Is a drum kit a Suitable instrument for Mass?

[FAH]

I have never composed a poll before so here goes.

At my parish it now seems that every other week one of the music groups provide the music.
This group which preforms at the Saturday Vigil Mass are young people, which is a great thing. They set their instruments up to one side of the Altar and one of these instruments is a drum kit.
So my poll: Is a drum kit a suitable instrument for Mass?
In Musicam Sacram it says

1. In permitting and using musical instruments, the culture and traditions of individual peoples must be taken into account. However, those instruments which are, by common opinion and use, suitable for secular music only, are to be altogether prohibited from every liturgical celebration and from popular devotions.44

Obviously Gregorian Chant can’t be accompanied by a drum kit so the songs tend to be modern. The Gloria is frequently Gloria (clap) (clap) Gloria (clap) (clap) in excelsis Deo by Mike Anderson. The words of this song aren’t the same as the words from the Missal, does this make the music illicit?

If so how should I approach the Parish Priest and try and get this Gloria out?

Many Thanks

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Depends what language the subtitles are in…

 

[FAH]

Depends what language the subtitles are in…

Pardon me!

 

[Barbkw]

I voted no because drums drown out the reason why people sing.

However, if your poll included the use of pipe organ or various other “LOUD” organ music, I’d also vote that those never be used at Mass as well.

Fingernails running down a blackboard to my ears.

 

[DCNBILL]

Pardon me!

Look at the title of the thread. :hey_bud:

 

[I_Thirst]

It’s suitable for Mass, but not at any Mass that I’d wish to attend.

Let’s talk about liturgical bongos!

 

[agapewolf]

I voted no because drums drown out the reason why people sing.

However, if your poll included the use of pipe organ or various other “LOUD” organ music, I’d also vote that those never be used at Mass as well.

Fingernails running down a blackboard to my ears.

Actually, my drummer helps people to sing louder. He’ll play a simple fill which brings us to the chorus, the quietly lays back to support the singing.

Just so you know, flutes were banned because they were considered pagan instruments, and an organ, which is now “pride of place”, is just groupings of flutes.

 

[Barbkw]

Actually, my drummer helps people to sing louder. He’ll play a simple fill which brings us to the chorus, the quietly lays back to support the singing.
Just so you know, flutes were banned because they were considered pagan instruments, and an organ, which is now “pride of place”, is just groupings of flutes.

EWTN programming has organ music at their Masses. With all honesty, I’ve heard the same chords being played in horror movies.

 

[TheMc]

I have never composed a poll before so here goes.

At my parish it now seems that every other week one of the music groups provide the music.
This group which preforms at the Saturday Vigil Mass are young people, which is a great thing. They set their instruments up to one side of the Altar and one of these instruments is a drum kit.
So my poll: Is a drum kit a suitable instrument for Mass?

No. People may disagree with me, but no. Regarding your quote from MS, I heard this great interpretation someplace: if it would be suitable for classical music, then it is probably suitable for the liturgy. (in general)

So some percussion, such as timpani, can be appropriate in some situations. Drum kits (or drum sets, as some of us know them)? Not so much.

Obviously Gregorian Chant can’t be accompanied by a drum kit…

God forbid.

…so the songs tend to be modern. The Gloria is frequently Gloria (clap) (clap) Gloria (clap) (clap) in excelsis Deo by Mike Anderson. The words of this song aren’t the same as the words from the Missal, does this make the music illicit?

If so how should I approach the Parish Priest and try and get this Gloria out?

Many Thanks

If it doesn’t follow the text of the gloria, then no, it shouldn’t be used. And it seems that it doesn’t follow the text. In fact, it adds entire phrases, such as “peace you bring to us” (v1) as well as dropping entire phrases, such as “almighty God and father” (v1) and “son of the father” (v2) and “you alone are the most high, with the holy spirit, in the glory of God the father. Amen.”(v4)

These changes are no small changes, and no, they are not acceptable **under any circumstances. **

Yes, I would talk to your pastor, although don’t forget, unless it was revised, it will be done by December. It might not be worth the trouble, unless your pastor would be sympathetic.

