Solemn Sacred Music an Important Means of Participation in Worship

Zenit News Agency ^ | September 13, 2006 | Benedict XVI

[ELS]

"Solemn Sacred Music an Important Means of Participation in Worship"

REGENSBURG, Germany, SEPT. 13, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a Vatican translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Old Chapel ("Alte Kapelle"), of which his brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, was director. During the visit, the Pope blessed the new organ.

* * *

This venerable house of God, the Basilica of "Our Lady of the Old Chapel," has been splendidly refurbished and today receives a new organ, which will now be blessed and solemnly dedicated to its proper aim: the glorification of God and the strengthening of faith.

An important contribution to the renewal of sacred music in the 19th century was made by a canon of this collegiate church, Carl Joseph Proske. Gregorian chant and classic choral polyphony were integrated into the liturgy. The attention given to liturgical sacred music in the "Old Chapel" was so significant that it reached far beyond the confines of the region, making Regensburg a center for the reform of sacred music, and its influence has continued to the present time.

In the constitution on sacred liturgy of the Second Vatican Council ("Sacrosanctum Concilium"), it is emphasized that the "combination of sacred music and words … forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy" (No. 112). This means that music and song are more than an embellishment of worship; they are themselves part of the liturgical action.

Solemn sacred music, with choir, organ, orchestra and the singing of the people, is not an addition of sorts that frames the liturgy and makes it more pleasing, but an important means of active participation in worship. The organ has always been considered, and rightly so, the king of musical instruments, because it takes up all the sounds of creation and gives resonance to the fullness of human sentiments. By transcending the merely human sphere, as all music of quality does, it evokes the divine.

The organ's great range of timbre, from "piano" through to a thundering "fortissimo," makes it an instrument superior to all others. It is capable of echoing and expressing all the experiences of human life. The manifold possibilities of the organ in some way remind us of the immensity and the magnificence of God.

Psalm 150 speaks of trumpets and flutes, of harps and zithers, cymbals and drums; all these musical instruments are called to contribute to the praise of the triune God. In an organ, the many pipes and voices must form a unity. If here or there something becomes blocked, if one pipe is out of tune, this may at first be perceptible only to a trained ear. But if more pipes are out of tune, dissonance ensues and the result is unbearable.

Also, the pipes of this organ are exposed to variations of temperature and subject to wear. Now, this is an image of our community. Just as in an organ an expert hand must constantly bring disharmony back to consonance, so we in the Church, in the variety of our gifts and charisms, always need to find anew, through our communion in faith, harmony in the praise of God and in fraternal love. The more we allow ourselves, through the liturgy, to be transformed in Christ, the more we will be capable of transforming the world, radiating Christ's goodness, his mercy and his love for others.

The great composers, each in his own way, ultimately sought to glorify God by their music. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote above the title of many of his musical compositions the letters S.D.G., "Soli Deo Gloria" -- to God alone be glory. Anton Bruckner also prefaced his compositions with the words: "Dem lieben Gott gewidmet" -- dedicated to the good God. May all those who enter this splendid basilica, experiencing the magnificence of its architecture and its liturgy, enriched by solemn song and the harmony of this new organ, be brought to the joy of faith.

[Translation issued by the Holy See; adapted]

© Copyright 2006 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana

[ELS]

Pope Benedict XVI sprinkles holy water as he blesses the new organ in the Alte Kapelle (Old Chapel) in Regensburg, Wednesday Sept. 13, 2006. The pontiff is on a six-day visit to his native Bavaria region of Germany. (AP Photo/Wolfgang Radtke, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI walks in Regensburg's Alte Kapelle, or Old Chapel, after blessing the chapel's new organ, seen in the background, in Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006. The pope called for harmony in the diverse and sometimes fractious Roman Catholic Church, comparing it to an organ that must be kept in tune. The pontiff is on six-day visit to his native Bavaria. (AP Photo/Maurizio Brambatti, pool)

Pope Benedict XVI, at center, prays in Regensburg's Alte Kapelle, or Old Chapel, as he blessed the chapel's new organ, in Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006. The pope called for harmony in the diverse and sometimes fractious Roman Catholic Church, comparing it to an organ that must be kept in tune. The pontiff is on six-day visit to his native Bavaria. (AP Photo/Maurizio Brambatti, pool)

[ELS]

Weekly audience ping!

There was no general audience today, but I have posted the address His Holiness gave today at the Alte Kapelle in Regensburg after he blessed the new musical organ.

Please let me know if you want to be on or off of this ping list.

[ELS]

I forgot to mention in the previous reply that EWTN is currently replaying their coverage of the blessing of the organ at the Alte Kapelle (10pm - 11pm ET).

[starfish923]

I would like to be on this ping list.

[ELS]

You have been added to the list.

[onedoug]

I always liked the music out of the Anglican tradition best. And I'm a Jew.

[ELS]

After the Pope blessed the organ, the organist played Toccata and Fugue in D minor. What a beautiful rendition it was!

[ELS]

Pope blesses new organ (1000 y/o Basilica “Our Lady of the Old Chapel”)

[Quix]

I think there is a place for solemn music in worship.

But I do NOT think that solemn automatically = worship, reverence etc.

And, I think too much of it presents a false impression of God's nature.

God is ALSO JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY; FUN; SPONTANEITY; LAUGHTER and sometimes even some rough equivalent of patty cake on Daddy's lap.

