violins at TLM

[h1478971]

Can the violin be used at the TLM Mass? Just asking for recessionals?? what’s the opinion here on that?

 

[MarkThompson]

Can the violin be used at the TLM Mass? Just asking for recessionals?? what’s the opinion here on that?

According to Wikipedia (which actually is reliable on things like this), Mozart’s Requiem “is scored for 2 basset horns in F, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets in D, 3 trombones (alto, tenor & bass), timpani (2 drums), violins, viola and basso continuo (cello, double bass, and organ or harpsichord).” Draw your own conclusion!

 

[Mattapoisett64]

According to Wikipedia (which actually is reliable on things like this), Mozart’s Requiem “is scored for 2 basset horns in F, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets in D, 3 trombones (alto, tenor & bass), timpani (2 drums), violins, viola and basso continuo (cello, double bass, and organ or harpsichord).” Draw your own conclusion!

Actually, my conclusion would be that the *Requiem *was intended as a performance piece, and not to accompany an actual liturgy.

 

[Seamus_L]

Of course they can. Quite a few orchestral instruments are used for the TLM at St John Cantius on certain occasions. I believe the Institute of Christ the King (St Clara) in the Woodlawn area has used them on occasion as well.

 

[MarkThompson]

Actually, my conclusion would be that the *Requiem *was intended as a performance piece, and not to accompany an actual liturgy.

That’s believed almost certainly not to be the case, although, of course, Mozart died before it could be completed. I could, naturally, have cited any of a vast number of Masses by Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, and others, which were intended as, and in fact performed as, liturgy, and have been so performed for centuries.

 

[IntegraCatholic]

Orchestral masses (or at least Masses with most instruments included in a modern orchestra) were pretty much the norm at major churches from the Baroque age until the Romantic movement. Even under Romanticism, there was liberal use of instruments other than the organ. St. Pius X. restricted the use of instruments to simply the organ, except where the bishop dispensed otherwise. Such dispensations were very common for appropriate occasions, but I don’t think the normal Sunday high Mass at the Cathedral would have included such instruments (except perhaps strings, which are specifically mentioned in St. Pius X’s letter), even in cities dedicated to music like Vienna. Ordinations, first Masses, large feasts, etc., all continued to be celebrated with many instruments, including orchestras. America did not have as rich a tradition in this regard, partially because it was technically a mission territory even into the 20th century and because there wasn’t as much money available there. Of course, there also wasn’t as much musical talent on the whole in America compared to Europe.