every week is over kill. I went to a church on Thanksgiving where the Music Director introduced the new song before Holy Mass and had a practice with the congregation. No prayertime in that church before Mass.
The music is not that important to those in the pew. Especially those who are trying to pray after communion. The happy praise music gets in the way.
Like liturgical committees, Choir Directors aren’t always making things better.
We have a parish that sings, because we don’t have a group of people doing it for us.
>>“That’s what a Mass is supposed to sound like.”<<
Amen.
That’s what most Choir Directors don’t understand.
We want the reverence that makes us Catholic.
Most of us would rather have no music at all than the “innovations”. There is comfort in repetition. Watch an EWTN mass and listen to their choir. It’s not about them.
But we don't want to repeat the mistakes that were made around the time of VCII, and rush in a bunch of unfamiliar stuff on people. Just because the orthodox were bewildered, offended and annoyed when the wreckovationists ripped out the kneelers overnight and made everybody change without any warning or preparation, doesn't mean we should do it back (as appealing as that is to a sense of cosmic justice).
So we phase out the awful hymns, phase in the good ones, add more and more Latin to the Mass where we chant the Ordinary (with the wholehearted cooperation of our Parochial Vicar, who is learning the Extraordinary Form), and try to keep the congregation up to speed on the changes without overtaxing them.
It's a delicate process. But we hear through the ecclesiastical grapevine that we are attracting folks from all over, so even if we're proceeding slowly it's having a good effect. Link by link is chainmail made, as one of Kipling's characters said, or "brick by brick", quoth Father Z.
We have a different, chanted format.
We remember your death, we proclaim your resurrection, we await your coming.
Then we remember our sins and pray ...
Have mercy on us Almighty Father, have mercy on us!
It is then time to thank God for His blessings in our life ...
We praise you, we adore you, we worship you ... hear us O Lord!
Then the congregation stands while the priest drops to his knees behind the altar, hands elevated as he calls down the Holy Spirit - an'een mory'o - hear us O Lord - and may Your Holy Spirit overshadow our offerings. He then kisses the altar before standing up and we chant ..
Kyrie Eleison! Kyrie Eleison! Kyrie Eleison!
But, seriously, if you're going to write an article complaining about hymns -- then pick up a couple of books (or even go on line! you can research hymns at Oremus.com or the CyberHymnal: authors (with biographies), composers, the works) and make sure you've got your facts straight.
Amen on the “Christ has died” thingy. Our Parochial Vicar chants the “Mysterium Fidei”, and we respond appropriately and in Latin. That’s not in the little Latin Mass handouts the ushers distribute, though . . . have to change it I guess. Maybe eventually we’ll have a full Extraordinary Form once a month . . . .
But good, reverent, meditative music performed in a sensitive manner is an aid to prayer for many people.
Some folks just don't like music at all, and for them there is the early Mass. Other folks find that music is helpful to their worship, and inspiring. For them there is the 11:30 High Mass. It's great that the parish has something for each.
One of my cousins actually edited the OSH - Hugh McGraw out in Bremen GA.
There is an absolutely wonderful DVD out on the history and practice of the Sacred Harp - they even have a website.
Awake My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp
Lots of fun stuff on the website, including lots of audio tracks and a trailer for the movie. The primary singers for the movie are a bit more polished than your average SH singers, but they are an actual SH group and they've retained the vigor and force of the old style singers.
I love one comment in the film -- one of the guys they interviewed said somebody asked him, "Do you want to sound like a bunch of uneducated Southerners?" and he said, "Well . . . YEAH!"
We're hurting for altos because our staff alto went back to school. I'm the most experienced alto at the moment (I'm an amateur but I've sung in good choirs since the age of 6), some of our altos are almost inaudible and some of them are very audible but inaccurate, so it's a bit dicey right now. I'm glad to have the support of a good accurate male alto. And the sound is really "English" - it sort of made our deacon go "Huh?" when we sang the Byrd "Ave Verum" because the altos really pop out at a couple of points and he recognized that Something Was Up. Glad he noticed!
You know the parody of "Immortal, Invisible"? "Immoral, impossible, God only knows/ How tenors, sopranos, basses, and altos/ Who show up on Sunday are never the same/ As those who on Thursday to choir practice came."
Learn it. Love it. Live it. < g >
Sometimes SH singing is called "Fa-So-La Singing".
And it is really an education to try to sing the NAMES of the notes instead of the WORDS! You have to shift gears inside your head. I'm still not very good at it!
It's not limited to the 1960's prayer barn architects, though. The Episcopal Cathedral in Atlanta is notorious for having the worst acoustics in the city, and it was built on a traditional plan, with a very large budget. But they messed up the proportions, and the nave just SWALLOWS the sound, whether sung or spoken. All sorts of acoustic engineers have been consulted to try to improve it, but nothing much seems to help.
But for some reason, when it's empty, it's great for recording the organ if you set up the mikes in the transept crossing, front and center. Which is good because it has a knockout organ -- one of the last of the Aeolian Skinners, a big traditional sounding American pipe organ. We helped our director record one of his original organ compositions over there (our organ is pitiful - but we're getting a new one in the latest renovation. Thank heavens!)
>>But we don’t want to repeat the mistakes that were made around the time of VCII, and rush in a bunch of unfamiliar stuff on people.<<
It depends on what finds “unfamiliar”.
