What do you think about guitars during mass?

[Layman]

A big pipe organ can be really thrilling and moving, if accompanying chant.

If, however, the organ has buttons for ‘bossa nova’ or ‘disco’, it should be exorcised, removed in the dead of night and buried in unconsecrated ground. Just in case.

Better safe than sorry, I sez.

 

[Indyann]

It is rather interesting that folks will use King David to justify many things. However, we need to make the distinction that what David did was not part of the cultic sacrificial worship of Ancient Israel. The rubrics mandated by God, the Father, as dictated to Moses, were rather strict. Any deviation from them resulted in severe penalty. One only needs to look at the sons of Aaron and Dathan to know what happened.

This is a long read, but very informative.

liturgica.com/html/litJLitMusDev1.jsp

Summarizing the Mishnah, Idelsohn describes the main musical worship, which — as in the First Temple — was part of the morning sacrifice. “After the priests on duty had recited a benediction, the Ten Commandments, the Shema (Deut. 6:4-9), the priestly benediction (Num. 6:22-26), and three other benedictions, they proceeded to the offerings,” after which, “one of them sounded the Magrefah… the signal for the priests to enter the Temple to prostrate themselves, whereas for the Levites that sound marked the beginning of the musical performance. Two priests took their stand at the altar immediately and started to blow the trumpets… After this performance, they approached Ben Arza, the cymbal player, and took their stand beside him, one at his right and the other at his left side. Whereupon, at a given sign with a flag by the superintendent, this Levite sounded his cymbal, and all the Levites began to sing a part of the daily psalm. Whenever they finished a part they stopped, and the priests repeated their blowing of the trumpets and the people present prostrated themselves.” [13]

So, unless, I have completely lost my reading comprehension skills, it seems that musical instruments were indeed used during ancient Israel sacrificial rites.

I asked for sources for purporting that only chanting of the psalms was used and only got

“you posted from a protestant site” and “I will trust my PV”

Now if you can provide documentation, that your opinion is the correct opinion, we are waiting.

 

[Bluegoat]

I think you hit the nail right on the head, especially in regards to newer music being written/composed today. There is beautiful music composed today which is embued with inspiration. But many times, we do not get to hear any of it because of this idea of staff writers/composers, that “stable” which Benedictgal mentioned. It was experienced in the past as well. You can sometimes tell when a great classical composer from the Classical period was just pumping out a piece of music because of his “contract” with the noble lord, king, aristocrat or even the bishop/archbishop paying the composer’s salary. The music was beautiful, but in many ways, not inspired. Then you hear the works in which you can tell came from the deepest parts of their hearts and souls.

We also have to remember that there was a lot of saccharine, mediocre and downright bad music composed for the liturgy in the past, too. Time pushed it out of people’s memories. Look, for example, at the saccharine “Mother at Your Feet is Kneeling”. When it’s played on the organ, exactly as written, it sounds more like something you’d hear in an old-fashioned ice cream parlor than for mass. From what I’ve been told, in the 1980s and 1990s, it was still pretty popular, especially with the older crowds. I still get it requested once in a while for funerals, but usually they are for the funeral mass of someone over 85, and then once in a while by a bride who wants to keep the tradition of using it as a Presentation to the Blessed Mother because their great-grandmother, grandmother and mother used it. But even that has become a rarity.

My belief is that manufactured art of any kind is some of the worst, which is unfortunately what you see in some of these hymnals. It’s a shame that a real national hymnal can’t be created in which the best sacred works, hymns, propers, etc. could be compiled by a mix of actual experts in music and liturgy and sanctioned by the Vatican. That way we wouldn’t have to be dealing with this plethora of hymnals in which the quality range from horrible to beautiful.

I think you are right to point out that there has been bad music in the past as well. THe things still in use from hundreds of years ago are usually the things which have stood the test of time. Look at an old Victorian hymn book, there are some terrible things that are never used any more. Many churches even had a local composer, probably the organist, who would create works for them, and most weren’t up to the standard of, say, Bach.