[Theophane]

"By transcending the merely human sphere, as all music of quality does, it evokes the divine."

Haugen, Haas, the St Louis Jesuits and the Gather hymnal need not bother to apply.

This ceremony in Regensburg was a much-needed tonic for me after last night's dismal Red Mass here in Houston, with all of the above suspects contributing to a liturgy that seemed mostly to be one of self-worship rather than worship of God. And that is not to mention how a church full of lawyers could have failed in large part to recognize the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle off to the side of the sanctuary.

[ELS]

Sorry to hear about the less than uplifting Red Mass. I was amused by the comment from one of the speakers about some angels playing Bach and others playing Mozart.

[kstewskis]

But I do NOT think that solemn automatically = worship, reverence etc. And, I think too much of it presents a false impression of God's nature.

I agree with you 100% Quix. I thought that very same thing when I got invited to a "praise and worship" concert with Diamond Rio and other country western singers at a local indoor arena....for EASTER. Somehow, I can't imagine the contemplative joy and Holy celebration of The Risen Christ when attending a loud country concert.

God is ALSO JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY; FUN; SPONTANEITY; LAUGHTER and sometimes even some rough equivalent of patty cake on Daddy's lap.

You need to patent that. Make a new tagline...something!!

[Quix]

THANKS TONS FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS:
= = = =

God is ALSO JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY; FUN; SPONTANEITY; LAUGHTER and sometimes even some rough equivalent of patty cake on Daddy's lap.

You need to patent that. Make a new tagline...something!!
= = = = = =

As I understand it, posting hereon automatically copyrights stuff for the authors.

But, hey, FREELY WE HAVE RECEIVED, I CHOOSE TO FREELY GIVE. All that's good comes from HIM!

Affirming credit is a welcome kindness, however! Life has enough disconfirmations.

[Carolina]

But I do NOT think that solemn automatically = worship, reverence etc.

On the other hand, solemn does NOT equate glum, lifeless, joyless as people think solemn is. When you are in the presence of the king you aren't doing cartwheels, now are you? And joy doesn't necessarily equate abandon and giddiness.

I visited with a dying friend today. And there was joy in seeing her peaceful, in seeing an inherent hope, a knowledge that she is living out her vocation. There was nothing giddy about it, nothing of the touchy-feely that people equate with joy...it was deeply intellectual and entirely spiritual rooted in an acceptance of each other's humanity. She understands and I do, too, the joy of suffering and sharing in the Passion of Christ.

So, I'm not for the false dichotomy of solemn (glum, woeful) vs. joyful (spontaneous, abandon).

[Quix]

True enough. And I've experienced plenty of a deeply joyfilled solemnity--and tearfully so many times.

But a lot of solemn church music . . . can quickly be dreadful when overdone overoften. The kind where one expects a prissy tall thin old maid school marm to come stomping around the corner any minute with fingers itching to wring someone's nose or ears for smiling . . .

As to cartwheels in the Presence of The King . . .

depends . . . IF He's in His HIGH AND LIFTED UP--HIS TRAIN FILLS THE TEMPLE state and context--true.

But IF He's doing cart wheels and bidding me joing Him, I hope I have the good sense to do so.

[ArrogantBustard]

After the Pope blessed the organ, the organist played Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

That may well be the greatest piece of organ music ever written.

[Aristotle721]

As a former Catholic church musician and still Gregorian chant enthusiast, I agree with you 100%.

It is a both/and proposition. We have to remember that good fathers not only discipline, but also forgive, reward and pass time with their children simply for the joy of it. And so it is with Our Father.

That said, there's a lot more play in 'solemn music' than any stereotype. At the risk of formulating a dissertation...

The Latin church uses for Easter the entrance song "Resurrexi" (I have arisen...) [mp3] which isn't necessarily in a joyful mode (Mode IV to those in the know). How odd, on the most joyful of feast days, would the entrance be in a mode so 'dreary'.

I explained to my choir that it wasn't 'dreary' as much as 'drowsy'. "Resurrexi" is in Jesus' own words. Remember the context: the guy just got up, he probably hasn't wiped the sleep from his eyes. Plus he's had a long couple of days. Now I'm no scholar, but if the observation helped anyone, excellent.

But compare that to the Alleluia verse "Christ our pasch has been sacrificed...") [mp3]: - an exhilirating Mode VII chant whose pinnacle is a soaring solo riff on the word "immolatus" (sacrificed), which hits probably (I haven't checked this out) the highest note in the entire Gregorian repertoire.

Anyway, I don't expect everyone to understand it (I just got up myself), but there you go.

You can have a lot of fun even with 'solemn' music. And the musicians can be just as irreverent while presenting same music. I should know, I've been there. :-)

[Quix]

Excellent points. I think you are entirely correct.

BTW, here's a link to the old Pentecostal hymn:

JOY UNSPEAKABLE:

http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Joy_Unspeakable/

I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth every need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.

Refrain:

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing, I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul.

[ninenot]

Umnnnhhh..regrettably, lawyers as a group have become accustomed to being gods.

The Fallacy of Positive Law has taken over their logical systems.

[ninenot]

ANYBODY who thinks that the opening movement of JSBach's "Magnificat" is joyless, dull, or stiff is simply deaf and/or stupid.