Is modern music liturgical?

[batteddy]

It doesn’t matter what the type of music it is, as long as the focus of the song in that genre of music is on God.

Yes, but my point was that liturgical music is by definition set to the** liturgical texts**.

The genre is a different issue. If someone wanted to do more “contemporary” settings of the novus ordo texts…I wouldn’t mind.

The real problem is that, too often, the music used ISN’T even “liturgical,” regardless of style or genre, it’s extra-liturgical praise music NOT set to the liturgical texts.

It doesn’t, necessarily, matter what type the music is (though chant and polyphony are traditional and preferrable because they avoid fad-ism) but the focus does NOT just have to be “on God”. It should be a setting of the approved liturgical text, not just some other hymn or religiously-themed song.

Only perhaps at the recessional did the Church ever traditionally have these extra pieces, chosen locally, inserted into the Mass like that. The music, regardless of genre, was always a setting of the approved liturgical antiphon or song for that part of Mass.

They way our “entrance hymn” and “communion hymn” and “offertory song” don’t usually use the prescribed antiphon…but instead inserts some song from the 70’s set to guitar…is to me less a question of the style or instruments or genre…and more a question of the lyrics. There are prescribed liturgical texts for those times, they should be used, and any musical setting should be of the liturgical text. That is the definition of “liturgical” music.

Not all religious music is liturgical. It must be set to the liturgical texts to be so.

 

[KathleenElsie]

A special Mass at a special time for a special group can be a good thing. Just don’t take the regular schedule Mass and make it “special”.

I have seen, polka, youth, childrens and rock. When is it time for traditional?

 

[Rabbititus]

A special Mass at a special time for a special group can be a good thing. Just don’t take the regular schedule Mass and make it “special”.

I have seen, polka, youth, childrens and rock. When is it time for traditional?

Traditional ought to be the default, and churches should strive to have something like a sung high mass (very few even try). Like you, I have little problem with “special masses” as long as those masses don’t become the norm and people realize that the church has a musical traditional that didn’t begin last week or with the Second Vatican Council.

 

[Warren_Stassi]

Mans limited soul has always tried to reach the beauty of the devine.He has built many beautiful cathedrals,composers and poets have done their best to lift our limited souls. This was not done for their eddification but in mans attempt to approach the devine. “This above all to thine own self be true” we must each find our own way. On this earth I will never reach the devine but I will always be grateful for the beauty of the Gregorian chant(even my 15 year old many decades ago)the beauty of Gunoud Ave Maria, they have at least brought me a little closer.

 

[Jane_K]

Just a gentle reminder in the discussion–Gregorian chant CD’s are quite popular–even topping the charts in Europe in the 1990’s. Maybe the 14-yr-olds aren’t interested because no one has explained it to them in terms they can understand? Or are we making the assumption that they aren’t interested without actually asking them? It is, after all, fun to sing :yup: and requires only a bit of instruction for the simpler forms.
Pax Domini

 

[Warren_Stassi]

Unfortunately I had no cd,s Learned liturgical music from Nuns (1932-1939) My kids from same source 1961-----) Do you remember the Nuns?? Do you remember Catholic schools??

 

[KathleenElsie]

Unfortunately I had no cd,s Learned liturgical music from Nuns (1932-1939) My kids from same source 1961-----) Do you remember the Nuns?? Do you remember Catholic schools??

I do, but, I am afraid that there are many that have never even seen a nun in a habit except for the very old retired ones. The one nun was able to just give a look and that sent us to confession LOL. Parish schools were wonderful and help maintain a Catholic identity to the whole neighborhood. There was a Catholic Culture and people knew who was a Catholic and who was not. You did not have to tell someone they just knew. Oh boy if you were seen eating a hot dog on Friday everyone knew about it and your mom was waiting at the door for you when you got home. Sometimes I think Father Waterman knew what I did at the moment I did it. I was 14 when I converted and Father was one of my best friends in the world. (God Rest his soul)

My children and grandchildren have not had the privilege to have had this culture. I pray that my great grandchildren will.

My children and grand children have only my memories and the old books. records (yes I have then still) tapes,CDs and now DVD remakes of the old culture. I hope to keep it as alive as I can so they will have an identity as a Catholic.

 

[Rabbititus]

Just a gentle reminder in the discussion–Gregorian chant CD’s are quite popular–even topping the charts in Europe in the 1990’s. Maybe the 14-yr-olds aren’t interested because no one has explained it to them in terms they can understand? Or are we making the assumption that they aren’t interested without actually asking them? It is, after all, fun to sing :yup: and requires only a bit of instruction for the simpler forms.
Pax Domini

My parents bought Gregorian Chant CDs in the 90s (though, we’re American). I think you have a good point. I often find that a lot of the choices made for what the youth likes are made by people who are in their 40’s, and is based more on what they percieve teens liking in terms of secular music and culture. I had a teenage co-worker who loved the Latin music they sang at her parish during Lent, and in high school I knew of people in choir and orchestra who loved a lot of the great masterpieces. IMO, a lot of teens would probably say they dislike traditional Catholic music because the only “traditional” music they know is what was written in the 70’s and 80’s.

 

[Warren_Stassi]

Seems like we both have a lot of memories to live by and unfortunately they are not all about liturgical music.All humans lives cross in various ways and what happens to be important to me is of less importance in your lifetime ,thats to be understood.
Lets conclude with one of my mothers frequent sayings…The Catholic Church is the hardest to live by but the easiest to die by
Reguards.

 

[Sarabande]

Does modern sacred music exist?

Chant to Polyphony to ??

“Modern” sacred music does exist today. There are composers today who write music that definitely has a 20th/21st century feel, but still follows along the lines of chant and polyphony. I know one personally, Harold Boatrite, and his music - secular and sacred - is performed in the religious and non-religious venues and churches. You do need good, classically-trained musicians to perform his music, although if a church as a good music director, he/she can most definitely teach it to a volunteer choir. If our volunteer choir can sing Palestrina and Monteverdi, they could definitely sing some of this composer’s music.