The Power of Music

[Zerg]

Scripture says “make a joyful noise unto the Lord!”

 

[Peeps]

The point is, there’s nothing wrong with having a silent Mass.

I agree with you that there’s nothing wrong with a silent Mass, and I’m glad that our parish offers one on Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m., and it’s very well-attended. I think this is a great option for people who have tend to get easily-upset about Mass music and I would suggest that the OP look for this option to ease their mind and soul.

But I think it’s clear from history and the Church writings that the Mass has generally included sublime music, uplifting music, and that the modern-day OF Mass is generally expected to include music at several places.

Even Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn after the Last Supper, probably a piece sung by many Jews after Passover.

 

[Peeps]

I wonder what the acoustics are like at that church? I think that can have a big influence on how much people sing.

If you’re asking about my parish with the high-ceiling, the acoustics are dismal. It’s also a clam-shell, which is death to any possibility of good acoustics. Recently a great deal of money was spent on a new sound system, and it has helped a little. But it’s still really hard to hear the choir unless you’re sitting right in front of them, and if you can’t hear words, the anthems are just pretty melodies.

As for the organ–it’s a massive instrument, and depending on where you’re sitting, you’ll either hear a mighty blast of sound or a faint rustle of sound. It’s really weird and kind of fascinating.

I know that during the 1970s, clam-shells were very popular, but I think that the Vatican should ban them from future church buildings, and that church architects should voluntarily suppress them forever!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

But I think it’s clear from history and the Church writings that the Mass has generally included sublime music, uplifting music,

Which part of Church history would this be? I don’t think during the many persecutions of Christians, anyone was too concerned whether music was used in a Mass or not. Yes, music has traditionally been one aspect of worship back to the Old Testament or we wouldn’t have psalms and temple singers, etc. but I really don’t like the emphasis you are placing on it. Some of your posts suggest the Mass is lacking if it doesn’t have music. Again, this is your preference because you really like music. I like music too, I used to be a Mass musician all through high school and I have been involved with the music industry, but I don’t go to Mass for the music. And it’s important to make very clear that there is nothing wrong with a quiet Mass, a silent Mass, or a Mass without music and that music is NOT the reason we go to Mass, or even one of the reasons we go to Mass. Mass is not a concert, it’s not a performance, and it’s not a group sing-a-long.

 

[JButky]

Can chant even be said to have chords? I really don’t know.

Chant is melody formed on the basis of intervals with particular relationships. They are known as modes. Chant modes are comprised of tetrachords (which are not chords as we think of them however, it’s more like half a scale…two tetrachords make up a mode). But any melody can have chords constructed from their interval relationships. You can set chant on top of the chords they imply. In original practice they were not used, but that doesn’t mean that the basis for its chord structure doesn’t exist.

 

[OraLabora]

The point is, there’s nothing wrong with having a silent Mass. I can tell you at 6:30 am when I have not had coffee or breakfast because of the need to fast before Communion, I am definitely not ready to be belting out any kind of song.

One of the highlights of my working career on the days I had to commute to Montreal (I worked mostly from home at that time) was going to 7 am Mass at St. Joseph’s Oratory. It was a quiet spoken Mass, faithful to the rubrics. By that time I already had an hour to an hour and a half of commuting behind me. I tried to arrive a half hour early to give me the time to visit St. André Bessette’s tomb (he was a Blessed at the time), and pray the Office of Readings. In the darker months, I would arrive in the dark and leave Mass just as the sun was coming up and the city was awakening at my feet (for those who know Montreal, the Oratory is atop Mt. Royal).

I couldn’t think of a better way to start the day. Then I’d go have breakfast and pray Lauds while eating breakfast, and then head to the office.

And at least one of the accompanists (piano) created a very rich accompaniment for those chants, complete with chord progressions, arpeggios, and a lovely harmony. I have to say though, that I found it kind of “off”–chant isn’t meant to be accompanied.

Exactly right. Chant is meant to be sung a cappella. Our original choirmaster (former choirmaster of the abbey, RIP), didn’t have too much faith in us and forced accompaniment on us. Then he left when he was transferred to act as chaplain at a nun’s monastery. And shortly after, our organist quit, so we were forced to sing a cappella and that’s when our schola really took off.

The abbey sings the Mass a cappella. For Lauds and Vespers they have light organ accompaniment to avoid drifting off key (a common problem with psalmody, which makes it difficult to take up the antiphon again at the end), but it is not used in Advent and Lent and I prefer it that way.

I chant the Hours at home and obviously I can’t play an instrument at the same time (actually, I can’t play an instrument at all… never learned), so it’s a cappella. Vigils are tough very early in the morning, that Office I sing recto-tono.

