Can anyone once and for all tell me why people want a protestant hymn rather than the Gregorian introitus?

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Can anyone once and for all tell me why people want a protestant hymn rather than the Gregorian introitus? Why? It is so confusing!
What reasons do people use for taking away the Gregorian introitus?
I was atracted to the Church when I heard chants in Latin. This does not in any way mean that I don’t like hymns. One of my favoirite is Abide with me (Bliv kvar hos mig). This does not un anyway mean I cannot sing Te lucis ante terminum as well. Now I am reffering to Compline or prayer before going to bed.
One alternative would to have the a Gregorian introitus in vernacular.

Why do people care so much for the Protestant hymn singing that they take away the Gregorian tunes? Can’t both be combined?
 
Music is probably the biggest disagreement in many protestant churches - hymns or choruses/praise music. Organ or drums and guitar. The argument has been going on as long as I can remember.
 
Danged good question!

It is the lingering hangover from the wild 70s ecumenism party.

Q: Find me an Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy that sings “Go Tell It On The Mountain” or any of the happy clappy sappy schlock that passes for today’s liturgical music.
 
Which hymn and what are its words. I am off to a solemn high Latin Mass for Nov 2, It will be wonderful, and then so will our OF Mass on the day, in a cemetary.
 
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I am long-winded. Bless me, for I am about to sin:

My sister was dying of cancer. She had always enjoyed music; since I rarely sang for my family, and since I’m the only Catholic in our family’s history, I thought it would please her if I shared some of those traditional tunes and chants. I got a blank look, and she turned back to the tv.

There is no music more beautiful than ours, but it’s the triumph of substance over novelty. Modern music is the opposite. I grew to cherish our music over hours, days and years of good times and bad. A newcomer wouldn’t have that long-term love affair.

I hope I’m attributing this story correctly; I think it comes from Archbishop Chaput:

A group of inner-city kids were given their first trip into the country. Upon arrival at the farm, each was offered a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. They tasted it, and recoiled in horror. “What Is This Stuff!!! This Isn’t Orange Juice!!!”

They grew up drinking Tang. That was reality to them.
 
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jesusmademe said:
Can anyone once and for all tell me why people want a protestant hymn rather than the Gregorian introitus? Why? It is so confusing!
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Because many people prefer to understand the words. I know I do.

I don’t find that confusing at all. I generally like to understand what’s going on and what’s being said, and if I can’t understand it, I generally try to leave as soon as I can politely do so.

I think a lot of Americans feel the way I do.
 
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I do not dislike chant (not a huge fan of Gregorian chant, I love plainchant, when done well & Taize) or the organ.
However, my main experience with Gregorian chant and most sacred organ music is not Church related and therefore is not conducive for any meaningful prayer on my part.
 
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Because they’re keyed much lower and there’s more room for unprofessional singers.

< /sarcasm>

Seriously, preference. That’s the answer to almost every liturgical music question here: preference. We all have our own.

BTW, it’s doubtful we’re using as many Protestant hymns as you might think, but even if we are, there are many that are still perfectly suitable.
 
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jesusmademe said:
Can anyone once and for all tell me why people want a protestant hymn rather than the Gregorian introitus? Why? It is so confusing!
What reasons do people use for taking away the Gregorian introitus?
I was atracted to the Church when I heard chants in Latin. This does not in any way mean that I don’t like hymns. One of my favoirite is Abide with me (Bliv kvar hos mig). This does not un anyway mean I cannot sing Te lucis ante terminum as well. Now I am reffering to Compline or prayer before going to bed.
One alternative would to have the a Gregorian introitus in vernacular.

Why do people care so much for the Protestant hymn singing that they take away the Gregorian tunes? Can’t both be combined?
Click to expand...
You don’t go to Mass for the music. Christ is the focus of the Mass. Who cares who sings what!
 
jesusmademe said:
Why do people care so much for the Protestant hymn singing that they take away the Gregorian tunes? Can’t both be combined?
Click to expand...
I use hymns because that’s what my congregation can sing. We do not have an organist, nor do we have a paid director of music let alone a choir. Instead, I have a wonderfully dedicated parishioner who plays the guitar, puts together the music for mass and leads the singing. When she’s not there we just have to make do as best we can (which mostly works… sort of).

Gregorian chant is all well and good but in many parishes (like mine) we have to make do with the resources available to us. I don’t criticise the choices my music coordinator makes because I recognise just how vital her contribution is to the parish as well as the amount of work she puts in for no financial reward.
 
My guess is that people like catchy tunes.

But Gregorian chant has its place, per V2.
 
thistle said:
You don’t go to Mass for the music. Christ is the focus of the Mass. Who cares who sings what!
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^^This.

OP, your posting history shows that you have a great interest in, and focus upon, the music used at Mass. I also get the impression you have musical background and training. Most people attending Mass are not so focused on the music and are likely focused on stuff going on in their own lives for which they need spiritual guidance and Jesus’ help. I guarantee you that people struggling with actual life issues such as death of a loved one, cancer, unemployment, marital problems, a child having difficulties etc are not prioritizing the Mass music like you seem to be doing. A lot of them probably don’t care what hymn is played.
 
Because we are all different. We like different things. It would be really boring for us to all have the same preferences.
 
An anecdote: The priest who married us 39 years ago was moved to a certain remote protocathdral. Rahter than punishment, he loves it. Yet, there was the guitar-strumming folk singer…

Remember Cracker? “What the world needs now, is another folk singer, like I need a hole in my head…”

A couple of years after that, we visited again. He said, “Remember the guitar guy? I got rid of him.”

Chant. Smells. Bells. Altar rail. And now ad orientam. What’s not to like?
 
thistle said:
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jesusmademe:
Can anyone once and for all tell me why people want a protestant hymn rather than the Gregorian introitus? Why? It is so confusing!
What reasons do people use for taking away the Gregorian introitus?
I was atracted to the Church when I heard chants in Latin. This does not in any way mean that I don’t like hymns. One of my favoirite is Abide with me (Bliv kvar hos mig). This does not un anyway mean I cannot sing Te lucis ante terminum as well. Now I am reffering to Compline or prayer before going to bed.
One alternative would to have the a Gregorian introitus in vernacular.

Why do people care so much for the Protestant hymn singing that they take away the Gregorian tunes? Can’t both be combined?
Click to expand...
You don’t go to Mass for the music. Christ is the focus of the Mass. Who cares who sings what!
Click to expand...
This is, I think, a bit naive. No one is claiming that music is the most important element of Mass. But the music should remind us of the sacred, as should everything in the church.
 
Because music is subjective?

My family love gregorian chants. I don’t.
I quite like singing in mass even though I know the songs are probably perceived as cheesy.

Everyone has different tastes. And that is ok.
 
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