A
AlanFromWichita
Guest
Quick summary:
Is there any authoritative sources regarding liturgical music that either prohibit or discourage the use of instrumental classical music, such as Beethoven or Chopin piano music, either before Mass or during meditation times when nobody is singing and “filler” music is in order – such as after the Communion hymn while people are still going to Communion and/or attending to matters after Communion?
Details:
For the past couple months, one of the churches where I play music has been under renovation; consequently instead of the pipe organ, I’m playing an electric keyboard.
Since I’m a piano player and know very little organ music other than how to play hymns, this has had the positive effect that I have been able to play some of the classics that I know on piano, usually before Mass and occasionally as “filler” music during offertory and Communion when I need to fill more time than the hymn.
Mostly I’ve been sticking to some fairly melodic Bach and a little Chopin during Mass.
Then I read somewhere the Holy Father plays piano, and loves Beethoven and Mozart. Therefore, before Mass, I’ve been playing some Beethoven “in his honor.” I don’t say that; I just play it, and that’s just what motivated my choices.
I’ve been doing this for a couple months now, and people have been thrilled. They approach me after Mass, or even in the parking lot, and ask what that beautiful thing was that I played. One alleged being moved to tears, as I played the second movement of the Pathetique Sonata before Mass and apparently it meant something special to that person.
Now tonight I get a phone call from the lady that hired me, telling me that a couple of women had complained to the pastor that Beethoven does not belong in church and that I need to quit playing it. The pastor doesn’t know what I play, because a retired priest says that Mass and btw he’s totally happy with the music – that would be the celebrant who is happy with it as I play it.
Anyway, the pastor asked Nellie to “call me” and let me know there have been complaints about my playing Beethoven before Mass. As far as I can get from Nellie, he did not go so far as to say that I should quit. He did tell Nellie that he doesn’t know anything about the music, but please call me and tell me of their complaints.
Normally I don’t really care what I play; I’ll play whatever people want to hear. However, with another couple months of renovation, I think it’s terrible that a couple griping people (turns out these people are noted for their complaining without helping) could stand to ruin it for all these people who have felt blessed by this music.
OTOH, if there really is some reason that Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, Chopin, and all that other good stuff is disallowed in Church, especially before Mass, then I want to know.
If I can get some documentation, then I plan to defy these complainers and continue to do it. The reason I want documentation is that I want the pastor to be “equipped” if they complain again, so we don’t place him in the middle, and I will provide these complainers (who btw don’t have the guts to talk to me directly about it – they went to the pastor to complain) with a copy of documentation, and tell them if they have further questions about music at Mass, they are welcome to speak to me directly and explain what the problem is.
I plan to post this request on one other forum (not CA) and also to see if I can find anything myself, because I think I might like a little nice music before tomorrow’s Mass, so I am going to try to do some homework myself; I just don’t have a real clue other than to start at the US bishop’s site and look around.
If anybody else can find something on this, I’d much appreciate it. Otherwise if I can’t either I will refrain from any music before Mass except possibly hymns – like they used to like me to play on the pipe organ but frankly I find comparatively boring.
I have decided, though, what the exit hymn will be tomorrow afternoon: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” with music by Beethoven.
Thanks in advance,
Alan
Is there any authoritative sources regarding liturgical music that either prohibit or discourage the use of instrumental classical music, such as Beethoven or Chopin piano music, either before Mass or during meditation times when nobody is singing and “filler” music is in order – such as after the Communion hymn while people are still going to Communion and/or attending to matters after Communion?
Details:
For the past couple months, one of the churches where I play music has been under renovation; consequently instead of the pipe organ, I’m playing an electric keyboard.
Since I’m a piano player and know very little organ music other than how to play hymns, this has had the positive effect that I have been able to play some of the classics that I know on piano, usually before Mass and occasionally as “filler” music during offertory and Communion when I need to fill more time than the hymn.
Mostly I’ve been sticking to some fairly melodic Bach and a little Chopin during Mass.
Then I read somewhere the Holy Father plays piano, and loves Beethoven and Mozart. Therefore, before Mass, I’ve been playing some Beethoven “in his honor.” I don’t say that; I just play it, and that’s just what motivated my choices.
I’ve been doing this for a couple months now, and people have been thrilled. They approach me after Mass, or even in the parking lot, and ask what that beautiful thing was that I played. One alleged being moved to tears, as I played the second movement of the Pathetique Sonata before Mass and apparently it meant something special to that person.
Now tonight I get a phone call from the lady that hired me, telling me that a couple of women had complained to the pastor that Beethoven does not belong in church and that I need to quit playing it. The pastor doesn’t know what I play, because a retired priest says that Mass and btw he’s totally happy with the music – that would be the celebrant who is happy with it as I play it.
Anyway, the pastor asked Nellie to “call me” and let me know there have been complaints about my playing Beethoven before Mass. As far as I can get from Nellie, he did not go so far as to say that I should quit. He did tell Nellie that he doesn’t know anything about the music, but please call me and tell me of their complaints.
Normally I don’t really care what I play; I’ll play whatever people want to hear. However, with another couple months of renovation, I think it’s terrible that a couple griping people (turns out these people are noted for their complaining without helping) could stand to ruin it for all these people who have felt blessed by this music.
OTOH, if there really is some reason that Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, Chopin, and all that other good stuff is disallowed in Church, especially before Mass, then I want to know.
If I can get some documentation, then I plan to defy these complainers and continue to do it. The reason I want documentation is that I want the pastor to be “equipped” if they complain again, so we don’t place him in the middle, and I will provide these complainers (who btw don’t have the guts to talk to me directly about it – they went to the pastor to complain) with a copy of documentation, and tell them if they have further questions about music at Mass, they are welcome to speak to me directly and explain what the problem is.
I plan to post this request on one other forum (not CA) and also to see if I can find anything myself, because I think I might like a little nice music before tomorrow’s Mass, so I am going to try to do some homework myself; I just don’t have a real clue other than to start at the US bishop’s site and look around.
If anybody else can find something on this, I’d much appreciate it. Otherwise if I can’t either I will refrain from any music before Mass except possibly hymns – like they used to like me to play on the pipe organ but frankly I find comparatively boring.
I have decided, though, what the exit hymn will be tomorrow afternoon: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” with music by Beethoven.
Thanks in advance,
Alan
