It is not always a matter of preference to take this or that training. One also has to deal with health, priorities and ability. I would hope, that if there really is a resurgence of interest in the traditional heritage of the Church among young people that these same people will take their place of service by learning chant, Latin and organ, according to the ability of each. Cat and I aren’t getting any younger.
GOOD CALL!
According to the video in the OP, the Old Form of the Mass is attracting a new generation. I don’t see it in my city, but I’m sure it’s happening in other cities or else the OP would not have this video available to post.
But what I am definitely NOT seeing in ANY city is a rush of young people to learn how to play the organ (or piano, which is one pathway to learning the organ), and how to sing correctly so that they can learn to sing Gregorian chant.
I don’t think learning Latin is that important for those who wish to serve at the Latin Mass, since the translations are available.
However, without the organ and without the singing of Gregorian chant, that Latin Mass is going to be rather plain. Now that’s perfectly OK, and maybe that’s what the young people want–a Mass in Latin with no music at all. If that’s what you want, then stop reading this post.
But that’s not what I hear the young people saying here on CAF. What I hear them longing for is beautiful ethereal Gregorian chant and magnificent organ music, along with all the traditions and pageantry of the Traditional Latin Mass…
Again, I apologize in advance if I sound crabby, but after 56 years of life, I know from experience that music skills take work, hard work, and many hours of it, and like pnewton, I’m wondering if the young people expect the old people like me to do all that work.
Let’s start with the Gregorian chant. Singing Gregorian chant should be a skill that most people of normal intelligence can learn. But developing the kind of singing techniques that will actually make it sound lovely (or at least bearable) is not something that will be picked up off the internet. This is the kind of skill that you have to learn in choirs, from good music teachers, over many years. The voice, like any part of the human body, has to be trained.
From what I understand, the ideal in the Latin Mass is for the schola to consist of males, not females. And yet, in the United States a male who sings in a choir is even rarer than a teenager who is taking organ lessons.
Yes, male singers exist. We have a world-renowned boys’ choir in our city, and the boys can remain in the choir through high school, and some do. But it’s hardly a crowded choir.
And now let’s talk about all the children/teenagers who play piano or organ.
(Crickets chirping–hey, at least something is making music!)
Last year, I played for the concerts in our award-winning Catholic high school. This school attracts some of the most brilliant and promising students in the area, and the families are strong and in many cases, financially-comfortable if not wealthy.
And yet, out of the hundreds of students who attend that high school, not a ONE OF THEM was able to play for their school concerts, so they found a middle-aged lady (me) to do it.
When I was in high school, I not only played for all of my school concerts, but I was earning money playing for other soloists, ensembles, dance troupes, etc. in my city. I was better at playing piano in high school than I am now because I practiced more!
Hey, Latin Mass lovers, this isn’t looking good.
No keyboardists = no organ= no Mass music other than acapella. But no boys/men singing in choirs (and not that many girls/women singing in choirs) = frog-like voices singing off pitch = no schola = no Gregorian chant = no Mass music at all.
Is this OK with you? A plain Mass? I personally wouldn’t mind, but is this really what you have in mind when you envision serving at a Latin Mass?
If it’s not OK with you, then here are my challenges to all the “New Generation” attracted to the “Old Mass”:
- Join a choir, one that has a well-educated and experienced conductor who teaches a difficult and varied repertoire of music, and trains the choir members in correct singing techniques. Don’t worry if it’s not a “schola” or even a Christian choir–the important thing is to learn HOW to sing so that eventually, you can attend some kind of training seminar to learn the proper way to sing Gregorian chant, and then hopefully, be able to teach others. And start young, when you are still a child, so you can grow that lovely singing voice.
- Take piano/organ lessons, and practice, practice, practice. It’s a lot harder than surfing the web and visiting Facebook, but someone has to step up and do it. YOU be that someone!. There really isn’t any excuse. If you don’t have the money, then ask an adult who shares your love of the Latin Mass to help pay for your lessons. You don’t have to have any talent to play an instrument–you just have to be willing to work really hard and not give up, but stick with it for at least ten years. That’s a good reason to start lessons when you are a child, but it’s never too late. I started organ lessons two years ago, and I’m able to play some very nice Bach pieces, and I’m getting better at playing hymns.
Godspeed to all the New Generation! I’ll be happy to let you take my seat at the piano (or organ) bench!