 

[Peeps]

I don’t go to Mass for the music. And it’s important to make very clear that there is nothing wrong with a quiet Mass, a silent Mass, or a Mass without music and that music is NOT the reason we go to Mass, or even one of the reasons we go to Mass. Mass is not a concert, it’s not a performance, and it’s not a group sing-a-long.

I don’t go to Mass for music either–I go to receive Jesus and to be with Christian brothers and sisters. Unless there is some failure by the priest to consecrate the Bread and Wine, Mass is complete with or without music because of Jesus.

And as a pianist/organist, I am completely in a agreement with you that Mass is NOT a concert or performance or group sing-a-long.

When I was Protestant, i was constantly reminded by my piano teacher, by various choir directors, by pastors and teachers, and by musicians themselves, that we do not “perform” music in church, ever. We serve God and His people. We are NOT performers, we are servants.

What I’m trying to say in my posts, and apparently not succeeding, is that the Church throughout history, or at least much of history, excluding times of persecution, has included music in the Mass, so it is appropriate that we still use music in our modern-day Masses. I am NOT SAYING that Mass is in any way deficient if there is no music–not saying that!

But a Mass with music is uplifting to many, including me. Some people don’t really care, but I do and I think many others do, too, and we are not glorifying music over the Lord Jesus just because we like music in the Mass that we attend.

BTW, when Christians were marching into the arena, they sang together. American slaves, mainly Africans, sang together as they sweated and worked for no pay. Prisoners have sung together. Sick people and people at the point of death often enjoy having music played or sung, or even making music themselves.

Music is one of God’s gifts to us. The Bible is filled with songs and hymns.

Yes, I appreciate silence and often indulge myself in it, especially in our parish’s 24/7 Adoration Chapel. But oh, do I love music, especially music that glorifies God and encourages His people! And I have always believed (perhaps because I was taught so) that we should do our best to glorify God whenever we sing, pray, or listen to music.

 

[EmmaSowl]

If you have the bra(name removed by moderator)ower to understand Catholicism then that’s great. Use your gift to help others in some way. Not to feel depressed or look down on those who haven’t reached your level of knowledge.

I try to use the little I have. I do not look down on anyone. I do not get depressed when I meet people without knowledge (I used to have zero knowledge and am well aware of how that can happen) - unless those people were given shameful educations by the Catholic authorities whom their parents trusted and paid.

That depresses me. Yes, I get much more easily depressed than the average joe. That is part of my illness and I medicate to lessen it. But I am careful not to medicate myself into an unnatural world where nothing is sad. I think the above situation is a legitimate cause for sadness in a Catholic on many levels.

Also, for me, depression is a better emotion than anger (which is what the depression replaces). I think those who have flagged some of my posts would agree that I don’t handle anger well.

Plus I seriously doubt that you have compared knowledge with every cradle Catholic out there. There’s probably a good many who know as much or more than you but are quiet about it.

There are gazillions of cradle Catholics whose knowledge is far above mine. They impress me and I learn from them. I was not referring to them.

I also question whether the statements you make about “your whole diocese” really pertain to every church in your diocese. Have you been to Mass at every one of them?

No, only about a half dozen. But I’ve been to diocesan conferences and was a delegate at Cardinal Mahoney’s Gather Faithfully Together lay convention. I have had long talks with liturgists and priests - some fairly high up.

None (not one) of those authorities who defend the trend toward paid performance and youth songs ever denies that what they are doing is disobedient. They frankly acknowledge it then give uniform reasons as to why that’s okay.

Before the last GIRM came out, the biggest reason was that the new GIRM would promote these things, so why not get a jump on them?

After the new GIRM the reasons were

1. It brings in the youth. The above stats show it does not.

2. It’s what the people want. The fact that threads keep starting on this topic indicates that some of the people don’t want it. Plus the dwindling attendance. Plus the dwindling collections. Plus the lack of singing.

3. It’s such a little thing. If it’s such a little thing, then it shouldn’t bother anyone to give obedience a shot - especially since being psychic, guessing what the youth like, and giving the people what they want have not had good track records.

 

[EmmaSowl]

Also, a general question: Why do you, and other people, start these kinds of threads? What are you hoping to gain? A lot of us who are happy in our Catholicism just roll our eyes.

And a lot of us who are unhappy would like to experience mercy. We probably don’t express it well because people are rarely articulate when in pain.

I hope to contribute to clarity in approaching what I see as a legitimate problem. The fact that there are so many arguments and strong opinions shows that something needs healing. Discussion will identify what that is.

And discussion can clear up misunderstandings, such a the following:

Those who, like you, hate contemporary Mass music will join in raving and hating on Marty Haugen.

I love Marty Haugen for quite a few reasons:

First is emotional: when I voluntarily walked into Mass as a suicidal, atheist-turned-questioner, recent widow, the song coming from the choir loft was “Return to God”.

