Well, yeah, that’s a very general statement that few would disagree with. The problem seems to be the dissection of every word and every intent of the hymn and its composer to the point, in some cases, of absurdity.
I think the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ are both important.
I’m with you on Gregorian Chant, but unfortunately it’s become a lost art in parishes. So we’re stuck with some form of banal music (though I would prefer a recited Mass myself than one with bad music)
I have no objection to the lyrics.
I hope they don’t speak Latin in heaven…I only took a two credit intro. to Latin for Grad. Students course.
Well the best would be the practice at our abbey of chanting the antiphon, followed by the first psalm verse, then repeating the antiphon and subsequent verses as many times as necessary for the faithful to receive. Then once everyone has received, it is replaced by a fairly lengthy time of absolute silence. What I find distracting at communion is the shuffling of the faithful up to the cloister gate to receive. The chant helps remove the focus away from that. Then once everyone is back in their pew, the silence and prayer begins.
You’ve made my point, Cavaille. That is why these kinds of ambiguous hymns should be avoided. I could not sing that one in good conscience.
You guys crack me up.
Don’t worry, in Heaven, we’ll all be able to speak in tongues so we’ll understand every languageI hope they don’t speak Latin in heaven…I only took a two credit intro. to Latin for Grad. Students course.
Newbie2,You guys crack me up.
Would:
"Precious Body, Precious Blood
present here under the appearance of both bread and wine, but fully present in each species…"
be acceptable?
BG, good for you. If you don’t want to sing it, don’t. But please, don’t presume to tell me or anyone else that it’s wrong for us to do so.
Believe me, I would love it if we could just sing the propers, but, many, many parishes have bought into the publishing houses marketing ploys and only use songs. Sadly, very few composers have set the propers to music. The only one that comes to mind, at least in the English vernacular, is Fr. Sam Weber.
Fr. Weber has done yeoman’s work, to be sure, but there are several other resources. Bruce Ford’s “American Gradual” (an English adaptation of the Graduale Romanum) and the Anglican Use Gradual come to mind, as well as the Plain Chant Gradual (all available – for free! – at musicasacra.com). Fr. Columba Kelly’s adaptations are available at sacredmusicproject.com, again, absolutely free. Paul Ford’s “By Flowing Waters” is a very accessible English version of the Graduale Simplex. Richard Rice’s “Simple Choral Gradual” is another wonderful – and free – resource.
The trick is to convince parishes and dioceses that this is the route we need to go. Unfortunately, too many of them have bought the bill of goods sold to them by the publishing houses.
I’m not in a position to suggest substituting anything. I got to mass and sing the hymns that are played, whatever they are and wherever that may be. If there was a hymn that I found objectionable, I’d consider speaking to the music director and the pastor (but only in my own parish). So far, I’m good with what we’ve used in our parish and in all the other parishes that I’ve visited.
Also it’s not inappropriate to sing of community and unity at this time.
Here is the long version as to why I am limited to hymns and songs.