Of course it seems like a performance. Nobody really does these masterful works anymore!
Now if the rest of the Mass wasn’t offered as excellently, then there’s a problem.
Good point. When you hear this music in the setting that it was originally intended for every week - at the Mass - it doesn’t sound like a “performance”. My parish does this kind of music each week. For myself, my husband, family and those who attend this parish, it doesn’t take away from the mass, it actually enhances it in a very spiritual way. I plan for my daughter and future children to hear this kind of music at mass from infancy so that it will always be part of the spiritual life - and if and when they hear these great sacred works performed in a secular venue, they will still associate it with the Mass. That is how I associate it myself - and I say this as a professional classical musician who knows the difference between secular classical music and sacred music.
The opinion given regarding it sounding like a “performance” isn’t a lone one, though. I find that there is some sort of disconnect and misunderstanding that if the art or music is “too beautiful” or “too perfect”, then it is obviously more about the people and not about God. So, they think something that is mediocre or badly done is best - which I personally believe is such an insult to God and the gifts He has given to those artists and musicians. It’s one thing if the parish only has those musicians who may not have good or excellent ability. In that regard, that is actually the best a parish can give. But I think it is just as bad and as big of an insult when a parish does have the means and ability to give the best and chooses not to because of that idea of being too perfect equals putting on a performance. It doesn’t make any sense to be as mediocre or as bad as possible when God has blessed you with a gift. And I believe it’s wrong for people to believe that someone creating beautiful sacred art, sacred music or renders sacred music excellently is putting on a “performance”. Do we think this of medical professionals who are performing their best work, given to them by God, in order to give the best care to patients? How about people of other talents and professionals?
This train of thought just doesn’t seem logical in my eyes, but it is unfortunately a belief shared by many. Actually, the opinion of those who like much of this contemporary music at mass makes more sense than that, even if I don’t agree with this style being rendered at mass. At least I would think that those who like the contemporary music would want excellence in that form/style of music. But the other train of thought, I believe, has hurt liturgical music for the Catholic faith. Why? Because if all people hear and see are watered down, mediocre to bad renderings of excellent music or art, they’ll find it uninspiring and grating. So, they move towards something with instant gratification. For some, that might be the contemporary styles of music which may actually be done well - it’s better than some hack on the organ who plays everything at funeral dirge tempi, right?
We used to be held in great esteem for providing the highest level of sacred music throughout the centuries. Now, we are often the laughing stock - due to the popular output of music and this idea of keeping everything mediocre in one’s abilities. And we have no one to blame but ourselves for the state we’re in right now in terms of sacred music composition and the musicians. Most of us don’t try to encourage young musicians and those of us who are currently good musicians often keep away from doing any kind of sacred music in Catholic churches for various reasons discussed in other threads. Sad thing is that there is very good sacred music being composed today (so I personally don’t believe that contemporary necessarily equals bad) but much of those compositions aren’t being pushed by the more mainstream publishers.
Anyway, just sharing my opinions.
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