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1neophyte
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pnewton
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Okay, then let me ask you, as this genealogy reference is absurd, what part of lyrics do you find problematic? That God holds us in the palm of His hand? That He shields us? That we call God our Rock and our Refuge? Maybe it is just the promise of God to His children. So, what part of the song do you find offensive?
FYI - I can understand the musical misgivings. The chorus is melodic but the verse is simply bizarre. I would like to inform the composer that the a G chord does not have, and should never have, a C#. I hate dissonance.
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exnihilo
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It’s not absurd. I’m just saying ‘it comes from Holy Scripture’ doesn’t automatically make it a good song.
I don’t find the lyrics offensive. The song as a whole I just dislike in the extreme for multiple reasons.
The first reason would be Catholics can’t or don’t sing basic songs. But for some reason they love songs with a wide range, difficult or changing time, difficult melodies, and choruses (they even add them to the Gloria against directions otherwise). I just don’t get it. It ends up being poorly done. I came from a Protestant background where everyone sang. We sang four part harmony. We sang it well. Many of the songs were simple, but it sounded so much better.
The second reason would be it reminds me of summer church camp or television religion. As it turns out as a kid we sang a lot of Catholic songs at church camp. I remember the guitars, the casual atmosphere, and sitting around a campfire. The music seemed great for kids at a summer camp. But it didn’t seem like something I’d ever want to sing in a church. Given the difference in Catholic and Protestant views of a worship service this is only a stronger feeling now as a Catholic.
It also reminds me a lot of the emotional music I see if I come across a modern TV religious program. It seems like what you might sing to stir up the crowd emotionally before a request for people to come up and be prayed over for healing. I imagine people swaying back and forth to it. Raising a lighter wouldn’t seem inappropriate.
Thirdly it focuses on what God does for us. The songs I most have problems with are ‘I’ or ‘you’ songs. They are focused on us rather than on God. Is this a song that praises God? Not really. There is nothing absolutely wrong with self reference. For instance, ‘my soul doth magnify the Lord’. This is much different than the tone of ‘On Eagles Wing’. The overall tone, proportion, and direction of the words are important.
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pianistclare
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Huh? Were’s this C#??? The Original key is A major.
I’m looking at the sheet music now…
I’m looking at the sheet music now…
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stpurl
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So am I. In the copy I have, the key is D (sharps are F and C), and the chord written for the first notes of the song (You who) is indeed a ‘G’ chord, while the notes are C sharp (You) and B (who). The G chord goes through “Dwell in the” (C sharp, B, B) to the next “shelter” A and G, where the chord changes to D maj 7 F sharp.
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pianistclare
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OH…my bad. I was looking at Shout to the Lord, not Eagles Wings.
Yeah that’s another problem with that song. LOL
Sorry, totally misunderstood.
Yeah that’s another problem with that song. LOL
Sorry, totally misunderstood.
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pianistclare
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Yes. We were going to do it this past Sunday, but our chief soloist (a person who has recorded many a sacred hymn as well) was out of town.
It’s pretty joyful.
Funny, I wouldn’t have picked you for a traditionalist when it comes to music.
God bless, Sy!
It’s pretty joyful.
Funny, I wouldn’t have picked you for a traditionalist when it comes to music.
God bless, Sy!
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edwest21
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Folk music has no place at Mass. It is a recent innovation that does not raise a person into sacred thoughts. Pipe organs are good and Gregorian chant.
Ed
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Wesrock
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I don’t know about “folk music,” but if guitar and/or piano is what’s available to a parish (cost, available talent, etc…), by all means they should use it.
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1neophyte
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Pipe organs are good for soundtracks of cheesy horror films. They turn the Mass into a joke.
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exnihilo
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There isn’t a requirement for instruments. There certainly isn’t a need for hymns. We could just say the responses. Better yet, the responses and mass could be chanted. That doesn’t require an instrument.
If the organ was played in the style of a horror film that would be a joke. Personally I’ve never encountered that before. So I’m not sure I understand where you are coming from.
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sallybutler
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Maybe Folk music does not raise you to sacred thoughts. Believe it or not, pipe organs and Gregorian chants don’t raise everyone in the world to have sacred thoughts. and folk music does raise some.
My mother taught me that everyone at Mass should be singing, except if there were solos. It seems to me that many of the songs chosen, the key they are played in, and even the tempo (usually dirge like) are to keep people from singing.
As my mother would say, If you have a good voice, raise it in praise and thanksgiving to God. If your voice isn’t so good, raise it in praise and thanksgiving to God and to get even with Him.
Music directors – Please include more songs that all of the people there to participate in the Lord’s Supper and participate more fully.
My mother taught me that everyone at Mass should be singing, except if there were solos. It seems to me that many of the songs chosen, the key they are played in, and even the tempo (usually dirge like) are to keep people from singing.
As my mother would say, If you have a good voice, raise it in praise and thanksgiving to God. If your voice isn’t so good, raise it in praise and thanksgiving to God and to get even with Him.
Music directors – Please include more songs that all of the people there to participate in the Lord’s Supper and participate more fully.
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1neophyte
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The manner in which it is played is irrelevant. It is simply the sound of the organ that is offensive. Just as the sound of an accordion is suited for polka and would have no place in mass, the organ (along with the kazoo, theramin, and didgeridoo) should be on a list of forbidden liturgical instruments. I am in agreement with you that the ideal would be simple unaccompanied chant, but alas, we live in a fallen world. Gentle, unobtrusive piano or (tasteful…repeat: tasteful) guitar that does not overpower the voice of the congregation must be held in highest esteem.
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exnihilo
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You do realize that is an unusual position and at odds with most in the Church?
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1neophyte
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What does that have to do with the price of tomatoes? It is rare that the truth is NOT unusual or at odds with most.
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edwest21
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People have short memories and somehow think that everything we have now popped up for no particular reason. No, since the late 1960s, it was planned to work this way.
www.crisismagazine.com
The Hidden Hand behind Bad Catholic Music
It usually starts with the missalettes — those lightweight booklets scattered around the pews of your parish church. They contain all the readings of the Sunday Masses, plus some hymns and responses…
www.crisismagazine.com
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pnewton
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Goodness gracious. Musical gnosticism? The only thing I get from that article is that Jeffrey Tucker has an ax to grind against OCP. I for one like most of their work, and not because I have been brain washed or am part of some conspiracy.
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DignumEtJustum
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No, we need to return to the music of the Church as set out in the Vatican II document Musicam Sacram.
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