Can every instrument be made suitable for use in the Mass?

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I’m curious what people here think about this. We have documents from the Vatican and from the U.S. Bishops saying that only those instruments that are suitable or can be made suitable should be used at Mass. To me that implies that some instruments cannot be made suitable, or else what is the purpose of even placing such restrictions in the documents?

So, I’d like to hear ideas about what instruments cannot be suitable for use in the Mass, and what makes them unsuitable in any case. Or, if you believe that every instrument can be made suitable, then I’d like to hear your explanation for the wording encountered in all these documents that seems (quite clearly, IMO) to suggest otherwise.
 
I believe the best reference to this comes from the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy from the Second Vatican Council. I don’t have the document in front of me, but, the gist of it is that instruments that are “profane” and “secular” should not be used during the Mass.

Cardinal Arinze, in an interview broadcast on EWTN reaffirmed this notion and took it a step further. If it sounds like it should be at a bar, then, chances are, it shouldn’t be used for the Mass. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass needs to have music that is worthy of the dignity of this sacred worship.

Unfortunately, we have lost our sense of the sacred, and this is quite poignantly manifested in our musical selections. When he was Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict wrote in Spirit of the Liturgy that “rock music” had no place in the Mass. The kind of music employed by OCP in its Spirit and Song hymnal flies in the face of dignity because it is meant to be “performed” with drums, electric guitars and keyboards. This kind of music does not add to the sublime mysteries we are entering and, unfortunately, tends to be more for entertainment. It its also deeply rooted in Protestant spirituality.

So, unless pop stars, rappers, grunge artists and swing bands are going to stop using drums and electric guitars, then, the answer to your question is no.
 
To answer your question, there must be more specific guidelines or a more specific definition of ‘suitable’. Which is vague and it is left open to MUCH indivudual interpretation, only a small amount of which will be posted on this thread.

If the Vatican choses to be specific, they have shown that ability in the past, as they have been very specific about many issues of morality and liturgy. Examples: The church’s stance on abortion and female priests - not negotiable no room for individual interpretation.

However, since they have chosen to use vague language in these documents, Mike, don’t you think it’s possible that they meant to allow for some individual, and culturally specific preferences??
 
The kazoo, the jew’s harp (or juice harp), the spoons, and the banjo. I’ve never heard these even in the most lively Protestant worship services.

I think Psalm 150 is a good guideline. God Himself tells us which instruments He prefers.
 
benedictgal said:
…If it sounds like it should be at a bar, then, chances are, it shouldn’t be used for the Mass…
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This statement, taken by itself, would disqualify the organ for liturgical use then, as I have been to a few really classy taverns that had organs. One had a Wurlitzer with a more impressive set of pipes than some church organs I have seen

Obviously this doesn’t disqualify the organ as suitable for liturgical use, because this statement shouldn’t be taken all by itself.
 
I am a complete tee-totaller and have been since birth. My whole family is the same way.

I can’t even remember ever being in a bar but once, and that was at Andy’s Jazz Club in downtown Chicago. I’ve seen movies and tv shows where people go into bars–is that what bar music sound like? I really don’t pay attention, since I’m listening to the actors and following the plot.

So tell me, what does “bar music” sound like?

I wouldn’t know. I’m serious. I’m not being sarcastic.

It seems to me that the reason anyone would know what “bar music” sounds like is that they’ve been in a bar. So when they hear it in church, they say it’s not appropriate.

If you never went into a bar (like me), you wouldn’t know that it’s “bar music.” You would just think “pretty music.”

I don’t believe there is such a thing as “Mass music,” “bar music,” etc. Music only becomes “Mass music,” “bar music,” etc. as we associate it with these places and events.

There are a whole lot of people who associate classical organ music and Gregorian chant with the occult, because that’s the context that they’ve heard it in! I’m serious again. Many of the horror movies use organ music and Gregorian chant.

So does this mean that organ music and Gregorian chant are “horror music?”

Other people associate organ music with skating rinks and baseball games, not church.

You see, you can’t label music. And you can’t condemn others for their personal tastes or consider them “less spiritual.” I personally think that much of the really good contemporary music expresses very well the mysteries of the Holy Mass. I personally absolutely love the music by the “St. Louis Jesuits” that so many of you condemn. I find it melodic and poetic. I like classical music, too, but I’m rather spooked by Gregorian chant because of past assocations. JMO, and I don’t expect the rest of you to be just like me when it comes to music.
 
VociMike said:
I’m curious what people here think about this. We have documents from the Vatican and from the U.S. Bishops saying that only those instruments that are suitable or can be made suitable should be used at Mass. To me that implies that some instruments cannot be made suitable, or else what is the purpose of even placing such restrictions in the documents?

So, I’d like to hear ideas about what instruments cannot be suitable for use in the Mass, and what makes them unsuitable in any case. Or, if you believe that every instrument can be made suitable, then I’d like to hear your explanation for the wording encountered in all these documents that seems (quite clearly, IMO) to suggest otherwise.
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I would say that any instrument can be adapted for use during mass. A few parishes in the Twin Cities (Archdiocese of St Paul/Mpls) work songs in different languages into different masses, sometimes with the local instruments (e.g. African Mass → Drums in local language).

If you look globally, there are a wide array of things that are used for music.
 
One more comment.

My husband and I made a day pilgrimage to Marytown a few weeks ago. (It’s a Franciscan retreat center, and the National Shrine to Saint Maximillian Kolbe.)

