Teenagers and Church Music

[Julianna]

Hi and welcome back everyone!

I saw this article just before the forums went down and I’ve been waiting to post it here. I want to see what you all think of it.

Teenagers and Church Music: What Do They Really Think?

“What do teens think is the appropriate kind of music for a worship setting? An interview with a professor of music education who researched this question provides some interesting answers.”

As I read the responses on this thread, I began to wonder why so many teens would like Gregorian Chants. Then, outta-da-blue it hit me…

It’s very GOTH! I get it now.

 

[Jennifer_J]

As I read the responses on this thread, I began to wonder why so many teens would like Gregorian Chants. Then, outta-da-blue it hit me…

It’s very GOTH! I get it now.

or maybe, just maybe, teens know beauty when they hear it? Your response implies that you don’t have a very high view of teenagers.

Jennifer

 

[Julianna]

or maybe, just maybe, teens know beauty when they hear it? Your response implies that you don’t have a very high view of teenagers.

Jennifer

I raised 2, and I was one. Still listen to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith to this day. It has nothing to do with my opinion of teengers, more to do with observation. Goth, and prep, and jock, and brain, are all phases of teenagers…angst, and rebellion are the high points of puberty.

 

[lak611]

I raised 2, and I was one. Still listen to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith to this day. It has nothing to do with my opinion of teengers, more to do with observation. Goth, and prep, and jock, and brain, are all phases of teenagers…angst, and rebellion are the high points of puberty.

When I was one, I was a punk myself. I still like Social Distortion. I liked organ music and traditional hymns, though, at the time, and I still do. “Pange Lingua Gloriosi” and “Amazing Grace” have always been my favourites.

 

[demerzel85]

I raised 2, and I was one. Still listen to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith to this day. It has nothing to do with my opinion of teengers, more to do with observation. Goth, and prep, and jock, and brain, are all phases of teenagers…angst, and rebellion are the high points of puberty.

Hmm…Pangue Lingua, Adoro Te, Ave Verum etc are about the most rebellious texts actually They are hymns that rebel against the World.

 

[silverwings_88]

I’m 17, but I like both Gregorian Chanting, polyphony, AND Praise and Worship. I have no preference over the other; Tridentine Mass is appropriate with Gregorian, and the Novus Ordo seems wonderful with good Praise and Worship as long as it is centered on Christ and it is biblical.

If I go to a Mass or ashram in India, I will sing bhajans (repetitious chant-worship music). If I go to a Mass in Africa, I expect some clapping. If I go to a Catholic Church in the Pacific Islands, I will expect harmonious singing. If I go to Mass in an African-American parish, I would expect Gospel. If I go to Tridentine, I will chant the Mass.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

I’m 17, but I like both Gregorian Chanting, polyphony, AND Praise and Worship. I have no preference over the other; Tridentine Mass is appropriate with Gregorian, and the Novus Ordo seems wonderful with good Praise and Worship as long as it is centered on Christ and it is biblical.

That is good that you like both kinds of music, but how is the Mass much different from some protestant service if all that matters is that the music is “Christ centered” and “biblical”?

With Latin (our Universal language), Gregorian chant is our Universal music-proper for every Mass of the Latin Rite in every part of the world regardless of who they are or what their culture is. Local hymns can and should be used and that is fine and dandy, but one should not think of Gregorian chant as just proper to the Mass as it existed in the Latin Rite since the time of Pope St. Gregory and earlier.

 

[silverwings_88]

That is good that you like both kinds of music, but how is the Mass much different from some protestant service if all that matters is that the music is “Christ centered” and “biblical”?

The Eucharist. It is the centre and summit of Christian life, out of the sanitised Protestant services. The Eucharist makes the Mass worth it, even if the music is not reflective or there are hundreds of liturgical abuses. Which is why my openness to music. Without the Eucharist, then music becomes the centre of the service as Protestant Evangelical churches seem to outline. With the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, however, changes our focal point to the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

How can the Mass be Christ-centred without the Eucharist? It is our Bread of Angels, Jesus Christ sacramentally present for all to partake, and a glimpse of Heaven itself.

