Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: ninenot
First off, the pipe organ is THE instrument of preference for the Roman Catholic Church.

I hear and obey. But (and this is a confession) I hate organ music. Maybe it's because the parish I grew up in had arguably the world's worst organist with the most awful singing voice I have ever heard (I kid you not. When I was still a teenager, a friend attended Mass at my family's parish. The organist sang some solo part of the liturgy. My friend almost choked when she heard him. She turned to me and whispered, "Is that how he really sounds? I thought somebody was playing a prank!")

But back to the organ... Does this mean the great masses composed by Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach are off limits because they include other instruments?

119 posted on 06/02/2005 6:58:17 PM PDT by GipperGal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies ]


To: GipperGal

No. Pius XII officially allowed orchestral instruments in his December, 1955 (?) encyclical on the topic.

Prior to his authorization, of course, the instruments were used, by Bishops who were frankly disobedient. (This goes to show that disobedience-by-Bishop is not exactly new.)

If you're close to LA, go hear Paul Salamunovich's church choir and organ. He's at North Hollywood...


123 posted on 06/02/2005 7:11:10 PM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 119 | View Replies ]

To: GipperGal
Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and Bach's Mass in B minor are ridiculously long pieces (when Bach writes the Gloria to be 35-40 min long, I think there's a problem) and are not practical to be used for liturgical purposes.
265 posted on 06/05/2005 11:40:44 AM PDT by CouncilofTrent (Quo Primum...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 119 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson