Anyone else not really like gregorian chant?

[Avila123]

I think that these chants for the Ordinary (in English) are extremely simple to sing.

They are much, much simpler than the “contemporary” settings.

youtube.com/watch?v=4Sc_6tl0wuk&list=PL873E78A9410BE7C6

The videos that come after the above link are a continuation.

Thanks for this. I was going to say I disliked all chant as the Gregorian chant (even sung by experts) sends me off to sleep.

My first thought was, so this is where the dreaded Holy, Holy, Holy that I just can’t sing comes from. I wish we had that one as I am sure our lot add words. However, on the other side of the coin, the Gloria chant isn’t so bad and the Lamb of God chant adds some much needed reverence in the Mass. Before we chanted Lamb of God, it seemed that everyone was trying to race to the end of the Mass, now we have a bit more reverence. By the way, the Lamb of God chant is the only one we can manage without the organist, but then we are a small congregation and not everyone is brave enough to say a word during Mass, let alone sing.

That leaves me with, I am not keen on chants that are long, sung in another language or can’t be followed by people with diminishing lung capacity and hearing.

So I have learned something new.

 

[Enim]

I like all Chant. Because it is prayer and is shaped by the words and the thoughts. I prefer it to theatrical commercial music that does violence to prayer. Chant is never austere slow or simple. It is quite the opposite of that. Chant does not work as concert music, or entertainment which is now the popular criteria of acceptability in worship services.

 

[zab]

I like all Chant. Because it is prayer and is shaped by the words and the thoughts. I prefer it to theatrical commercial music that does violence to prayer. Chant is never austere slow or simple. It is quite the opposite of that. Chant does not work as concert music, or entertainment which is now the popular criteria of acceptability in worship services.

I attended a sacred music concert that our pastor allowed to be held in our church. There are a few of our parishioners that belong to our city’s concert choir. The Gregorian chant that they sang sounded a lot like what was sung at our Masses. The Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Angus Dei were very, very, very, long. Other people have mentioned these long versions of Gregorian chant being sung at their parishes, too.

 

[dshix]

I attended a sacred music concert that our pastor allowed to be held in our church. There are a few of our parishioners that belong to our city’s concert choir. The Gregorian chant that they sang sounded a lot like what was sung at our Masses. The Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Angus Dei were very, very, very, long. Other people have mentioned these long versions of Gregorian chant being sung at their parishes, too.

How long is “very, very, very, long”? Three minutes?

Do you know what mass they were singing?

 

[zab]

How long is “very, very, very, long”? Three minutes?

Do you know what mass they were singing?

more like 10 minutes (it seemed anyway. I wasn’t timing it). Concerning the Masses, these were sung both at the Extraordinary Form and at least one special occasion at the Ordinary Form. No, I don’t know what Mass they were singing because the people did not sing along with them.

 

[Cat]

That’s obvious even at the EF.

But it seems the thrust of Pope Paul VI’s statement to the bishops is to find a way as to integrate into each and every parish, whether it’s a Polish Mass, a Spanish Mass, etc. some or all of what the Vatican II itself has “composed” for the Church together at the same Mass the Vatican has promulgated. Pope JPII and Pope Benedict XVI have also tried to make the Latin chants appealing and it’s up to us to at least be somewhat familiar with them. I don’t think statements such as “I don’t like it” are the answer to the Church’s request that it be sung at the Mass, either at the OF or EF.

I agree with you that statements like “I don’t like it” are not the answer to the Churche’s request. Statements like “I don’t like it” are also not the answer to a bishop’s decision to allow piano and guitar and “contemporary Christian music” in the Masses in his diocese.

However, I think that an action plan with practical steps is necessary to begin to fulfill the Church’s request that chant be sung at Mass, and I think that the best people to create and implement that action plan are those who like chant.

It makes no sense to ask those who dislike or hate chant to please learn how to do it and then teach it to the parish! :nope: The best teachers are those who love what they teach! Enthusiasm is contagious.

Chant lovers, get practical and get busy. Sit down, brainstorm, and create Steps 1, 2, 3, etc., and then just do it. (I encourage you to include my “overheads” idea as one of the steps!)

This issue needs nuts and bolts and elbow grease and hard work, not hopes and dreams and opining and reminiscing about the past and remonstrates against those who do not share the hopes and dreams of chant lovers.