What music was played on the overhead speakers in the hallways and gift shop?

Lifeteen Mass music. I’m serious.

During the Mass, we heard traditional hymns, unaccompanied. But the friars are open-minded enough to appreciate Lifeteen Mass music.

I love the Franciscans! (I play for a parish where the priests are all Conventual Franciscan friars.)
 
Aren’t their rumors that Pope Benedict is preparing some kind of document on exactly this issue (i.e., Liturgical Music)?
 
Cat said:
…the banjo. I’ve never heard these even in the most lively Protestant worship services…
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I have heard bluegrass gospel ensembles that included banjos, and I have been told by members of these that they are often invited to play at church services. I didn’t ask but I presumed they meant protestant church services.
 
VAC said:
However, since they have chosen to use vague language in these documents, Mike, don’t you think it’s possible that they meant to allow for some individual, and culturally specific preferences??
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Oh sure they meant to allow for cultural variations - no question. So let’s just specify that I’m asking now about predominantly English-speaking parishes in the USA. Are there any instruments that cannot be made suitable for Mass in such a context?
 
Cat said:
The kazoo, the jew’s harp (or juice harp), the spoons, and the banjo. I’ve never heard these even in the most lively Protestant worship services.

I think Psalm 150 is a good guideline. God Himself tells us which instruments He prefers.
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I’ve heard banjo at Mass…

And the pastor at the school my daughter attends passed out kazoos to the entire student body for one school Mass…

But let me ask you, why would you think banjo was wrong but guitar was right? They strike me as two peas in a musical pod.
 
NewUlm1976_2000 said:
I would say that any instrument can be adapted for use during mass. A few parishes in the Twin Cities (Archdiocese of St Paul/Mpls) work songs in different languages into different masses, sometimes with the local instruments (e.g. African Mass → Drums in local language).

If you look globally, there are a wide array of things that are used for music.
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I’m not interested in globally, because I can’t know every culture in the world. But I am interested in how any given culture would decide what instruments can or cannot be made suitable. As I mentioned in another post, let’s limit the discussion to typical English-speaking parishes in the USA. What instruments, if any, could not be made suitable for Mass in such parishes? And why?
 
The only instrument that I can think of that might NOT be adapted to sacred music is the great Highland war pipes. This is the only instrument left which is designed for outdoor performance. Since the Mass is most often performed indoors the Highland pipes would not be musically suited.
But what do I know? I’m Scots-Irish.

Matthew
 
Cat said:
One more comment.

My husband and I made a day pilgrimage to Marytown a few weeks ago. (It’s a Franciscan retreat center, and the National Shrine to Saint Maximillian Kolbe.)

What music was played on the overhead speakers in the hallways and gift shop?

Lifeteen Mass music. I’m serious.

During the Mass, we heard traditional hymns, unaccompanied. But the friars are open-minded enough to appreciate Lifeteen Mass music.

I love the Franciscans! (I play for a parish where the priests are all Conventual Franciscan friars.)
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I think a lot of people are like this - they may like and appriciate contemporary music, but not think it appropriate for mass specifically. Does that mean they are condemning contemporary music? No.

I prefer shorts and sandals to more dressy atire, but I don’t wear them to mass. I don’t think one is inherently better than the other, but I do think one is more appropriate in a certain context than another. Perhaps the same can be said of music too.
 
drafdog said:
The only instrument that I can think of that might NOT be adapted to sacred music is the great Highland war pipes. This is the only instrument left which is designed for outdoor performance. Since the Mass is most often performed indoors the Highland pipes would not be musically suited.
But what do I know? I’m Scots-Irish.

Matthew
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I’ve heard a band of fifty pipers playing indoors in a gym-sized room. It was loud, but not unbearable. One of my most memorable weddings involved a piper marching down the aisle playing “Mary’s Wedding” just before I began the bride’s processional on the organ. This took place in a very small church, and our Irish pastor was in heaven. As for the alphorn (I have Swiss ancestry), it all depends on the amount of available space. Those things are 12-15 feet long, but not as loud as one might think.
 
Cat said:
The kazoo, the jew’s harp (or juice harp), the spoons, and the banjo.
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Y’know, I WAS going to say that any instrument could be made suitable but you have effectively challenged that notion.
 
Strummer said:
Y’know, I WAS going to say that any instrument could be made suitable but you have effectively challenged that notion.
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But are we really to believe that the Church was thinking of kazoos and spoons when they spoke of instruments that can (or cannot) be made suitable? That in document after document they were only concerned with keeping a tiny handful of “silly” instruments out of the Mass, while absolutely every other instrument was OK?
 
VociMike said:
Oh sure they meant to allow for cultural variations - no question.
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The current discussion my be limited to American - European culture, but then the document may or may not have an application here. Surely there is an indication that some instruments are not suitable for Mass, but when we add the cultural element, all that can be implied with reasonable certainty is that some instruments are inappropriate in at least some cultrues.

Personally, I do not think I would even exclude electric guitars. The fact is that they can emulate accoustic and classical sounds fairly well. I would find that distortion boxes and other heavy metal embellishments are inappropriate, in this country and at this time.

I think America is somewhat unique in that we have a large variation of culture. Perhaps the best application of the Vatican’s instructions are done on a parish by parish basis, and in some cases, Mass by Mass.
 
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