But I’m not sure that “manufactured” art is the primary problem. In the past, the vast majority of composers worked for patrons, and some wrote mostly great stuff, and many more wrote passable stuff and perhaps a few inspired things. But we can also say the same for the visual arts - much of the great European art of the past was created for a specific patron, who may well have had a lot of (name removed by moderator)ut into the subject matter. And we have some artists who seem to have produced mostly superb works, and more that produced good decent things that lesser patrons could afford.

I suspect that what may be slightly different now is the scale of novelty that is required. If a publishing house exists primarily to publish sacred music, they need to produce enough every year to keep themselves afloat. And republishing old things in new combination and formats won’t do the job, they need new works in great quantities. I don’t think this kind of corporate mentality was so much a factor in the past. And as a people, we are used to that mentality, not just in music, but in all parts of our lives; always new products and more of them, at a rate unknown in the past.

 

[JReducation]

I mean no disrespect, so please forgive me in advance for the question that I’m about to ask. But are we beginning to repeat ourselves? If so, why?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[benedictgal]

This is a long read, but very informative.

liturgica.com/html/litJLitMusDev1.jsp

Summarizing the Mishnah, Idelsohn describes the main musical worship, which — as in the First Temple — was part of the morning sacrifice. “After the priests on duty had recited a benediction, the Ten Commandments, the Shema (Deut. 6:4-9), the priestly benediction (Num. 6:22-26), and three other benedictions, they proceeded to the offerings,” after which, “one of them sounded the Magrefah… the signal for the priests to enter the Temple to prostrate themselves, whereas for the Levites that sound marked the beginning of the musical performance. Two priests took their stand at the altar immediately and started to blow the trumpets… After this performance, they approached Ben Arza, the cymbal player, and took their stand beside him, one at his right and the other at his left side. Whereupon, at a given sign with a flag by the superintendent, this Levite sounded his cymbal, and all the Levites began to sing a part of the daily psalm. Whenever they finished a part they stopped, and the priests repeated their blowing of the trumpets and the people present prostrated themselves.” [13]

So, unless, I have completely lost my reading comprehension skills, it seems that musical instruments were indeed used during ancient Israel sacrificial rites.

I asked for sources for purporting that only chanting of the psalms was used and only got

“you posted from a protestant site” and “I will trust my PV”

Now if you can provide documentation, that your opinion is the correct opinion, we are waiting.

Liturgia may include Catholic items and have two priests on board, but, the site, itself, is not Catholic and would not necessarily look at things from the Church’s point of view. Most of the board members are members of the Orthodox Church, which is not in communion with the Church.

Interestingly enough, the source you cite really does not completely help your cause because it notes that:

Sacred music first receives an important role with the biblical narration of King David’s life. Music as a part of the regular worship is not mentioned in the Bible before David. Earlier description of the divine worship mention only the blowing of the shofar and trumpets over the sacrifices, but these were nonmusical, priestly functions.

Thus, these instruments may have been used, but, not in the manner you seem to regard them as being employed.

My parochial vicar is a very learned monsignor who does careful research before teaching our diocesan classes. I trust him completely. You are entitled to disagree; however, with all due respect, before you start slighting people maybe you should cite sources that are geniunely Catholic and have the Church’s understanding in mind. In your quest to disprove me, you have really not proven much at all.

The information you initially provided was from a Protestant evangelical group. You seem to not want to admit that.

 

[Indyann]

Liturgia may include Catholic items and have two priests on board, but, the site, itself, is not Catholic and would not necessarily look at things from the Church’s point of view. Most of the board members are members of the Orthodox Church, which is not in communion with the Church.

Interestingly enough, the source you cite really does not completely help your cause because it notes that:

Thus, these instruments may have been used, but, not in the manner you seem to regard them as being employed.

