Is a drum kit a Suitable instrument for Mass?

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FAH said:
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?
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You do realize that drums predate both the pipe organ AND gregorian chant in terms of use in Christian worship, right? Perhaps you meant to specify a specific TYPE of drum music within a specific genre in order to clarify…
 
Rascalking said:
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.
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I’m with ya, Rascalking. I’ve been to many “folk music” type masses and never felt it took away from the sacredness of the mass. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that only means its “inappropriate” in some people’s opinion.
 
purplesunshine said:
For all those mass guitar haters…

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.
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The Bible is not our only source of authority.
 
PatriceA said:
I’m with ya, Rascalking. I’ve been to many “folk music” type masses and never felt it took away from the sacredness of the mass. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that only means its “inappropriate” in some people’s opinion.
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Thanks Patrice!
 
PatriceA said:
I’m with ya, Rascalking. I’ve been to many “folk music” type masses and never felt it took away from the sacredness of the mass. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that only means its “inappropriate” in some people’s opinion.
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At the risk of sounding too Old Fashion and Traditional, a number of Folk Music Masses I’ve been to sound too Protestant for my liking. To each their own I suppose. They do nothing for me.
 
promethius said:
You do realize that drums predate both the pipe organ AND gregorian chant in terms of use in Christian worship, right? Perhaps you meant to specify a specific TYPE of drum music within a specific genre in order to clarify…
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I’m not musical at all but all I see is the same drum kit you would find at a rock concert. I don’t think it is at all appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. And listening to that illicit 'Gloria" doesn’t make me smile, it makes me cringe as I look around seeing people clapping and tarnishing the Sacred Liturgy,
 
FAH said:
I’m not musical at all but all I see is the same drum kit you would find at a rock concert. I don’t think it is at all appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. And listening to that illicit 'Gloria" doesn’t make me smile, it makes me cringe as I look around seeing people clapping and tarnishing the Sacred Liturgy,
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Having been to masses which use African and Irish liturgical music, I can tell you that there are quite a few other drum options out there than merely using a snare… and that drums can REALLY add to the liturgy.
 
Barbkw said:
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.
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I mean musically minor (aka: “Sad” or “scary” chords)
 
SonCatcher said:
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.
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So 3 year olds are now our test subjects for liturgical appropriateness? At one of my parishes, the introit chant begins, and every time without fail, any children rustling are reduced to silence, and not by their parents, btw.
 
YoungTradCath said:
The Bible is not our only source of authority.
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No, but all earthly authority comes from Jesus who is the word made flesh. The Bible is the word of God and we never contradict…except the mosaic law which was abolished by Jesus.

Basically, we can discover truths which add to our knowlege of the Bible but cannot subtract from it. I find it very austentatious for even a Pope to declare that chat is the “most holy” music when the word of God specifically states that drums, cymbols and lyars (guitars) are played at His foot in Heaven and it’s the music that He perscribed for honoring the Arc, a precurser to the Mass.
 
prometheus said:
Having been to masses which use African and Irish liturgical music, I can tell you that there are quite a few other drum options out there than merely using a snare… and that drums can REALLY add to the liturgy.
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I would have no problem seeing drums used at Mass in places like Africa etc. strictly from a cultural consensus agreed upon by congregations as a whole but approved at a diocesan level.

I’ve been invited to a number denominational Christian Pop-Rock bands done very tastefully for their religious sects.

But from a Catholic stance I’m not ready to deal with the noise of Christian Rock type music at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in my cultured up-bringing.

In the last 45 plus years I’ve seen a lot of Protestantization in some so called Catholic Music over the last 4 decades.
 
I suppose it depends on the Mass. Our parish’s Youth and Family Mass has an acoustic band with guitars, drum kit, and bongos. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they were not only talented, but also played in a way that was both upbeat and reverent.
 
purplesunshine said:
No, but all earthly authority comes from Jesus who is the word made flesh. The Bible is the word of God and we never contradict…except the mosaic law which was abolished by Jesus.

Basically, we can discover truths which add to our knowlege of the Bible but cannot subtract from it. I find it very austentatious for even a Pope to declare that chat is the “most holy” music when the word of God specifically states that drums, cymbols and lyars (guitars) are played at His foot in Heaven and it’s the music that He perscribed for honoring the Arc, a precurser to the Mass.
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In the Old Testament culture those instruments would of been considered heavenly. A drumkit in Mass in this age is sacrilege in my opinion. It is also an abuse, because it is secular music.
 
MartyrForJesus said:
In the Old Testament culture those instruments would of been considered heavenly. A drumkit in Mass in this age is sacrilege in my opinion. It is also an abuse, because it is secular music.
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No they wouldn’t of. It’s HOW they are played. The Pharos are described as having the same sort of music and the Isaralites were condemed for using that music to worship the golden calf.
 
centurionguard said:
At the risk of sounding too Old Fashion and Traditional, a number of Folk Music Masses I’ve been to sound too Protestant for my liking. To each their own I suppose. They do nothing for me.
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And that’s fine if its not your liking. But to say its inappropriate across the board, is what I take exception to. Not every form of music and instruments for Mass is going to appeal to everyone. That is what is so beautiful about our Catholic faith, there is room for all tastes of music for Mass.
 
PatriceA said:
And that’s fine if its not your liking. But to say its inappropriate across the board, is what I take exception to. Not every form of music and instruments for Mass is going to appeal to everyone. That is what is so beautiful about our Catholic faith, there is room for all tastes of music for Mass.
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YES! Music is SO important to so many of us-would it really hurt to have a simple folk band in mass or something? Really? If your that upset by it-go to a different mass. I just don’t get it. Why would anyone be really against this?
 
Rascalking said:
YES! Music is SO important to so many of us-would it really hurt to have a simple folk band in mass or something? Really?
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You’re missing the point. If it’s wrong, it shouldn’t be done. Ever. It’s not about our tastes, but the musical demands of the liturgy.
Rascalking said:
If your that upset by it-go to a different mass. I just don’t get it. Why would anyone be really against this?
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Because it clearly isn’t suited to the spirit of the liturgy.
 
TheMc said:
You’re missing the point. If it’s wrong, it shouldn’t be done. Ever. It’s not about our tastes, but the musical demands of the liturgy.

Because it clearly isn’t suited to the spirit of the liturgy.
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Ok, that’s fine, your free to believe what you want. I don’t see the problem with it, and I love the fact that my church offers a more musical mass. Your also free not to go, so since you don’t like it, don’t go. Don’t ruin for those of us that do.
 
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