 

[TheMc]

EWTN programming has organ music at their Masses. With all honesty, I’ve heard the same chords being played in horror movies.

Your point? There’s nothing wrong with minor chords in the liturgy.

 

[Barbkw]

Your point? There’s nothing wrong with minor chords in the liturgy.

If you mean minor, as in so greatly understated that human voice isn’t drowned out by the heavy drone and drumming of an organ, I agree.

 

[NewsTheMan]

No. Never.

 

[Rascalking]

I’m totally agnostic on this issue, but would it be okay if you had them at a mass like at 4pm on a Sunday, where people can choose to go if they want too? We have a great folk band that preforms at that time for our church. It’s GREAT. It gets people really involved in the church, it appeals to alot of us. It’s also fun!

If you don’t like it, why not go to another mass time? Just curious!

 

[NewsTheMan]

We have a great folk band that preforms at that time for our church.

Is this outside of Mass? If the folk band perform in the Parish Hall outside of Mass that’s great. Performance of a band at a Mass? Abuse. Folk music is not appropriate for Mass. No secular music is. Secular instruments and tunes shouldn’t be used either. The Mass is not for performance or showcasing or that kind of music. The Mass is a Holy Sacrifice where we are transported to Calvary.

It’s also fun!

If it’s outside of Mass, then that’s fantastic if it encourages active parish life and participation. In a Mass? If it makes the Mass “fun” then you’ve lost the meaning of the Mass completely.

 

[grasscutter]

I am okay with a rhythmic backdrop to music, but a drum kit seems way too noisy. By the way, outside of Mass, I quite enjoy noisy music!

 

[SonCatcher]

The drum kit at the “youth Mass” helped my 3 y.o. pay attention to at least some of the liturgy. I think that supports the argument that even drums can be a heavenly instrument.

 

[svid2]

I guess it’s allowed, but I don’t like it. Our parish has a rainstick, though, and I do like it.

 

[centurionguard]

I thought following article expressed my own sentiments against the use of Drums in Sacred Music liturgy. didobonaparte.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/mass-drums-jive-with-the-church/

Mass Drums

I was recently at a liturgical planning meeting for a Catholic conference. The issue came up whether drums should be used at the Masses celebrated at the conference. I argued that the use of a drum set and bongos is not appropriate at Mass since they do not jive with the Church’s teaching on what is sacred music.

First of all, I would like to state that I do appreciate drums played well. Rhythm is an essential part of music and the drums highlight and drive the rhythm of a piece. However, a musical piece has rhythm in it whether or not there are drums. The question is their appropriateness at Mass.

That you would have to explain to a Catholic that drum sets and bongos do not belong in Church highlights this reality: Despite the fact that in her official pronouncements on sacred music the Church has been the clearest about what is the proper music for the liturgy, and what kind of music should not be used, there is precious little knowledge or awareness of these pronouncements even among musicians in the Catholic Church and the clergy.

To help us in discerning what is proper for use in the Liturgy and what to exclude, the Church lays down three principles: 1) sanctity; 2)goodness of form; and 3)universality. The respecting of these principles has always been behind the making of good liturgical music. It was Pope Saint Pius X who explicitly taught these three principles for music in the liturgy and raised them to a “quasi canonical” status. He does so in his motu propio Tra le sollectitudini (November 22, 1903). In paragraph 2 he stated that “… Sacred music should possess, in the highest degree, the qualities proper to the liturgy, and in particular sanctity and goodness of form, which will spontaneously produce the final quality of universality.”

What do these three terms mean?

For sanctity, the music must evoke a certain holiness or sense of the sacred and so exclude any association in the minds of the listeners with secular forms and styles, not only in the music itself, but also in how it is performed.

Goodness of form means that it must be true art, “…for otherwise it will be impossible for it to exercise on the minds of those who listen to it that efficacy which the Church aims at obtaining in admitting into her liturgy the art of musical sounds.”

