Bad music at Mass

[chemcatholic]

CatholicNerd:

The Holy Father mentioned that in his Chirograph on Sacred Music. In fact, he didn’t just mention it: He encouraged composers to churn out music in the “spirit” of the Chant and the great polyphonic works from the Renaissance. Poulenc and DuruflŽ are two composers who did this rather well (ok, so they’ve been dead for half a century, but their works are still marvelous!). What the Holy Father does not want, however, is “profane,” that is, not fit for the house of God, music entering the Liturgy. Remember, we are to set the Sabbath apart entirely for God, so incorporating secular styles/many secular instruments is forbidden.

You make it sound as if liturgical polyphony was inspired from above, when in fact much of it was inspired by secular songs sung in bars. I’m not sure where you learned your music history, but you seem to have a rather distorted view of musical development.

 

[katolik]

Fr. JLT:

Thanks for your reply. But it is so sad. So much have you become part of the materialistic ideology that you can’t take responsibility for yourself. Rather, you need to place blame somewhere else, be it the choir, the priest, the architecture, the ambiance . . . blah blah blah.

I just wonder what Saint Cecilia thought of the music in the Catacombs, where she was murdered, or her artistic surroundings or her role in worship? Please understand, that in a strict Church, you’d be excommunicated. Or, if your mouth went off in public like it did here, you’d just be killed by the Romans and lauded for you petty and superficial assessment of the faith and the Holy Sacrifice. You’d be held high as a reason to mock Christianity. . . .

If you lived elsewhere, you wouldn’t have a choice but to identify yourself deeply with a community in your soul, not just your superficial tastes.

Nice to be able to parish and priest-shop, isnt’ it? With any luck, that ability will be nullified very very soon. Or maybe priests will be able to parishioner-shop? Then you’d see how ludicrous, and fundamentally unChristian such notions are.

– Fr. L.

Fr.
If Catholics couldn’t change from their geographical parishes, then how would each Catholic have the TLM in each aprish? Many priests,currently, are rabid antiTraditonists

 

[gloryb]

The problem is in what one considers “bad.” It could be bad singing or music to which one objects. This thread seemed to start with the first and has gone to the second. One of the reasons, IMHO, Catholics and other liturgical Christians seem to be bad singers is the music that has been in those hymnals for generations. Some are beautiful but some are complicated. Many are done in a key way too high for the average person in the pew. Some actually sound like funeral music.

The newer music which elicits more singing from the congregation is often derided as bad because it is not Catholic enough—whatever that means. As far as Gregorian Chant–some may think it’s the bee’s knees for Mass but some of us do not. There is a place for everything and everything in it’s place.

Music is for the worship of God, not for the feeling of place. If certain music makes you feel “Catholic” I believe you must ask yourself if the feel of church is what you want. I know people in my church who want everything to “be Catholic” so they can identify with that as they are proud of what they are. That joyful noise is to be to the Lord, not to our pride of faith.

Surely there are places to go to hear Gregorian Chant if this is what you like. But to say it is the best for all of us is to impose something from your past onto those of us who are converts and those who are young. We can maintain the past in Tridentine Masses and go forward in the Masses we attend on Sundays.

This convert has a hard time understanding this need for what is “Catholic.” My husband is like this as he is a cradle Catholic from pre-Vatican II. He loves Latin and I see no need to be speaking in a dead language unless one is at the Vatican. All Catholics are different and we like different music. We must remember it’s for the Lord–not for us!

Gloria

 

[Mrs_P]

Lisa N:

Does anyone use the Taize book? I occasionally attend a Taize service and the music is basically based on Psalms, is very beautiful and frankly easy to sing. Most of the songs are two to four lines, repeated a few times. It’s easy for new people to follow along.

We are VERY blessed to have talented musicians in our parish. They are so inspirational.

Lisa N

Taize is beautiful. It is very simple, true, and can be made even more beautiful when harmonies are added. You are blessed to be exposed to Taize. I just ordered it for our choir.

 

[mercygate]

gloryb:

The newer music which elicits more singing from the congregation

Studies show that it does not elicit more singing from the congregation and young people are as estranged from it as are lifelong Catholics.

There is a place for everything and everything in it’s place.

And the Second Vatican Council has directed that the Mass is the place for Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony.

Music is for the worship of God, not for the feeling of place. If certain music makes you feel “Catholic” I believe you must ask yourself if the feel of church is what you want.

. . . or the feel of a middle-school campfire sing?

Surely there are places to go to hear Gregorian Chant if this is what you like. But to say it is the best for all of us is to impose something from your past onto those of us who are converts and those who are young. We can maintain the past in Tridentine Masses and go forward in the Masses we attend on Sundays.

As a Convert, I am willing to be imposed upon since nobody held my feet to a fire when I came into the Church. As for “imposing” on the young, that is what we call passing along our traditions. We’re supposed to “impose” on the young. That’s what civilization does.

This convert has a hard time understanding this need for what is “Catholic.” My husband is like this as he is a cradle Catholic from pre-Vatican II. He loves Latin and I see no need to be speaking in a dead language unless one is at the Vatican. All Catholics are different and we like different music. We must remember it’s for the Lord–not for us!

If it’s not for “us” then what’s your beef?