Second is technical: Haugen writes lyrics so that every syllable has its own note and only one note. He writes music that is primarily quarter notes. In short, he takes care to make his music easy for the average person to sing.

Third is emotional and preferential: Mass of Creation is my favorite Mass. It was played at my baptism, plus (in my opinion) it is simply lovely. And again, it is extremely singable (although the rubric change threw a monkey wrench into that part - again, imo).

But I don’t think the first and last reasons are good ones to play Haugen. On the other hand, I’ve heard no good reasons not to play him, and I think the fact that he puts the needs of the faithful ahead of fancy composition when he composes is an excellent reason for Haugen to be sung.

However, once my choir director pointed out that, technically, there was not supposed to be singing under Eucharistic Prayer, my body started reacting jittery when we continued to do it (again, my illness). It was not that I didn’t think that the whispered “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again” which slowly crescendoed was gorgeous. It had always moved my soul. But my soul was more affected by the needless disobedience.

I don’t know why the Church says “no music” at that point. But I try to place my bets on her ordinances and not my preferences. Perhaps she wants us to realize that the moment is so holy it needs no manipulation.

 

[EmmaSowl]

It’s just more First World Catholic Problems.

The First World Catholic Problem I am trying to address is that of ever-falling Mass attendance.

 

[Prodigal1984]

I’ve been saying this for a while.
Having hymns by Martin Luther or Charles Wesley are completely inappropriate in a Catholic setting.
When you read the actual documents of Vatican 2 or the GIRM you realize that there’s quite a bit of liturgical abuse going on. I’ve been openly vocal to priests. I say , It says in the GIRM, sometimes they are receptive, other times annoyed.
A recent one I brought up to a priest was why Eucharistic Prayer 2 is the one I hear 90% of the time when the GIRM says that it is only really intended for weekday masses. EP 1 and 3 are supposed to be the ones used on Sundays and Holy Days but I only hear EP 1on like Christmas and Easter and maybe Holy Thursday. As if it’s some kind of only special occasion prayer. EP 3 I hear more but still no where near EP 2. I often ask if they do this because it is the shortest, which I can see no other reason and that is very, very sad. I mean up until 1970 , EP 1 or "The Roman Canon " was the only Eucharistic Prayer. It was just called The Canon of Mass.

 

[EmmaSowl]

Because I thought this poster might actually respond,

I have. I’m sorry it’s taken three days. My opportunities to respond are limited and I try to take challenges in order.

rather than just take offense

Where did I take offense?

 

[Prodigal1984]

I go to the OF and the EF. I like both equally. Just as Pope Benedict XVl said.
However I must say there’s a lot more room for improvising in the OF and I mean I get annoyed when priests add or subtract stuff on their own accord. That goes against the GIRM explicitly. The most horrifying thing I ever saw was a priest making announcements while he was removing the sacred particles from the chalices and patens after the reception of the Eucharidt was finished. in the OF and also it seems like priests and lay people get so anxious over silence when silence is the most beautiful part of the mass! We don’t always need music and everything. Silence is sacred and it’s actually something I really like about the EF. Of course it’s less so in a high mass but I think there is still more occasion for silence especially during the consecration.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Thanks for your insights. I appreciate that this forum draws many people who are struggling with various aspects of their faith and life.

I also appreciate that what may seem minor or even trivial to some of us may be a huge deal to someone else for some reason personal to them. We had a thread some months back where a convert was having a huge problem with the changing of one word in a Mass prayer, even though the change did not involve anything controversial like Mariology, the Filioque, Vatican II, or gender, and was regarded by just about everyone else as synonymous with/ not a material change from previous wording. But the guy who posted the thread was to the point of refusing to say the line of the prayer because it was ruining the Mass for him.

I also agree music is an emotional issue and people will always be moved to argue over it. I was trained during my time as an 80s college radio DJ (“Just Before It Got Hip” to be one of those) that one was to be broad-minded about music and not insult other people’s preferred music and even to try to see value in music I personally would not choose to play or listen to. If I thought some jazz musician sounded like he was torturing his horn to death rather than playing it or that Jandek was so awful his records should be burnt and not played, I was to just get over that already. (I actually ended up developing quite an appreciation for Jandek though it took me until I was about 45.) Coming out of that environment I am always taken aback when somebody feels perfectly entitled to say they wouldn’t hit a dog in the butt with my favorite hymn.

But regarding lack of Mass attendance, I think the main reason people are not going to Mass is that the Catholic Church teaches too many difficult sexual rules, while many of the clergy don’t even live up to the teachings. That to me has a much greater effect than whether the Mass music is Mozart, “The Old Rugged Cross”, or children singing a handclapping Alleluia tune to a bad piano accompaniment. Or even no music at all.

