Gregorian Chant...

[dcs6f4]

What is the coolest thing you know about the theology associated with it?

 

[SunnaB16]

It raises and soothes the spirit.

 

[SenorSalsa]

Gregorian Chant has generally been written such that the words are praise of God, within a biblical, theological framework.

Vernacular hymns on the other hand are more basic poems of our relationship with God “help us with this or that, Lord” “your as great as ____, Lord” “The Lord will help us in this way”.

Its one of the places I find “modern” Church music lacking.

For example

Pueri Hebræorum, portantes ramos olivarum, obviaverunt Dominus, clamantes et dicentes:
Hosanna in excelsis.

Pueri Hebræorum vestimenta prosternebant in via et clamabant dicentes: Hosanna Filio David, benedictus qui venit in nomini Domini

The Hebrew children bearing olive branches, went forth to meet the Lord, crying out, and saying, Hosanna in the highest.

The Hebrew children spread their garments in the way, and cried out, saying: Hosanna to the Son of God: blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

This would have been a common Chant tomorrow at a Palm Sunday Mass

For contrast, think of hymns such as “On Eagles Wings” “We Are One Body” or “Here I am Lord”, which are fairly common hymns today.

Chant tends to see God as a Mighty God, who is in every way above and beyond us.
Today’s Hymns tend to view us as buddy buddy with God.

Neither is necessarily wrong, as God does have a personal relation with us, it just isn’t the way I relate to Him

 

[skinny_pumpkin]

What is the coolest thing you know about the theology associated with it?

I am assuming the theology of the Latin Modes is similar to Byzantine tones in some ways. In the Byzantine tradition, chant is monophonic and non rhythmic. One reason being to encourage humility in its “performance”.

This is because when chanting prayers, the Church militant (the Church in the world) is simultaneously worshiping with choirs of Saints and especially Angels, the Church triumphant. Chant, or singing praises to God unites us with the Triumphant Church as there, it is believed that the Angels in heaven constantly sing praises before God.

Gregorian chant is one of the greatest gifts our Lord has given to us, imo. I hope to experience it some time.

 

[At_Trent]

I am assuming the theology of the Latin Modes is similar to Byzantine tones in some ways. In the Byzantine tradition, chant is monophonic and non rhythmic. One reason being to encourage humility in its “performance”.

This is because when chanting prayers, the Church militant (the Church in the world) is simultaneously worshiping with choirs of Saints and especially Angels, the Church triumphant. Chant, or singing praises to God unites us with the Triumphant Church as there, it is believed that the Angels in heaven constantly sing praises before God.

Gregorian chant is one of the greatest gifts our Lord has given to us, imo. I hope to experience it some time.

Excellent

 

[At_Trent]

It raises and soothes the spirit.

At my job, I can listen to the radio or to CD’s if I wish. My job is stressful at times, and I find listening to GC does calm me immensely and immediately.

Gregorian Chant has generally been written such that the words are praise of God, within a biblical, theological framework.

Vernacular hymns on the other hand are more basic poems of our relationship with God “help us with this or that, Lord” “your as great as ____, Lord” “The Lord will help us in this way”.

Its one of the places I find “modern” Church music lacking.

For example

This would have been a common Chant tomorrow at a Palm Sunday Mass

For contrast, think of hymns such as “On Eagles Wings” “We Are One Body” or “Here I am Lord”, which are fairly common hymns today.

Chant tends to see God as a Mighty God, who is in every way above and beyond us.
Today’s Hymns tend to view us as buddy buddy with God.

Neither is necessarily wrong, as God does have a personal relation with us, it just isn’t the way I relate to Him

Great explanation

 

[SenorSalsa]

another thing is that it puts more emphasis, or at least equal emphasis, on the words and meaning as it does in the music.

me and my friends often joke about the modern praise and worship song “Salvation Belongs To Our God” that by the time you get to the end of the refrain of "Be to Our God/ Forever and Ever(repeated 2 or 3 times), you forget what you were attributing to God.

Not all modern hymns are like that, but many have wording issues or such strange syllable breaks that meaning might get lost