Is most of the music we hear at Mass [censored!]

[katy]

It’s just a matter of practice. My parish does chant all the time, and with or without accompaniment. We’re used to it and it is comfortable. It’s also way better than some hymns I’ve had to sing in other parishes where the pitch is way too high/low for me or the tune unpredictable, or the lyrics have nothing to do with the Lord.

 

[ProVobis]

Hymns – even polyphony – are more predictable than Gregorian chant in their melodic and metric structures. Still, there is a beautiful simplicity and coherence that makes chant extremely accessible with regular use.

Oh, I loved singing the Credo back when I was in the monastery! I remember waiting to see which mass Mother would put up on the board after Lauds – loved the Credo III.

Of course, some people probably didn’t think we had enough vocal training to sing it “properly.” But I’m pretty sure God was satisfied with our efforts.
Actually, that makes me wonder. When people say that Gregorian chant cannot be sung by the congregation, and then they also complain that the choir isn’t good enough, young enough, and so on, what’s left for us? Mass without music? Or singing the latest offerings from Breaking Bread?

Nah. I think those of us who are actually trying to incorporate Gregorian chant – though it be the equivalent of a “street urchin’s clothes” – into the music selections at mass should persevere. Ignorant and inadequate as we are, we need to begin somewhere.

Indeed. And I think you know as certain others do too, that notes have meanings as much as or more than the actual lyrics. Mere recitations sound so blah and military.