And a lot of the people either like the music at their Masses, or simply don’t care. Since people rarely post or make a speech when they are content or don’t care, we simply don’t hear from them.

 

[EmmaSowl]

Do you do understand? Isn’t this seeing the most evil of motives in others. You said music is powerful. Perhaps there might be more selfless motives than you are assuming.

Excellent point.

While I went too far, please remember that I based my rash conclusions on the words I have been told. I have been told outright by liturgists and other parish authorities that liturgical disobedience is a more fruitful path for evangelization at Mass than the words of our bishops in union with Rome are. This is said to me despite the measurable negative fruits of the disobedience.

If they cannot see the fruits for themselves, aren’t we called to point it out?

If they do see the fruits, what are the reasons to continue with a losing strategy which involves disobedience? No one has attempted to explain them to me even though I ask.

 

[Prodigal1984]

I used to think they were difficult until I realized it was me who was actually difficult in not going and understanding them. Every teaching the Church has makes total sense when you actually find out why. Most people just choose ignorance and follow what pagans promote and that is where the difficulty comes from.

 

[PetraG]

Try reading up on the Parable of The Pharisee and the Publican.

It’s pretty basic stuff. You should probably be able to grasp it.

It is very hard to read that passage without hearing any patronizing tone in it.

So give up on music. It is only distracting you. Focus on learning the Truth of the Spirit. And, when you can enjoy the caterwauling for 50 years, you can return the prodigal son (or daughter). Apparently, your passion is just too lukewarm to really appreciate the gifts God has given all of us.

You wanted a Catholic music lesson.

You just got one.

Old school style.

Um, no. That is not an “old school” Catholic music lesson about the beauty of “kindness, charity, joy and happiness…willing to sit patiently enduring…,” at least, it doesn’t read that way to me. When someone is really upset, IMO this kind of reply isn’t likely to bring them around. Besides, music is integral to Catholic worship. How is anyone going to “give up” on it? There has to be a reconcilation of some kind.

All of us have a pastor making decisions in our parish and a bishop over him making decisions in our diocese. We can respectfully approach them about problems we have and obediently accept that there will be things that are imperfect in this world, sometimes imperfect because others are imperfect and sometimes imperfect because we ourselves are lacking in charity or comprehension or both and probably usually a combination of the two.

In our archdiocese, we have Archbishop Sample, who just released a pastoral letter on music in sacred liturgy. Since there is not a thing in it for the Holy See to object to, that is going to be our guiding reality.
https://d2wldr9tsuuj1b.cloudfront.net/12494/documents/2019/1/Sing to the Lord a New Song.pdf

Some other bishop undoubtedly has other liturgical guidelines for parishes in his diocese to follow or leaves those decisions more up to the pastors in his diocese. That’s the way it goes, because it is impossible to have unity in worship unless we all bend to put the decisions made by others ahead of the way we’d have things if we got to make all the decisions and had some way to control everyone else. That’s not always an easy thing to do, and it doesn’t hurt to recognize that.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m glad you have reached the point where every teaching makes total sense. There are still quite a few that do not make sense to me; however, I accept them as being God’s will for His Church. Many of them do not affect my life at this point and as long as I keep living my life in a way where I will not run up against them, I don’t need to concern myself with them. I doubt I will ever understand fully all teachings but I also don’t think it’s necessary for me to understand them all.

 

[EmmaSowl]

then obedience is not to a set of generalities, but to the person of the bishop and his decision, whether it fits your taste or not.

Exactly! Whether it fits our tastes or not. None of this should be about preference.

First, the bishops in union with Rome.
Second, our individual bishop where he is given specific options.

But not to anyone who outright tells you he is disobeying legitimate authority because of his own theories and preferences.

 

[EmmaSowl]

My own personal opinion is that the members of that small choir should all go to confession for having slowly slaughtered the music; if that were an example of chant, I would never listen again. They couldn’t even manage to all be on key.

I’m glad you brought this up. Many posts exhibit musical knowledge of which I am ignorant. I am definitely ignorant of chant other than the ones sung on penitential and holy days and the simple ones sung by priests at daily Mass. All of those are well known and easy and when chanted, the faithful in all my parishes have joined in loudly and beautifully.

I have not heard complicated or intricate chant and, as I understand things, that would not be encouraged at regular Masses in light of the goal to assist the faithful to sing.

My most unique chant experience was a few years ago at the Vigil for a Bishop Installation.

No instruments nor choir. One lone a cappella monk cantored.

The chants were in English, extremely simple, and printed on a worship aid. I had never heard any of them before but could easily sing along. Everyone sang. Everyone. It enveloped me like a heavenly choir.

It was one of those rare moments at church where my emotions were in line with the reality before me, and the moment was rooted in obedience. I don’t get blessed that way often. It was wonderful.