The principle of universality is observed when, even in different cultural and new forms of music, the musical offerings are “… subordinated in such a manner to the general characteristics of sacred music that nobody of any nation may receive an impression other than good on hearing them.” (Tra le sollectitudini n.2).
These three principles were referred to and upheld in chapter six of the constitution Sacrosanctum concillium from Vatican II, Musicam sacram (Congregation for Divine Worship, 1967), and restated explicitly in the monograph of Blessed John Paul II commemorating the centenary of Pope Saint Pius’s X Motu proprio Tra le sollectitudini (L’Osservatore Romano, January 28, 2004).

If we take these three principles and apply them to the use of drums, we will see whether they belong at Mass. In regards to sanctity, the issue is that drum sets and bongo drums are associated not with the sacred but with dance bands and entertainment. In a musical ensemble they provide the driving rhythm for dancing and physical movement and they appeal to the lower sensibilities. However, the liturgy and its music are meant to raise us to a higher level of sensibility. Rather than helping us center our thoughts and prayers on the heavenly realities we a celebrating in the Mass, the driving rhythm and sound of drums takes our thoughts “where you do not wish to go” (Jn 21.18), that is, to more secular venues.

The usual musical pieces performed at Mass in which drum sets and bongos are used do not possess sufficiently the quality of goodness of form. The melodic motifs and harmonic progressions of these pieces are mainly drawn from the musical formulae of pop and commercial music. They fall into the category which Pope Benedict would call “utility music” — easy to grasp and repeat, but neither memorable and nor worthy of serious study, unlike the pieces from the Church’s heritage of sacred music.

Drum sets and bongos at Mass also lack the quality of universality. There are many people, musicians and non-musicians, to whom this music would leave a bad impression. The assumption that everyone appreciates drums at Mass is not true. This style of music at Mass may appeal to a certain demographic but is annoying to others for good reason. It does lack universality.

Many may object to the use of drums sets and bongos at Mass on the basis of personal taste. However, those who appreciate the Church’s heritage of sacred music and who know the principles of sacred music have objective criteria upon which to base their opinions.
However, regarding that music which is part of the Church’s heritage of sacred music and specially mentioned in her pronouncements, such as Gregorian chant, polyphony, and organ music, there may be people who do not particularly enjoy it, yet even they would not say that this kind of sacred music is inappropriate at Mass.

Ultimately, we come to Holy Mass not because we expect to pleased or entertained. We come to join ourselves to Christ’s offering of himself to the Father. At The Holy Eucharist, sacred art, vestments, architecture, language and music help draw us out of the mundane things of this world to join in the heavenly worship. Then, refreshed and strengthened by our sharing in the sacred action of Christ and his Church, we will be equipped to go forth into the world and bring the Good News to all creation.

 

[purplesunshine]

1Chr. 6:31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. 32They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. 33Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, . . . [etc.]

1Chr. 9:33 Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night. 34All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.

1Chr. 13:7 **They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets. **

For all those mass guitar haters…

Ps. 45:7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. 8All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;** from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad**. 9Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. . . . 17I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

I think drums are fine. There are pages of bible verses in the bible referring to happy music that’s not polophony. Infact, most verses referring to the arc or heaven include instruments.

 

[Rascalking]

Is this outside of Mass? If the folk band perform in the Parish Hall outside of Mass that’s great. Performance of a band at a Mass? Abuse. Folk music is not appropriate for Mass. No secular music is. Secular instruments and tunes shouldn’t be used either. The Mass is not for performance or showcasing or that kind of music. The Mass is a Holy Sacrifice where we are transported to Calvary.

If it’s outside of Mass, then that’s fantastic if it encourages active parish life and participation. In a Mass? If it makes the Mass “fun” then you’ve lost the meaning of the Mass completely.

No, it’s the actual mass. I guess I’ve lost the purpose of mass, because I actually enjoy going and I smile. Sorry. Next time I’ll take some solem pills before I go.