Catholic Musicians

[sixstringpoetic]

Hey everyone

What are your thoughts about Catholic music being its own genre?
I am a Catholic musician and I released an album this year. My music is very Catholic but it is certainly not written with the intention of being played during a Mass. I do not think my music should be played during Mass. My music and many others within this “genre” write music related to their Catholic faith, their struggles and successes and their inspirations. The genre of Christian music has really taken off into a life of its own but Catholic music really seems to be stuck. Most people know about Catholic music they hear in the Mass or done by choirs. Why do you think there is such a slow up-take in this genre? Catholic music is great to inspire you to live your life for God throughout the week and show His graces through our everyday lives.

P.S. Please feel free to check out my music so you know what I mean. www.benjaminbrekke.com there are links to buy the album on iTunes too if you happen to enjoy it enough.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi Benjamin,

I don’t know that I really have an answer to your question.

I did go and check out your music though, and I listened to it on sound cloud. I think that you are very gifted and talented, and to be self-taught like that is amazing! I always struggled through my own piano lessons when I was young. Keep up the great work!

 

[sixstringpoetic]

Thank you!

I’ve just noticed a lot of posts varying between what is appropriate music for the Mass and using more rock styled music in Mass and then other posts about does anyone know Christian artists who are Catholic. Its an interesting topic. I think there is and should be a distinction between the two. However, the genre of Catholic music just doesn’t seem to get the attention that Christian music does

 

[pianistclare]

There are many successful Catholic musicians and composers. Ed Bolduc and Alan Tate are a couple of my all time favorites. Liam Lawton, and others have enjoyed huge success.
I’m not sure why you don’t think there are any.
You may not be hearing them on Christian radio, but that’s programming problem, not a lack of Catholic musicians.

 

[Purgatory_Pete]

Thank you!

I’ve just noticed a lot of posts varying between what is appropriate music for the Mass and using more rock styled music in Mass and then other posts about does anyone know Christian artists who are Catholic. Its an interesting topic. I think there is and should be a distinction between the two. However, the genre of Catholic music just doesn’t seem to get the attention that Christian music does

I think this is because most people think of “Catholic music” as
being the music of the Mass, which can only be that which is
appropriate to those parts of the Mass, (Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, etc.)
In which case what you describe as “the genre of Catholic music”
is actually modern music based on Catholic belief.

I know all modern Christian music is lumped together and
this makes it a little frustrating when searching for Catholic artists etc.
but I can’t see this categorising changing any time in the near future.

One question,
What is modern Jewish music categorised as?

If you label yourself as being a “Catholic inspired” (musician/band etc)
it will be much easier for us Fish Eaters to locate you as a Catholic musician.

You will still be dropped in with the Christian genre but you might end up
creating sub categories of “Catholic inspired” “Baptist inspired” “Mormon inspired” etc…

I pray you have great success with your Music
and even greater success with your faith.

Pete:tiphat:

 

[ServusHumilis]

I would imagine such music hasn’t been able to take off because we don’t have the same media representation that some protestants might. I’m sure there are tons of protestant radio stations for example. What we need is an “EWTN2” or some such network that could play this kind of music. Better yet some wealthy Catholic could start their own radio station(s)!

I’m also a Catholic musician and enjoyed your music though feel it’s not really something I could sing. If you were to consider writing Mass settings of the Ordinaries (Lord Have Mercy/Kyrie, Glory/Gloria, Holy/Sanctus, Lamb of God/Angus Dei, even the Nicene Creed if you want), you’d then have music that might be appropriate for Mass. You’re limited in the words you can use but can then focus completely on melody.

 

[sixstringpoetic]

I would imagine such music hasn’t been able to take off because we don’t have the same media representation that some protestants might. I’m sure there are tons of protestant radio stations for example. What we need is an “EWTN2” or some such network that could play this kind of music. Better yet some wealthy Catholic could start their own radio station(s)!

I’m also a Catholic musician and enjoyed your music though feel it’s not really something I could sing. If you were to consider writing Mass settings of the Ordinaries (Lord Have Mercy/Kyrie, Glory/Gloria, Holy/Sanctus, Lamb of God/Angus Dei, even the Nicene Creed if you want), you’d then have music that might be appropriate for Mass. You’re limited in the words you can use but can then focus completely on melody.

---

I certainly agree that Catholic musicians do not have nearly the same media representation as some protestants might. I think that is too bad. I would love to see an all Catholic music radio station and more Catholic music festivals. There are some programs out there like The Catholic Playlist Show that is getting very popular but it is only put out once a week and its only an hourlong, but more and more Catholic radio stations are carrying it.
Please understand that my questions are based on Catholic music that is not intended or written for the Mass. If I were writing music more for the Mass, my melodies would be easier to sing along to and have a smaller vocal range as well as simpler music. Someday I may venture into writing a Mass setting but my post here is more aimed at Catholic music on the radio or music you might listen to while working out or doing work around the house. My music is meant to be inspiring and help you to think about God throughout the day and the blessings he has given us. Its also supposed to be fun, for example, I have songs featuring the ukelele and tuba - definitely not meant for the Mass but can be inspirational for in the car or elsewhere none the less.