My parochial vicar is a very learned monsignor who does careful research before teaching our diocesan classes. I trust him completely. You are entitled to disagree; however, with all due respect, before you start slighting people maybe you should cite sources that are geniunely Catholic and have the Church’s understanding in mind. In your quest to disprove me, you have really not proven much at all.

The information you initially provided was from a Protestant evangelical group. You seem to not want to admit that.

I have no desire to disprove YOU. My only concern is that correct information be put before the faithful. You have a way of stating your opinion as fact. And that is not fair to those who take you at your word.

I slighted no one. Your apparent inability to admit that you could be mistaken is astounding.
Is that why you are unable to supply documentation for your opinion?

Now if you are saying that prior to David, no musical instruments were used, you may well be correct. Is anything after David not “ancient Israel”?

Actually I admitted in my previous post that my first citation that it was from a Protestant site, so you are being dishonest.

The last link that I referenced was cited from Jewish historians.

So again, I ask you to provide a Catholic reference stating that there were no musical instruments used in ancient Israel sacrificial worship.

 

[eucharisteo]

I mean no disrespect, so please forgive me in advance for the question that I’m about to ask. But are we beginning to repeat ourselves? If so, why?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

No brother junior,
Catholics love to go through rhetoric with a fine tooth comb. If you were a Jesuit you’d know that. I think there should be a charge next to the emoticons that fit the exact intent…like smart ellic for this one.

 

[JReducation]

No brother junior,
Catholics love to go through rhetoric with a fine tooth comb. If you were a Jesuit you’d know that. I think there should be a charge next to the emoticons that fit the exact intent…like smart ellic for this one.

Bold is mine.

“Brother Junior”

My religious name is Jason Richard. When I became a Franciscan I asked to take my deceased son’s name as my religious name. This confused my family. So everyone began calling me JR and it stuck.

Br. JR, OSF

 

[ElizabethPH]

I usually go to a more traditional Mass, that has chant. Occasionally I’ll go to a mass with guitar music. I went to a Spanish Mass this Sunday they played classic guitar very lovely and reverently. It’s the drum sets I have trouble with.

 

[benedictgal]

I have no desire to disprove YOU. My only concern is that correct information be put before the faithful. You have a way of stating your opinion as fact. And that is not fair to those who take you at your word.

I slighted no one. Your apparent inability to admit that you could be mistaken is astounding.
Is that why you are unable to supply documentation for your opinion?

Now if you are saying that prior to David, no musical instruments were used, you may well be correct. Is anything after David not “ancient Israel”?

Actually I admitted in my previous post that my first citation that it was from a Protestant site, so you are being dishonest.

The last link that I referenced was cited from Jewish historians.

So again, I ask you to provide a Catholic reference stating that there were no musical instruments used in ancient Israel sacrificial worship.

But, you really are not using Catholic resources. Furthermore, there is little scriptural reference indicating what, if any, musical instruments were used. Even the link you cited noted as much. And, it noted that if musical instruments were used, they were more of a priestly nature and not something that the faithful did.

I am going to meet with my parochial vicar some time this week or next. I will ask him for the citations. I remember him referencing a book on the matter, a Catholic source.

 

[benedictgal]

Bold is mine.

“Brother Junior”

My religious name is Jason Richard. When I became a Franciscan I asked to take my deceased son’s name as my religious name. This confused my family. So everyone began calling me JR and it stuck.

Br. JR, OSF

You had me worried there for a minute. I somehow thought of the other JR, the one from Southfork.

 

[Indyann]

But, you really are not using Catholic resources. Furthermore, there is little scriptural reference indicating what, if any, musical instruments were used. Even the link you cited noted as much. And, it noted that if musical instruments were used, they were more of a priestly nature and not something that the faithful did.

I am going to meet with my parochial vicar some time this week or next. I will ask him for the citations. I remember him referencing a book on the matter, a Catholic source.

