Well, it finally happened

[TrueLight]

Truelight - that video was awful. It really bothers me when people sing Latin chants with POP style vocals. I really did not find anything moving about that rendition at all.

And that Ave Maria video was just as bad and uninspiring as the piano version. I think that all those protestant hymns translate well to guitar because they were originally composed on piano. piano really isn’t an instrument used to create an ethereal ambiance like that of traditional medieval instruments or Gregorian chant.

However, I have heard some wonderful guitar arrangements of medieval Christmas carol, such as Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence by Duck Baker. I think it really has to do with the alternative guitar tunings he uses on his arrangements.

But yeah, I really do not like piano or guitar during mass. Organ can sometimes be very annoying, almost circus-y. Why not do an entire mass with a hurdy gurdy? That would be incredible.

LOL, come on. They’re cute. It’s nice to see young people singing for the Lord.

Take a look again if and when you are no longer suspended.

recording

 

[odile53]

Very good points about the acoustic conditions in most churches, JR. It’s hard to fill vaulted ceilings with sound and have the people in the pews hear the same thing that is being performed. It seems like the only thing that works really well is an instrument which has not only the volume but the energy to not being lost or reverberating in that acoustical cavern, and the one thing that usually works well is an organ (pipe, electronic, or electric-powered pipe.) Other than that, you’ll need a mixing engineer and equipment to get good sound in a place with a big nave, many side chapels, a dome, etc. because of the different ceiling heights and shapes the sound is reflecting from. The physics just don’t favor a clean sound in those circumstances unless the sound can really fill the space.

 

[Holly3278]

I think that there are many musical instruments that can be used at Mass without making the Mass seem less sacred or something. It all depends on how the instrument is played.

 

[CarlosBarrera]

Actually, it’s important, because it helps to understand a people.

Being Hispanic, Asian, North American or other does not make one liberal or conservative my friend.

I would disagree with that. Guitars are part of our culture. I do agree that there is a difference between a well-played guitar and twanging. I don’t like twanging either.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

You said you were “surprised that a Hispanic was being so rigid” about this subject. I’ll repeat myself: Just because I’m Hispanic does not mean that I think any type of music works for the liturgy.

 

[MusherMaggie]

It’s kind of you to speak up and speak so highly of the young man who was serving the Lord with his music. I hope others will read your post and perhaps examine their own attitudes.

As long as the Church allows other instruments than the pipe organ in Mass, it is not our place to pronounce anathema.

Amen!

 

[Morgan_Hiver]

I still think the performance is bad. I was in a gregorian schola with a woman that sang the chants as if she was singing the protestant Ave Maria and it was awful…lots of over singing with tons of vibrato and runs.

 

[Celticnovice]

I’m not a fan of guitar masses, but there is one latin song I wouldn’t mind hearing accompanied by guitar.

Per crucem, et passionem tuam
Libera nos Domine, Libera nos Domine, Libera nos Domine

This is the best recording I could find with guitar.

I heard a nicer one sung by a woman in the Liturgy of the Hours, but I can’t find a recording anywhere.

Beautiful song