Good Hymns, Bad Hymns

Inside Catholic ^ | December 5, 2009 | Todd M. Aglialoro

[NYer]

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Todd M. Aglialoro is the editor-in-chief for St. Benedict Press/TAN Books, and a columnist and blogger for www.InsideCatholic.com. This column originally appeared on December 19, 2007.

[NYer]

Readers have left 30 comments, so far, at the above link. This is one topic that always generates great discussion.

[Desdemona]

Uh-oh. One of the more dangerous topics, although this writer is concentrating on lyrics rather than form.

[I_Like_Spam]

Good hymns are ones that the general public can actually sing and make them sound decent- bad hymns are ones that require a professional voice to order to sound like anything.

“veni veni Emmanuel” is a good Catholic hymn as it covers a very modest range of notes, is easy to learn and has a slow enough tempo that the non-professional singers in the pews are able to keep up with it.

[sueuprising]

As an evangelical Protestant, I still tend to forget that the Roman Catholic Church has its congregation singing hymns at times. I thought that congregational hymn singing was the venue of Protestant churches alone. Anyhow, can anyone out there tell me when the Roman Catholic church began this practice? My Roman Catholic friends say about 10 years ago. Is that true? The article was an excellent one on a subject that is still hotly debated in Protestant circles. So much of the contemporary worship style found in evangelical churches is comprised of second rate songs instead of the glorious historic hymns of the Church. It is interesting to see a Roman Catholic on board with this discussion.

[NYer]

I still tend to forget that the Roman Catholic Church has its congregation singing hymns at times.

As far as I can recall, this practice began, following Vatican Council II. That would be 40+ years ago.

[NewCenturions]

I wouldn’t mind the flower-child, feel good songs so much if they were sung OUTSIDE of Mass ONLY. Not in the church - maybe in the school or church hall. At Mass, I want my mind & spirit lifted, not my hands-a-clappin’!

[Desdemona]

I still tend to forget that the Roman Catholic Church has its congregation singing hymns at times.

As far as I can recall, this practice began, following Vatican Council II. That would be 40+ years ago.

Um, well, I'm not really sure, but considering that a good number of the hymns from the German hymnals were composed in the 18th century, I'd say the practice has been around for a while. In this archdiocese, I hear tell that there was hymn singing before Vat II - and hymnals that predate it can still be found in the choir lofts. There's some great material there, too.

Hymn singing has always been around in some form, maybe not all the time, though. What hasn't is the congregation joining in the Mass parts themselves, unless one of the 16 standard chant Masses were used. In the English speaking world, those have been ignored and they're really not that hard. Where you need people who know what they are doing is the special occasion Mass. That was the real realm of the pro-level choirs.

[randita]

Anything but 7-11: Seven words sung eleven times.

[Desdemona]

bad hymns are ones that require a professional voice to order to sound like anything.

Bad hymns are bad hymns. Pro-level voices, phrasing and all that jazz don't change that and frequently can't make it sound any better. Some ephemera is just that.

[Desdemona]

“veni veni Emmanuel” is a good Catholic hymn as it covers a very modest range of notes, is easy to learn and has a slow enough tempo that the non-professional singers in the pews are able to keep up with it.

Depends on the tempo the organist sets.

[Varda]

I generally agree with the author on every point except the last one. I don’t find anything elevating about the use of Elizabethan era English when addressing God.

[Desdemona]

Okay, so I checked with the local memory for all things pre-VatII and that source says that “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” was about all that people sang. I guess since it's the recessional for Benediction. But, it's amazing how many people know so many other hymns and chants even though they weren't in the choirs.

[workerbee]

“veni veni Emmanuel” is a good Catholic hymn

Depends on the tempo the organist sets.

At our church this one is sung with guitars. My husband calls it the "Bonanza" version.

[Desdemona]

At our church this one is sung with guitars. My husband calls it the "Bonanza" version.

Technically, it's a chant and should be sung a cappella. You might mention that to whoever does the music planning. It's easy enough, the pitch won't drop.

Sometimes, I wonder where "musicians" heads are.

[trisham]

There are no “Good” hymns.

[workerbee]

Too many of the musicians, IMHO, believe Mass is just an opportunity to show off their “range”.

[markomalley]

Bad hymns are published by Oregon Catholic Press.

That is all.

[Desdemona]

Too many of the musicians, IMHO, believe Mass is just an opportunity to show off their “range”.

There is that, particularly among the set that has no other outlet. Sad really, when with a bit of work, they could increase their competence and lose some of the need to show off.

[Desdemona]

There are no “Good” hymns.

They're all bad?