Nominees for worst hymn

[RosalieM]

Hello,

So modern music is sooo bad that it’s turning us all to liquor.

…come to think of it, I sometimes can smell a slight whiff of alcohol on someone at choir practice…

 

[peary]

…come to think of it, I sometimes can smell a slight whiff of alcohol on someone at choir practice…

Well, you know, there’s that old Latin saying - In vino veritas…
“In wine, there’s truth”

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Okay, well I guess I can say this:
Do a Google search using the phrase, “the dogs they had a party”, and then sing the results to the tune of The Church’s One Foundation.

The C of E’s foundation
Is big fat Henry’s bed.
He married Anne Boleyn,
who was soon to lose her head.
And all adults in England
The Oath were forced to take,
Or they would swing at Tyburn,
Or char-broil at the stake . . .

 

[Asillia]

Okay, sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I have to stick up for the Gather hymnal. I was raised Catholic in a suburban, liberal parish. Because I was so woefully educated, I was Protestant in high school. Then my dad gave me some cool books to read and I recommitted to the Church in college. I went to a pretty good student parish - people were very passionate and dedicated. Yeah, there was liberal fringe. but that is also where I got introduced to Theology of the Body and embraced teachings on contraception.

Now I go to a student parish in the city I moved to for grad school which is blessedly conservative (even though I am in a very liberal city), thanks in part to our wonderful pastor. Altar servers, adoration, NFP classes, frequent homilies that do not back down from tough teachings, a large portion of people who recieve on the tongue, etc. Yes, it’s NO, so it’s not as full of smells and bells as the traditional Masses, but it’s still very reverant. Ever since college, my faith has been deepening and I realize the utter importance of it, the sacrifice, the awe of the Incarnation.

 All of these places use the Gather hymnal. That's what I was raised on and many of those songs really move me - and yes, they DO move me to somewhere outside of myself, and help me recognize the awe of the sacrifice.   Maybe they sound a bit like Joan Baez or John Denver (both of whom are a little before my time - although Annie's Song is going to be the first dance at our wedding) - but maybe for some people that moves them! Not everybody is a scholar.


 This is not to say there aren't some hymns I detest in that book. I think Lord of the Dance is RIDICULOUS and I don't even think it's theologically sound.  There are also some others that as I'm reading them I think, "Technically, I don't think this is true" and kind of mumble them - so I definitely see your concerns.  I also agree that some of them are kind of generic and blah, and maybe some of them are 'feel good' but since I tend to feel good while at Mass anyway...I don't see why that's so terrible. The Mass should be a joyous experience, right?  We're in the True Presence! (Again, I can see how some of the hymns are making you feel good for the wrong reasons - but I think some of the hymns are quite lovely and uplifting, especially as processional songs and can really be about glorifying and celebrating God).
 I also love classical music and the gorgeous old hymns and chants - it would be wonderful if those were more widespread, especially because they definitely have that awesome air of solemnity and contain the truth.  I have CDs of Palestrina, Gregorian chant, etc.  I really see where a lot of you are coming from with that.  But there are also some older ones I don't enjoy; something about the tempo or melody just doesn't do it to me.  It's just a matter of personal preference.


 So I guess I'm in the middle.  I label myself a conservative Catholic and I love the Church.  I agree that the Gather hymnal can use some 'weeding'. But I'm not going to dismiss the whole thing because of a style preference.  Even the old hymns were written it what was the style of the time.  I'm even having Gather hymns at my wedding, that have a very special significance to me and certain milestones in my faith journey.   But we're having some of the older hymns too.

(Speaking of, I was kind of horrified when I saw the list that my organist - who happens to come from my hometown parish - gave me. SO much secular music! Why would I want that? It’s a MASS, and a SACRAMENT and it’s not for me to personalize or tinker with. That’s what the reception is for. The three that the organist suggested are all from musicals. I love Andrew Lloyd Webber as much as the next person, but not for Mass )

 Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. I guess my main point is that some of these songs do have good and can do positive things for people's spirituality, and there are good Catholics who get something out of them.   Some of them do even bring a tear to my eye; somebody said previously how said it was that people weep for 'Taste and See' or something like that (I really like that song!).  Isn't the important thing that they are weeping over the sacrifice and God's love for them, and the beauty of the Eucharist? Although, as I'm writing this, I kind of feel that we could do with less of them. Heh :)  Maybe I am a little naive and assume people are weeping for the same reasons I am.  But that's where my CCD rant comes in - people just don't realize the depth and beauty of the faith, of the Mass, of God's love for us, the awesomeness of the Incarnation, the Eucharist, the Passion, etc.

Perhaps it can be argued that better songs would teach better. I’m not sure. I think with CCD being the way it is now, people still wouldn’t appreciate them.
EDIT: Hah! I was looking over our music selections and it turns out we picked the much derided Sing to the Mountains for our processional. We didn’t have a lot of choices (and we’re already imposing our own choices for the Offertory and Communion)…but I actually always interpreted that song as being so excited about God that you’re singing to everything. I think it’s a nice choice for a processional - We want something ‘meatier’ for the Offertory and Communion, but I think it’s a good way to get in the mindset to worship God and be joyful for the Mass.

