Best and worst hymns?

[rondirect]

I wonder if you have read or would consider reading Pope Benedict XVI’s writing on music and the liturgy?

I have read excerpts. I think the opening says a lot:

"From the very beginning, liturgy and music have been quite closely related. Mere words do not
suffice when man praises God. Discourse with God goes beyond the boundaries of human
speech. Hence by its very nature the liturgy has everywhere called upon the help of music, of
singing, and of the voices of creation in the sounds of instruments. The praise of God, after all,
does not involve only man. To worship God means to join in that of which all creatures speak."

To me “voices of creation in the sound of instruments” simply means what God has instilled on those in the art of creating the voices of many types of instruments, and to confirm that with his last sentence “…of which ALL (my emphasis) creatures speak.” In his message, he speaks of the fish as silent, creatures on earth using many different types of speech, and the birds singing in the heavens.

To the degree of having all these statements, letters, documents, instructions, etc., we have differences of opinion. Is there really a right or wrong? Are the heavens saddened every time a piano or drum set is played during Mass, even though you personally picture this as a rock band concert or by my view of an entire Mass in Latin and chant as boring? Or, is a community of people praising God together in song and acclamation regardless if it’s chant, or any other type of music genre, utilizing no accompaniment or utilizing a number of voices of instruments our common goal? For me, God is glad in all instances.

 

[rondirect]

David Haas, Dan Schutte, and Marty Haugen are overplayed at the home parish. Haas and Schutte both held concerts in local parishes, well-attended by local music directors no doubt.

True, but realize that they were some of the very first to write the new “contemporary” music that people loved in the 80s, and much of it, and continue to do so today. There music is in almost every missal music section and hymnals.

 

[rondirect]

Are you familiar with the group Church Musicians Association of America?

Yes, of course. Reading the latest, they are having their program on chant.

Then, there is the National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) which has yearly programs as well and supports the likes of contemporary and Life Teen musicians as well as chant having its rightful place in Mass.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

Vivaldi’s Magnificat is nice but some of the ladies get too trilly on the Esurientes part.

 

[thomaskasaki]

I think this question poses a problem we all have: that “sameness is boring” as the late movie critic Roger Ebert said.

The problem with this thought is that it has really nothing to do with one’s spiritual journey in prayer. Contemplation through repetition is more the norm than an exception for many.

The same can be said for hymns. What may seem boring to one person may be a key to spiritual growth for another. The Catholic Church, outside of the Sacred Liturgy itself, does not dictate how one should pray. Only that one MUST PRAY.

 

[pnewton]

Of course we can now argue the point of what is suitable, or can be made suitable to ad nauseam, but why?

Indeed. That very sentence states the only opinion that matters - the competent territorial authority.

 

[pnewton]

David Haas, Dan Schutte, and Marty Haugen are overplayed at the home parish. Haas and Schutte both held concerts in local parishes, well-attended by local music directors no doubt.

I agree, but not for the reason most do. I think your word "over-played’ is the best description. The problem with a staff musician, even a brilliant one, is that their mediocre music will be published along with those few works which are great.

 

[pnewton]

I absolutely love this song. Much better than “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman”.

I like both, but the latter is more easily sung. Besides, I would be sleeping on the couch from now on if I ever cut it out (using it tonight, in fact).

 

[rondirect]

I agree, but not for the reason most do. I think your word "over-played’ is the best description.

I’ll agree with that, but in some parishes this group of guys have really put a lot of music out there, so the odds are in their favor. Even with that said, I really do not use many of their songs from the 80s, e.g. stopped “Gather Us In” years ago. So many newer composers out there now. There are exceptions: still use Schutte’s songs in his music for the Triduum collection. And, since we prefer to use a metrical Psalm vs. the chant in the missals, we use the new RM3 “Lyric Psalter” collections by Marty Haugen and Tony Alonso.

 

[pnewton]

Okay, let me throw out this one, and roll back to the start of this thread. MH wrote one of my favorite Lenten songs, My Soul in Stillness Waits.

 

[ShastaRose]

Beautiful church!

 

[rondirect]

Beautiful church!

Thank you ShastaRose. It may not be a building of many years past (19 years since dedication) with marble this and that, but with high vaulted wood plank ceiling of 45 feet over the altar, but a beautiful church because of its people, the real essence of church.

 

[goodcatholic]

Heard a terrible version of Seek o Seek the Lord, last night. The organist was off key I think or playing the wrong chords. The singers were about the same level as me. Awful.

 

[rondirect]

Okay, let me throw out this one, and roll back to the start of this thread. MH wrote one of my favorite Lenten songs, My Soul in Stillness Waits .

Yes, this a very nice MH song. I remember singing it many years back. But, I bet you sang it in Advent since it related to the “O” antiphons and the hinting word “waiting.”

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

It would be nice if there was a hymn that went along to the tune of Winter like the one that goes along to the tune of Spring. To bad it is quite an instrumental piece and not really suitable for singing along to.

 

[mythbuster1]

I always thought At the Name of Jesus was missing a snare drum, because it’s basically a marching song.

 

[pnewton]

Of course. How careless of me. Yes, it is an Advent song.

 

[rangerreid]

There’s a beautiful hymn that we sing during Advent called, “Warm the Time of Winter”; lyrics by Ruth Duck and music by Lori True. It’s one of my favorites.

 

[pnewton]

This week was sort of a challenge. Most of the songs that mention Satan aren’t appropriate for Mass.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Okay, Ron, I will close with one last question, because I think we can each argue for quite a while without persuading the other:

Why do you consider the drumset to be a contribution to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but not a “twangy” guitar? If you can explain why one is okay, but not the other, I would appreciate it.