With Latin (our Universal language), Gregorian chant is our Universal music-proper for every Mass of the Latin Rite in every part of the world regardless of who they are or what their culture is. Local hymns can and should be used and that is fine and dandy, but one should not think of Gregorian chant as just proper to the Mass as it existed in the Latin Rite since the time of Pope St. Gregory and earlier.

Definitely. I went to the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver for Vespers and 17:00 Novus Ordo Mass, and they mixed together Gregorian chanting with two hymns. I’m just merely stating my flexibility with a Mass, especially with the prevalence of folk Masses in India and Africa.

It is the addition of Latin along with the vernecular for the NO, not the eradication of it, that I praise.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

The Eucharist. It is the centre and summit of Christian life, out of the sanitised Protestant services. The Eucharist makes the Mass worth it, even if the music is not reflective or there are hundreds of liturgical abuses. Which is why my openness to music. Without the Eucharist, then music becomes the centre of the service as Protestant Evangelical churches seem to outline. With the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, however, changes our focal point to the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

How can the Mass be Christ-centred without the Eucharist? It is our Bread of Angels, Jesus Christ sacramentally present for all to partake, and a glimpse of Heaven itself.

Quite true. I was coming at the question from this angle-since we do have the Eucharist and that is why Mass is so extremely important-what is with all the protestantish music? The Mass should reflect the Heavenly Liturgy (as far as Holy Church has developed organically over the centuries to understand this), and I betting there isn’t a whole lot of contemporary praise n’ worship music up there…

So, I’m not arguing with you but just throwing out some thoughts.

 

[silverwings_88]

Quite true. I was coming at the question from this angle-since we do have the Eucharist and that is why Mass is so extremely important-what is with all the protestantish music? The Mass should reflect the Heavenly Liturgy (as far as Holy Church has developed organically over the centuries to understand this), and I betting there isn’t a whole lot of contemporary praise n’ worship music up there…

So, I’m not arguing with you but just throwing out some thoughts.

Just a thought…

The Mass should reflect the Heavenly Liturgy, but would be hard to think of all the angels and saints in Heaven as prayer warriors and singing charismatically: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus!

The Catholic Church in Africa is growing because of inculturation, making the Church relevant to their culture. Heaven will also be filled with Africans and their acappella singing and drums in joyfully celebrating, as they do in their Holy Masses!

 

[patches]

I’m the music director at a small town Catholic church, and my own observation is that there are hymns written in the “good old days” that are absolutely awful, and some (though not very many) contemporary hymns that are reverent, musical, easily picked up by almost anyone, and very suitable to use in celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
It seems to me that we superimpose some of our own biases toward music we think is “appropriate” according to personal taste. Some seem to show an incredible disdain for any music whose composers have long, well, decomposed, while others aren’t happy until every bit of reverence and solemnity is thoroughly replaced with noise, bad poetry, and even more questionable theology in the music.

 

[davewan]

Question: What if Gregorian Chant or traditional hymns are done poorly in a particular liturgy? Would they still be an effective means for growing faith? Not necessarily, at least according to our bishops.

From “Music in Cathoic Worship:”

“Faith grows when it is well expressed in celebration. Good celebrations foster and nourish faith. Poor celebrations may weaken and destroy it.” (nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/musiccathworship.shtml)

At the same time, in their pastoral letter on youth ministry, “Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry,” the Bishops also say

“The ministry of prayer and worship with adolescents has several distinct dimensions that provide direction to comprehensive ministry efforts. Specifically, the ministry of prayer and worship allows music and song to express the vitality of young people (The music of the young brings freshness and variety to our current musical genres and can perform the same infusion of energy and vitality to sacred music. Music is a significant part of personal expression for young people and that desire carries over to their participation in liturgy. Parishes and schools can invite adolescents to participate in the choirs and musical assemblies, explore contemporary accompaniments and focus on the song and pace of the music, expand the local repertoire of hymns and songs to include songs that young people would select, and encourage singing by the whole assembly so that adolescents feel more comfortable in adding their voices.);” (nccbuscc.org/laity/youth/renewingpart3prayer&worship.shtml)

Clearly, our shepherds believe that:

1. Liturgy needs to be done well if it is to have a positive impact on faith.
2. Liturgy that incorporates contemporary style of music is both licit and appropriate for young people who prefer that style.