To some, “The King of Glory” is familiar.
What we need to do is correct. There is a change to the GIRM coming and it’s coming quickly. We need to teach the reason and the reason is that it is correct. The innovations that went on in our parishes were wrong.
I think it’s wonderful that you have a Holy Mass without music for those who do not want it. That’s how it should be. If one wants the choir, it’s there. If one wants the silence, it’s there. The pity comes when one finds no reverence in a Catholic parish. We travel a lot and find more innovations than reverence. Where the organ sits silent as the choir and piano play. That’s great for the Non-Catholics who need praise and community for their services. We have The Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ right there. Everything else is secondary.
But I have to disagree with you that music is somehow not proper in the presence of Our Lord. You set up a false dichotomy, that on the one hand one has "real Catholics" who don't need anything but the Real Presence, and on the other hand "Non Catholics" who need their "praise and community". That is wrong, and insulting to the generations of Catholics for whom properly presented, reverent, appropriate music is the best offering they can bring to Our Lord.
Do try to live and let live. Some 'real Catholics' consider good music an important part of the Mass. 'Real Catholics' like Mr. Palestrina, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Victoria, etc. etc.
Great response! Especially since my post was tongue in cheek. :) I actually had only seen your post and not the whole thread before posting. On the same note, it bothers me when everyone claps.
Yup. Whenever I hear the tune, no matter the lyrics, I always think of the real lyrics that go with it:
Joy, beautiful spark of gods
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter drunk with fire,
Heavenly one, your sanctuary!
Your magic binds again
What custom strictly divided.
Beggars become Princes' brothers,
Where your gentle wing rests.
&tc.
Now I'm sorry, but I just have this little thing about the appropriateness of Schiller's words being publicly uttered in a Mass (a symphony hall...absolutely...but a Mass???). Call me a curmudgeon if you must...
People can complain about a playing a Cat Stevens cover, but that is nothing aside of this...
I have only heard that setting in the context of prison ministry, wherein it makes a certain amount of sense.
Are you saying that the Holy Mass is NOT about the Real Presence of Our Lord? That a Holy Mass is about what the humans bring? (And actually I never used “Real Catholics” that you put into quotes nor did I say that music isn’t proper).
Tell it to the soldiers who attended Holy Mass on the hood of a jeep, or our sister parish in Africa who attend Holy Mass under a tree. Is it about the music or the Real Presence of Our Lord?
Seriously, your background is music and it is very important to you. To those of us who have a very light music background or none (which is the majority of us), it’s not important. If ANY Catholic feels that music is needed for a proper Holy Mass or anything a human (other than the Priest) brings is important, that person’s focus is incorrect. Nothing a human brings beats the gift Our Lord is giving us.
Yikes!
Clapping makes me cringe too!
What do you mean ........"or"?
Are there not angel choirs in heaven?
If ANY Catholic feels that music is needed for a proper Holy Mass or anything a human (other than the Priest) brings is important, that person’s focus is incorrect. Nothing a human brings beats the gift Our Lord is giving us.
"Beats"? What a strange word to use.
The music is not for us is it?
The Blessed Sacrament is God's gift to us.
Hymns are our humble songs of gratitude and praise in return. They're not meant to take the place of the Eucharist. They give voice to our heartfelt love.
We don't focus on the music.
We focus on the Eucharist and as a result of that focus we respond with hymns of praise and thanksgiving.
Surely some confusion.
>>The music is not for us is it? <<
You tell me.
In many parishes, there is no humility to it.
Agreed! Our 7:30 Mass crowd wants to get in and get out, with a minimum of distraction. We had an elderly priest for a while who I called "Shotgun Leo". He could say the 7:30 Mass in 25 minutes, which included his brief comments on the scripture according to the New York Times. Those folks loved it, and they are the cradle Catholics who raised several kids each and sent them through the Parish School!
There is a 4:30 Sat. Mass with a minimum of music led by a Cantor, who mostly just introduces the music, and encourages the congretation to sing, which they do very little of. The 9am Sunday Mass used to be the Folk Mass, but I don't know what they do now. It's the one which families are encouraged to attend, and at the end of the Gospel, the younger kids leave and attend religion classes, returning just before the Consecration. It's extremely distracting to me, especially since we no longer have young kids.
SirKit and I are both in the 11am Mass choir, which we love. If we have a new congregational hymn, we'll sing it and after a couple of weeks using it, the congregation picks it up, because the director takes care to find music that is beautiful, but not too difficult for them to sing. I've noticed a remarkable change in the singing habits of the Parish over the last 15 years, since we got our new organist, and even more since we got the new director for the 11am choir. She does a good job teaching us HOW to sing, especially in elocution so that when we sing, the congregation can understand the words. We have improved considerably over the last few years, and many have remarked on it.
The 5:30 Sunday Mass is the 'rock and roll' Mass, and I don't like the music, because it does seem more like 'performance' music than congregational music. The girls always try to do the warbling Beyonce thing, and it's annoying and distracting. Our daughter Clare calls this "Jesus is my boyfriend" music, and prefers the 11am Mass music, when she's home from college.
So it's great to have choices, and though the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass should be sufficient, it's not always that way, so we need to meet people where they are. By doing this, they will continue to enjoy being there, and have the opportunity to grow in Grace.
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