Posted on 11/20/2007 1:34:30 PM PST by NYer
For decades, the standard of singing in St Peter's basilica has struggled to match that of a Gilbert and Sullivan society.
Church music in Italy is generally atrocious, and the Vatican is no exception.
Since he arrived in Rome nearly 30 years ago, the music-loving Joseph Ratzinger has had to endure the sub-operatic warbling of bad 20th-century music. Now he has had enough.
The Pope, who last year appointed a new choir director of St Peter's, wants Gregorian chant, polyphony and baroque masterpieces to dominate the repertoire in the basilica and the Sistine chapel. And, by making his preferences clear, he is sending out a message to the whole Catholic Church.
We are moving into an era of liturgical revolution. Benedict detests the feeble "folk Masses" that have remained the staple fare of Catholic worship long after they went out of musical fashion.
He wants the Church to rediscover the treasure of its heritage - and that includes Gregorian chant as well as the pre-1970 Latin Mass that can now be celebrated without the permission of bishops.
The old guard of trendy choir directors and composers (many of whom have signed lucrative contracts with dioceses) will fight his reforms every inch of the way, egged on by philistine bishops.
But younger church musicians, like young priests, are conservative in their tastes.
The next generation of choir directors have been charged by the Pope with the task of reintroducing beautiful music into church. If they succeed, then at long last the pews may begin to fill up again.
Damian Thompson is editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald
Bump for later.
Just sent this to a friend who hates folk music.
No more OCP!
In Minnesota, hubby and I liked to go to a vigil Mass on Saturday evening, then we'd go to our own parish on Sunday. Each time we took in a vigil, we went to a different parish. Most of the churches in our area were old, beautiful, and carefully preserved or restored. One, in Jordan, was magnificent, as beautiful as a cathedral. We watched as the "music ministry" came in and set up.
It was ghastly. I SWEAR... there were six guitars, some acoustic, some electric, but there were six of them. They were accompanied by a set of electronic bongos. (walks away, shaking head...)
No. 266. Reginald Heber, 1827. Nicaea. John B. Dykes, 1861.
(Some of us keep a choir copy of the 1940 Hymnal by the computer. Some of us have 4-5 copies of the darned thing, including 2 organist copies . . . )
I will say that, other than the execrable monkeying with the words, the 1982 has some VERY good music in it.
When music praises God, there’s no bad music.
It reminds me of a saying I learned when I was in college, poor, and thirty. “There’s no such thing as a bad beer—it’s just that some beers are better than others.” Thank God that I live at an age and wage level that I can afford better beers and really poo poo the lesser ones.
Papa B16 is telling us not to be stingy on our rich talent for praising God.
I have read from post of traditionalist that attend NO parishes that use classical guitar and is well down. Usually playing John Michael Talbot. I think it is as you stated that it the intent not so much the instrument.
When I was in college, Pat Boone was popular. Elvis did not hit it big until about 1958. Folk music came in the ‘60s while I wa sin graduated school. GOOD folk music is like. What I dislike is bad folk music and unfortunately the Church bought into a kind of folk music that is a parody of the real stuff. But I must say that most of the music I heard played in Catholic churches before Vatican II was pretty bad stuff. You have to have talent to tackle a Haydn mass, for instance. Few choirs were up to it.
Wow, something I agree with the Pope on. My wife and I detest this new music. It’s almost enough to make me want to become Catholic. Do you think the Pope would allow Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”? Oh well, just a thought.
I wish the Pope Godspeed, but in the American Church, there is going to be a resistance to any change in the music. Just a thought.
Chant, Sacred Classics Reverberate Again in Parishes
That's us! Dr. Ahlstrom is our Fearless Leader.
We are having a Concert of Really Good Church Music sponsored by the parish Ladies Guild the week after T'giving. Starting with chant and working our way up through the Renaissance and Victorian music to the present day, including classical music by modern composers (e.g. Tavener's "The Lamb").
There is hope. Really, there is.
It’s actually not that uncommon to find hymns penned by Luther at Mass. I’ve heard a few in my day.
(Pssst! We’ve sung “A Mighty Fortress” in our church. Just sayin’)
Thank God! “Feeble” is the right word. After a hard week, I need inspiration, not fecklessness.
***Do you think the Pope would allow Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”? Oh well, just a thought.***
Several years ago there was a program from the Vatican. I don’t remember if it was Christmas or Easter. The music during the procession was...”A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. I couldn’t believe my ears.
Ah, there's hope. ;O)
“A Mighty Fortress” has been sung at Catholic masses.
Been there, done that. Since the late 1960's.
Y'all gotta get with the program.
But the best Protestant hymnody still has names like "Wesley" and "Vaughn Williams" attached to it.
how about “amazing grace” and “almighty fortress is our God.”
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