Bad News....

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At least the CCCB hasn’t included Haugen’s setting in Celebrate in Song. They included the ICEL Chant setting and settings by Michel Guimont, John Dawson & Geoffrey S. Angeles.
 
Soon, very soon, I’ll be able to attend three EF Masses a month. It’ll include a bit of travel but not as much as I travel now.
 
LoyalViews said:
Marty Haugen has composed a new setting of the Mass

And, so have a few people who worked with the CCCB to produce a new hymnal, called “Calebrate in Song” and they also have settings for the new translation.

They all make me sick. Isn’t this what we’re trying to avoid?

Personally, I love the one composed by James MacMillan. I also like the one by Corpus Cristi Watershed.

What dost thou think?
(there’s more here, there are a few good ones)
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Bad news indeed.
 
So I’m trying to understand. Why is this bad news?

I listened to some of the settings, and they are unsurprisingly, lackluster. . But why is is bad news?
 
1ke said:
I think people will find fault no matter what.
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I agree 🙂
TrueLight said:
So I’m trying to understand. Why is this bad news?

I listened to some of the settings, and they are unsurprisingly, lackluster. . But why is is bad news?
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They’re more fitting for a musical, or a tele show or something. 🙂
We’ve got to remember, that this IS the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass…
and I couldn’t think of a better title…😊
God Bless :signofcross::byzsoc:
 
TrueLight said:
So I’m trying to understand. Why is this bad news?

I listened to some of the settings, and they are unsurprisingly, lackluster. . But why is is bad news?
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Because, based on what people have been posting on CAF, many people thought that the new, more accurate translation of the Mass coming out at Advent also meant that all the “bad” music would be banned and parishes would be required to have only “good” music at Mass, meaning Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, and traditional Catholic hymns.

At our parish and in our diocese, we have known about the new translation for the last few years, and we’ve seen various informational papers about it. But never have we seen any mention of a “banned” music list. There has been information about new Mass settings and re-writings of old Mass settings to make their translation more accurate, but at no time were we told that the old settings and composers would be completely banned, or that the only music allowed would be “older” music.
 
Cat said:
Because, based on what people have been posting on CAF, many people thought that the new, more accurate translation of the Mass coming out at Advent also meant that all the “bad” music would be banned and parishes would be required to have only “good” music at Mass, meaning Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, and traditional Catholic hymns.

At our parish and in our diocese, we have known about the new translation for the last few years, and we’ve seen various informational papers about it. But never have we seen any mention of a “banned” music list. There has been information about new Mass settings and re-writings of old Mass settings to make their translation more accurate, but at no time were we told that the old settings and composers would be completely banned, or that the only music allowed would be “older” music.
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Cat, you’re so consistent, LOL. I love you!
 
Just wish Marty and his ilke would find a new profession. Maybe used car sales or selling Anuities.
 
Wow.

This thread reeks of uncharitability. Yeah, I get that his songs are in some cases unsuitable for a mass setting.

But to slam a muscian for not being Catholic? It isn’t his choice to have his music played at mass, it’s up to the music director and or Parish priest and or Bishop. He’s just writing what he feels is appropriate worship music.

Not to mention that some people like his work and are inspired by it and as a result come closer to the Lord.

So if you want to criticize that his work is being allowed to be played (inappropriately)at mass, fine. But being critical of a non-Catholic for not writing “Catholic” liturgical music? Really?
 
Newbie2 said:
Wow.

This thread reeks of uncharitability. Yeah, I get that his songs are in some cases unsuitable for a mass setting.

But to slam a muscian for not being Catholic? It isn’t his choice to have his music played at mass, it’s up to the music director and or Parish priest and or Bishop. He’s just writing what he feels is appropriate worship music.

Not to mention that some people like his work and are inspired by it and as a result come closer to the Lord.