 

[benedictgal]

And I forgot the winner of this version of the Raspberry Awards:

LORD OF THE DANCE:bigyikes:

This also takes the Hall of Shame prize for most banal and insipid song that best represents the worst in “liturgical” music.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

Absolutely!
I have a good friend who’s returned to the Church & says this is her favorite hymn…
Here’s another “winner” we use at our parish:“Rain Down”. My 8th Grader thinks it’s a hoot.
It’s too bad.We have beautiful hymns available but rely on this stuff for the Mass. I’ve ended up going to the Latin Mass where we have lovely Gregorian Chant & the Adoremus hymnal.

 

[ForMary]

I like many of the hymns you listed.

 

[daeve]

Asillia, I like what you wrote. Have a great wedding. We did have the wedding music from Sound of Music as the recessional, but it’s a very nice instrumental piece with a certain grandeur to it. It sounds very appropriate at a wedding, and it’s certainly not We’ve Only Just Begun.

 

[Asillia]

Thanks

Even though I have some fondness for the Gather Hymnal…I definitely concur with Lord of the Dance being the worst.

I was in the airport flying home for Easter and there was this really annoying instrumental music playing. I couldn’t place it. And then I realized it was the tune to Lord of the Dance! Ugggh! (Actually, it’s not a bad tune, but it just reminded me of how much I dislike it as a hymn)

I actually found myself feeling guilty as I read the posts…like I must not be Catholic enough or something, and my wedding wasn’t going to be holy enough and I needed to go find a bunch of ancient hymns instead. But then I realized the songs we picked do have a lot of deep spiritual significance for us and we have used them to worship a lot.

However, I did decide to add the Adoramus Te Christe to the Communion song list (as a medidtation after the first song). It’s the Gather setting (since that’s what the organist knows) but I figure a little Latin won’t hurt the guests I hope there’s enough of us there who can sing it…my mom is cantoring so hopefully she can lead us through

 

[daeve]

I love Simple Gifts, but somehow, it doesn’t sound like that lovely melody when we sing Lord of the Dance. And yes, Michael Flatley comes to mind in the title.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

I was just listening to Aaron Copeland’s variations on the shaker tune about a half hour ago in the car. Great, all American music.

 

[daeve]

Yes, it’s gorgeous. Why does it sound so lousy as Lord of the Dance? We sing it so fast, it’s like a race. Do-da, do-da.

 

[catherineajt]

And I forgot the winner of this version of the Raspberry Awards:

LORD OF THE DANCE:bigyikes:

This also takes the Hall of Shame prize for most banal and insipid song that best represents the worst in “liturgical” music.

My 15 month old loves that song. If I sing it to him when he’s in the tub he stands up, holds onto the side of the tub, and stomps one foot exactly like Michael Flatley. It’s the funniest thing in the world.

I’ve never taken that song very seriously, as a liturgical song anyway. I was raised on many of these songs, and some sneaking part of me always felt they were a smidge too Broadway. That being said, “On Eagles’ Wings” was sung at both my brother’s and grandfather’s funerals, so I have a soft spot for those. And my grandfather loved Amazing Grace.

But I don’t hear any of these songs anymore, because they’re not used in the Byzantine Church.

 

[BennyBoy89]

I actually like “Rain Down.” The first time I heard it, I was attending a “progressive” parish, and it was raining outside. Very corny, but something appealed to me.

“Lord of the Dance” is a song that I would’ve liked back in the days when I was into the “emerging church,” celtic, new-age, Christianity. That’s enough for me to be wary of it.

 

[bluerose]

Asillia, I like what you wrote. Have a great wedding.** We did have the wedding music from Sound of Music as the recessional, but it’s a very nice instrumental piece with a certain grandeur to it. It sounds very appropriate at a wedding,** and it’s certainly not We’ve Only Just Begun.

You had “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” as your wedding recessional???

 

[daeve]

You had “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” as your wedding recessional???

No. The other part, the big regal procession kind of thing. I might have considere How Do You Solve a Problem Like Debby, but it wasn’t available in sheet music.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

No. The other part, the big regal procession kind of thing. I might have considere How Do You Solve a Problem Like Debby, but it wasn’t available in sheet music.

I once played that processional for a wedding. It is a nice, formal tune, but in keeping with my personal ban on playing show tunes (whether from musicals or operas), I wouldn’t do it again. There are some beautiful organ arrangements of the Grand March from Aida or Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, but I would not play these in a Catholic wedding.

Gather/GIA: Much better musical arrangements written for organ rather than keyboard as with OCP, but just as politically correct. With regard to Simple Gifts, whose tune was hijacked for Lord of the Dance, it really is hard to dance with the devil on your back!

 

[Guitar]

There are some beautiful organ arrangements of the Grand March from Aida or Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, but I would not play these in a Catholic wedding.

I’ve been asked for the Verdi too, but unfortunately once you have heard it accompany Radames’ grand entry on the back of an elephant, the piece is never quite the same at a wedding.

 

[RWMorris]

As a church musician I am almost too humiliated to report this, but once I played a FUNERAL in which the grieving widower asked me to play “We’ve Only Just Begun”. I did it, but since then have refused to do anything of the sort.

 

[mercygate]

As a church musician I am almost too humiliated to report this, but once I played a FUNERAL in which the grieving widower asked me to play “We’ve Only Just Begun”. I did it, but since then have refused to do anything of the sort.

I can’t top that but in my mis-spent youth, I strummed a guitar and sang Kumbaya at Mass. Every time I have to sing “Eagle’s Wings” I offer it up as penance.