If a chant lover is not willing to do the work, then they need to stop the opining and learn to accept and perhaps even appreciate the music that is done in their Masses. I can’t imagine that sitting and stewing over the music in the Mass week after week is conducive to worshiping the Lord Jesus and becoming more holy like Him and maintaining unity with fellow Christians. The Church has also asked us to do these things.

 

[Cat]

I like all Chant. Because it is prayer and is shaped by the words and the thoughts. I prefer it to theatrical commercial music that does violence to prayer. Chant is never austere slow or simple. It is quite the opposite of that. Chant does not work as concert music, or entertainment which is now the popular criteria of acceptability in worship services.

Those are harsh words. Do you mind giving an example of Mass music that is “theatrical commercial music that does violence to prayer?”

Thank you.

 

[liturgyluver]

Chant lovers, get practical and get busy. Sit down, brainstorm, and create Steps 1, 2, 3, etc., and then just do it. (I encourage you to include my “overheads” idea as one of the steps!)

This issue needs nuts and bolts and elbow grease and hard work, not hopes and dreams and opining and reminiscing about the past and remonstrates against those who do not share the hopes and dreams of chant lovers.

If a chant lover is not willing to do the work, then they need to stop the opining and learn to accept and perhaps even appreciate the music that is done in their Masses. I can’t imagine that sitting and stewing over the music in the Mass week after week is conducive to worshiping the Lord Jesus and becoming more holy like Him and maintaining unity with fellow Christians. The Church has also asked us to do these things.

Cat, you are so right. I get so fed up with people who attack perfectly legitimate liturgical music - and those who work hard to deliver it - because it’s not their style, and in turn refuse to participate as the Church asks us to. There is nothing to stop those people influencing their parishes in a positive way to enable change to happen so that, if enough people agree, chant can become established for at least one of the weekend masses.

 

[ProVobis]

I agree with you that statements like “I don’t like it” are not the answer to the Churche’s request. Statements like “I don’t like it” are also not the answer to a bishop’s decision to allow piano and guitar and “contemporary Christian music” in the Masses in his diocese.

Cat, an allowance is not quite the same thing as a request.

But if it will work, maybe try the reverse, someone tell the parish the bishop “allows” chant, but you must keep the pianos and guitars.

On second thought…

 

[opus101]

Cat, an allowance is not quite the same thing as a request.

But if it will work, maybe try the reverse, someone tell the parish the bishop “allows” chant, but you must keep the pianos and guitars.

On second thought…

 

[Cat]

Cat, an allowance is not quite the same thing as a request.

But if it will work, maybe try the reverse, someone tell the parish the bishop “allows” chant, but you must keep the pianos and guitars.

On second thought…

Sorry to be so dense. After mulling over this throughout the afternoon yesterday and coming back to it this morning, I still don’t understand what you are saying when you say, “An allowance is not quite the same as a request.”

And I see that opus101 does understand the “joke.” I would appreciate it if someone would explain it to me unless it’s a “never mind.” Thanks.

For what it’s worth, I’ll say this: request or allowance or command or whatever–it doesn’t matter when it comes to Gregorian chant in the Mass. If no one knows how to do Gregorian chant, then it won’t happen. You can’t squeeze juice out of a rock.

 

[dshix]

Sorry to be so dense. After mulling over this throughout the afternoon yesterday and coming back to it this morning, I still don’t understand what you are saying when you say, “An allowance is not quite the same as a request.”

And I see that opus101 does understand the “joke.” I would appreciate it if someone would explain it to me unless it’s a “never mind.” Thanks.

I don’t think it was a joke. He was essentially saying that for the bishop to allow guitars and pianos is not the same as to request guitars and pianos; same for chant.

In many, if not most of the dioceses I’ve seen, the bishop doesn’t “request” guitars and music, but often requests chant and allows the rest. This is not to say there are no areas where the bishop absolutely forbids chant, but you get the idea.

 

[Randy_Carson]

I love it. But I never get to hear it. Ever.

I did hear it in Assisi once and was moved greatly by it.

Most “Chant” around these parts is not used often and if it is is not sung by people taught how to do it.

spencerabbey.org/

Click on the link and choose tracks 2 or 3.

Then close your eyes.