So if you want to criticize that his work is being allowed to be played (inappropriately)at mass, fine. But being critical of a non-Catholic for not writing “Catholic” liturgical music? Really?
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Yes. He clearly writes for a Catholic audience, and many of his songs are theologically questionable, and many of the pieces from his well known Mass setting (MOC) are illicit to even use. Why shouldn’t we be critical?
 
My parish has been suffering with this material for many years.

I pray for an end to at least some liturgical abuse and a new beginning with this better translation.

I will be looking for deviations when the new mass is in place. I hope to write to authorities for help real fast.

I wonder though, if liturgical abuse is rampant, is it better to stay and work for correction or drive the family to the next parish that does it right?
 
LoyalViews said:
Marty Haugen has composed a new setting of the Mass

And, so have a few people who worked with the CCCB to produce a new hymnal, called “Calebrate in Song” and they also have settings for the new translation.

They all make me sick. Isn’t this what we’re trying to avoid?

Personally, I love the one composed by James MacMillan. I also like the one by Corpus Cristi Watershed.

What dost thou think?
(there’s more here, there are a few good ones)
Click to expand...
Well… I first had to look past the recordings of the music from the links. I’ve always thought sample recordings on these sites tended to be kind of “wimpy” in sound for the voices and just blah in general. For me, it doesn’t help with promoting the music they are trying to sell. So, I’ve tried to just focus on the compositions themselves and then imagine what the music would sound like with different singers and instrumentalists. I have to admit that I was a bit underwhelmed by most of the music within those links. Some of it sounded really dated. Then there were others I just didn’t like at all, not even for outside of mass. The mass by John Dawson, for instance.

I’ve never been a fan of Haugen’s ability and compositions and his revised Storrington Mass doesn’t strike me as a “master composer” as he is described in the GIA website. His compositions are ok and he obviously has ability, but it’s not masterful.

I also thought Michel Guimont’s “Mass for a Servant Church” was nice and probably one of the better settings advertised in that link.

That said, seeing what’s coming out is a little depressing. I am probably expecting too much, but I do compare who are considered masters today in liturgical music to the masters of the Church’s past. When I see what is being produced now, it just isn’t at the same level. Sure, some of the compositions do contain the nuts and bolts elements needed for composition, but it’s limited. Perhaps it’s because the music has to be congregational that many of the masses just look and sound so uninspiring on paper. And that’s understandable since you can’t expect non-musicians to sing more complex music. That said, a good composer can make a simple composition be inspiring and beautiful without sounding dated or cheesy or mediocre. I also have to remind myself that there were always mediocre composers through the centuries whose music hasn’t survived… and I think there tended to be more of them than masters.
 
Samuel63 said:
I wonder though, if liturgical abuse is rampant, is it better to stay and work for correction or drive the family to the next parish that does it right?
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Depends on what’s better for your family. We were in that exact same situation, but finally we moved to a better parish because it was hurting the kids.
 
Sarabande said:
Perhaps it’s because the music has to be congregational that many of the masses just look and sound so uninspiring on paper. And that’s understandable since you can’t expect non-musicians to sing more complex music. That said, a good composer can make a simple composition be inspiring and beautiful without sounding dated or cheesy or mediocre. .
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I agree. One can compose a simple melody that is beautiful and stirring.
 
People did expect better with the new Mass settings coming for the new translation, especially since our Holy Father has been calling repeatedly for music to return to holiness of form, that is back to Gregorian chant! And he’s not being listened to, it’s quite clear.

What’s also sad is that when I attended a diocesan workshop on implementing music for the new translation, they specifically mentioned that it was perfectly okay to do something which GIRM forbids. I knew that people would try to find ways to work around changes they don’t like, but for them to blatantly say it’s permissible to disobey the Church was utterly astounding to me.

At least a few of us can do our part in giving Marty Haugen’s music the place it deserves – in the trash bin. It’s not Catholic and it’s certainly not what our Holy Father has been asking for.
 
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