I always encourage those who do not prefer a contemporary style of music to simply attend a different liturgy. And I praise God when teens tell me they enjoy a variety of liturgical music styles. Frankly, I am baffled by those who believe that our God is not big enough to use a variety of means for drawing people to Himself.

Our parish keeps both of the above principals firmly in mind when offering the Life Teen liturgy. We work hard to do this liturgy well, offering music that is liturgically licit and culturally appropriate. And the fruits of the program show it.

 

[Rolltide]

Here’s how you do music right:

St. Agnes Catholic Church, St. Paul, MN
stagnes.net/music.html

If only all parishes were THIS lucky! Be sure to explore the site. They sell CD’s too!

 

[brotherhrolf]

We do it right here too. I sang in our choir for 18 years. Good music IS within reach of the average choir.

 

[Vidi_Aquam]

PAX

I must be the odd Catholic out… I like the contemporary Christian music (and G-chants, the old hymes also)…
I listen to Christian Music all day, in the car, at home & at Work, I go to a Life Teen Mass that has upbeat Liturgical Music. It has been a blessing to see all 4 of my children praising God with their voices. This is our family’s, faith, values and reflection to others…

“The study pointed out the influence of things we do and hear regularly. I would encourage parents to keep worship at the heart of their family’s life together–to attend church as a family, to have positive conversations about what happens at that time and place, to savor and enjoy this inter-generational gathering of God’s people.”

As a Parent & Catholic Christian we have shown our children many varieties of Liturgical Music & an appreciation for them all. All Praise belongs to God in all forms…

I agree contemporary music can praise God. But at the Mass?
The Mass is the Sacrifice of Christ on the Altar, there is a real seperation of flesh and blood there. If it is a continuation of Calvary where both the Precious Blood and Our Lady’s tears were spilt in 3 hours of silent sorrow…it seems nearly sacreligious to use contemporary music.

 

[HorseJumperCTS]

I’m 16 and think that Gregorian Chant/anything in Latin is appropriate. Some hymns are nice, as well.

I sing in my church’s Schola Cantorum.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi and welcome back everyone!

I saw this article just before the forums went down and I’ve been waiting to post it here. I want to see what you all think of it.

Teenagers and Church Music: What Do They Really Think?

“What do teens think is the appropriate kind of music for a worship setting? An interview with a professor of music education who researched this question provides some interesting answers.”

I believe that music forms and styles are learned to be appreciated. Someone has to introduce you to them and you have to learn to listen to them. Many young people have never heard but a few forms of music and a few styles of what I term “noise”.

 

[Jimsdun]

Hi and welcome back everyone!

I saw this article just before the forums went down and I’ve been waiting to post it here. I want to see what you all think of it.

Teenagers and Church Music: What Do They Really Think?

“What do teens think is the appropriate kind of music for a worship setting? An interview with a professor of music education who researched this question provides some interesting answers.”

I am not surprised by the survey. The “powers that be” that think they know what teenagers like as church music are completely clueless. i.e. Teenagers like rock and roll music, therefore they would stay interested in church if rock and roll was introduced into their music program. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong Wrong. Wrong. I remember from my own experience when I was a teenager. I grew up in the Assembly of God denomination, and the introduction of CCM into the worship services had the opposite effect of what the “powers that be” intended. Instead of keeping me interested, it is a factor that drove me out of the church.

 

[Jimsdun]

Thats because the driving force behind most of today’s mess is a generation of adults who havnt grown up. Something happened in that generation that made them feel like they were always missing out, they never were satisfied and most of all fear getting old.

Those who prefer the contemporary Christian music are generally the middle-aged who felt they missed out and are trying to recapture their youth by pretending to be Jesus freak hippies. That was pretty much out of vogue by 1980.

It’s almost comical to see these receding hairlines and expanding waistlines trying to act and dress like teenagers.

 

[aloysiusg]

I think it’s foolish at best to generalize all teenagers by saying they appreciate only one type of music, whether modern or traditional.