From New Advent

The art of music, both vocal and instrumental, occupies a high position in the Bible. Previous to the time of David, the music of the Hebrews seems to have been of the simplest character, as direct efforts to cultivate music among them appear first in connexion with the schools of the prophets, founded by Samuel. Under David’s direction not less than four thousand musicians, i.e. more than the tenth part of the tribe of Levi, praised the Lord with “instruments” in the service of the temple. A select body of two hundred and eighty-eight trained musicians led this chorus of voices, one person being placed as leader over a section consisting of twelve singers. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were among the most famous of these leaders. Men and women were associated together in the choir. In later Hebrew times the art of music developed still further till it reached its acme under Hezekiah and Josiah. The Hebrew musical instruments were, like those of other nations of antiquity, chiefly of three kinds, viz: stringed instruments, wind instruments, and such as were beaten or shaken to produce sound. To the first class belong the harp, the psaltery (also rendered “viol”, “dulcimer”, etc.), the sackbut (Latin Sambuca). To the second belong the flute, the pipe (Latin fistula), and the trumpet. To the last belong the tabret, or timbrel, the castanets, and the cymbals.

“in the service of the temple”

It is not described whether “service of the temple” includes the actual sacrifice or not.

Possibly why music is forbidden during the Consecration.

newadvent.org/cathen/02548a.htm

Now you are going to tell me my source is not Catholic enough.
Right

 

[RobbyS]

Even after these 38 pages I am still unconvinced of the sacral nature of the guitar for use in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What the proponents of guitar music seem to forget is that the organ holds pride of place in the Church’s liturgical life. Guitars, for me, are more along the lines of secular pop/folk music. A lot of the songs pushed by OCP and GIA are more along the lines of bad pop music than genuine sacred music, especially the tripe from Spirit and Song.

We need to recapture the sense of beauty, the sense of the sacred and the sense of majesty in the Mass. The guitar just does not cut it. I have heard enough bad guitar music in my brief time on this planet to know that it is just not fitting.

I realize that this sounds harsh, but, the strumming and the picking are more in line with Woodstock than with the Mass.

While I was getting read for Mass, I heard some of the broadcast of the One World Praying event that EWTN was airing. The music for that particular Mass was horrendous. It had bongo drums, a drum kit and it was just plain awful. The songs for Communion were more along the lines of Protestant Praise and Worship than anything truly sacred. Regardless of who was playing and singing, it was just not fitting.

I am in the process of planning my cousin’s wedding. To my joyful surprise, she wanted an organist and a cantor. She wanted Traditional music and so I am working with the organist and the cantor. She did not want a guitar. She also did not want the wedding march. There is hope in that the younger generation is craving something greater than themselves. Even the youth minister at my parish wants to sit down with me to discuss his wedding (another surprise).

I have heard the guitar used at Spanish-language masses, and think it much less obtrusive than the folk-songy stuff at English-language masses. .

 

[eucharisteo]

You had me worried there for a minute. I somehow thought of the other JR, the one from Southfork.

Do you know what it’s like to laugh inappropriately while sad at the same time? I can’t help but laugh at this while feeling bad now that I know why you go by “Br. JR”, because of your son. It’s like a whole new level of inappropriate, So now I feel like doing a juggling act to back out of it.:juggle:

 

[eucharisteo]

Out of all of this I finally know what I’m going to be for Halloween. JR the Franciscan Friar. We have a Friar Habit that my wife made for my oldest son and one of my old cowboy hats I got when I hit state side many years ago. And to top it off The Southfork Ranch is right up the road from us. So I’ll be wearing this at a parish run by the Franciscan Friars in our area for the Knights of Columbus…trunk-or-treat is the event. I’ll be honoring your son Br. JR., OSF, Will try to post a pic later

 

[Cat]

It is rather interesting that folks will use King David to justify many things. However, we need to make the distinction that what David did was not part of the cultic sacrificial worship of Ancient Israel. The rubrics mandated by God, the Father, as dictated to Moses, were rather strict. Any deviation from them resulted in severe penalty. One only needs to look at the sons of Aaron and Dathan to know what happened.