Is anyone aware of Catholic music festivals, events, programs, other radio programs that feature only Catholic music? Maybe we can all help out. Tell friends about Catholic musicians you know and buy their music, support them. For your parish festivals, what about asking a Catholic band or musician to come play instead of local cover bands? Just some ideas.

 

[Joe_5859]

I guess I don’t think of Catholic (or Christian for that matter) as musical genres unto themselves. I would insert another identifier between the word “Catholic” (or “Christian”) and “music”. Is it Catholic rock music or Catholic folk music or Catholic disco music? Simply describing it as Catholic tells me something about the artist and the lyrics but very little about the actual music. It could be anything (even rap! ).

I think the reason there isn’t much headway in terms of “Catholic music” is that it is a subset of what is already a niche market (“Christian music”). From a marketing perspective, it cuts out a large chunk of your potential audience.

Also, I think many Catholics don’t approach art the same way many Protestants do. My own theory is that it is related to the Catholic sacramental worldview. Catholics are more likely to imbue what they do with the faith rather than proselytize. Thus you have Catholic authors producing things like “Lord of the Rings” while Protestant authors produce things like “Left Behind.” But I might just be blowing smoke with that idea.

 

[pianistclare]

I guess I don’t think of Catholic (or Christian for that matter) as musical genres unto themselves. I would insert another identifier between the word “Catholic” (or “Christian”) and “music”. Is it Catholic rock music or Catholic folk music or Catholic disco music? Simply describing it as Catholic tells me something about the artist and the lyrics but very little about the actual music. It could be anything (even rap! ).

I think the reason there isn’t much headway in terms of “Catholic music” is that it is a subset of what is already a niche market (“Christian music”). From a marketing perspective, it cuts out a large chunk of your potential audience.

Also, I think many Catholics don’t approach art the same way many Protestants do. My own theory is that it is related to the Catholic sacramental worldview. Catholics are more likely to imbue what they do with the faith rather than proselytize. Thus you have Catholic authors producing things like “Lord of the Rings” while Protestant authors produce things like “Left Behind.” But I might just be blowing smoke with that idea.

 

[Wampa]

I guess I don’t think of Catholic (or Christian for that matter) as musical genres unto themselves. I would insert another identifier between the word “Catholic” (or “Christian”) and “music”. Is it Catholic rock music or Catholic folk music or Catholic disco music? Simply describing it as Catholic tells me something about the artist and the lyrics but very little about the actual music. It could be anything (even rap! ).

I think the reason there isn’t much headway in terms of “Catholic music” is that it is a subset of what is already a niche market (“Christian music”). From a marketing perspective, it cuts out a large chunk of your potential audience.

Joe hit the nail on the head here. This basically sums up my answer to the question, as well.

Benjamin, good luck with your music. It’s high quality and nicely produced, but not my genre (I’m into metal). I hope you have success here in our diocese (and beyond)

 

[August_Carlson]

It’s all about having a market. If Catholic radio stations and Catholic internet broadcasters don’t have programs set up specifically for the dissemination of music by Catholic artists there will not be a Catholic music industry.

In the USA, there are almost 300 Catholic radio stations. But, at the same time, there are easily more than 2000 non-denominational Christian/Protestant stations – and they are coast-to-coast. The Christian (not Catholic) stations have programs in place in their schedules for marketing Christian artists. And that’s been true for decades. There are also Christian (not Catholic) recording labels and an entire infrastructure that has been build up over the years to help produce high quality Christian (tho’ not specifically, Catholic) artists. Contemporary Catholics artists come into the business at a deficit.

One of the reasons why Catholic stations do not play contemporary Catholic music is because they do not wish (or, more likely, cannot afford) to pay royalties to musicians. Put simply, it costs too much to pay to play.

Most professional contemporary musicians and composers are members of ASCAP and BMI and (occasionally, if they are more of the “country” type) SESAC. These acronyms stand for royalty protection organizations that secure fees by contract from radio stations and other presenters of music for the music & artists that they have in their catalogs. That’s how musicians make money – the monthly royalty check. A Catholic artist who wishes to make a living at their craft who does not have royalty protections in place, is a fool. The Catholic broadcast industry prefers to use PD (or Public Domain) music because they don’t have to pay for use. This puts specifically Catholic musicians at a deficit.

So, if a Catholic artist wants to make of go of it, he or she needs to cross-over to the Protestants. That means watering down doctrine in our lyrics so that our music can be played on Protestant venues. That ultimately means, effectively, downplaying Marian and Eucharistic themes as well as avoiding issues that relate to saints, purgatory, sacraments outside of Baptism, or papal references (to name only a few). Christian music is always about the lyrics, not the melodies. We have to temper our lyrics.

There are some other significant issues as well, I think, l that have to do with professionalism and artistry in the Catholic versus Protestant music industry, but these issues can be overcome. The main problem is that there is no place for Catholic music to be heard. If you can’t be heard, you can’t sell your tunes. It’s as simple as that.