**Since when does asking for beauty, majesty and solemnity appear to be elitist? ** My friend, the documents speak for themselves. In no document is the word “guitar” mentioned. In fact, if you look at the documents, even Musicam Sacram, they do note something about secular use:

It beomes elitist when someone implies that contemporary styles cannot ever or will rarely be beautiful, majestic, or solemn. This is strictly an opinion, and a very narrow, unimaginative, elitist opinion.

The writings from Pope Benedict XVI that you often quote do leave room for contemporary music to be used in the Mass, although you don’t seem to see that. Many bishops DO see it. I seriously doubt that virtually all/most of the bishops in the U.S. are disobeying the Pope and continuing to use inappropriate music in the Mass. That’s a pretty broad accusation to level against the ordained apostles of the Lord, not to mention against Pope Benedict XVI, who comes across as a wimp unable to enforce his own decrees in the U.S.

Several times, you have taken me to task for wanting to obey my bishops. I would ask a variation of the same question of you that you ask: Since when is a desire to trust and obey wrong? I believe from the Bible and from the Church that the Lord will honor and count it as righteous my desire to trust, submit to, and obey his apostles. I am not ashamed to say that I submit to my priests and bishops, unless they order me to commit a blatanty sinful act or to believe a blatantly heretical and sinful doctrine.

If your motive is also to obey the bishops, then there is no argument here. You are doing an honorable thing by working to purify music. I would appreciate it if you didn’t belittle my attempts to obey my bishops.

And although the Holy Father denounces “rock music,” there is a great variation in “rock music.” There are rock songs and there are ROCK songs. No one with a sensible, reasonable point of view in this day and age will lump songs like “On Eagles Wings” in with “We Will Rock You,” even though both are technically “rock” music.
benedictgal":5871297:

Electric guitars, bongos, drum kits and the like are associated more along the lines with rock and pop music. In other words, inasmiuch as I love Duran Duran, I scarely think that Andy Taylor’s Fender guitar, John Taylor’s bass guitar and Roger Taylor’s Tama drum sit are not suitable at all for the Mass.

As for your assertions about Mass in Nairobi, might I remind you that a few posts ago, I noted that there is room for legitimate inculturation because the Church calls for it and makes allowances for it. Sorry, but, the straw man approach does not work here.

Electric guitars played in a stadium rock concert are very different than acoustic guitars playing “You Are Mine,” yet in this thread, you have lumped acoustic guitar in with the beautiful acoustic guitar, resulting in at least one guitarist announcing that he will no longer play his guitar at Mass. In no way, shape, or form, do any of the documents that you quote forbid the use of the guitar, piano, or any other instrument in Mass unless that instrument is understood by the culture to be strictly secular.

As for which instruments are commonly considered strictly for secular use, no one in this day and age with a reasonable mind will state that the acoustic guitar (or piano) is only associated with secular music.

Finally, when it comes to legitimate inculturation, it is legitimate to state that in the U.S., the “world” outside of the Church is a “culture,” and the Church has an obligation to reach out to this culture. Although it was not true in the past, it IS true now: Christians in the U.S. are living in an actual mission field. Our culture is inundated with paganism, secularism, atheism, and idolatry. We do NOT live in a “Christian” nation. It is imperative that we reach out to those outside of Christianity in a “language” that they understand. I agree that the Church should not lose her identity in doing this, and that we should continue to retain those practices that make Catholicism “Catholic.” But as long as there is not outright “forbidding” of contemporary music or instruments (actually, the guitar is rather ancient), then we should use these “tools” to reach out to a lost and dying people. To chant and pipe while lost souls are sliding down to hell is unacceptable. The Lord will hold us accountable for our OBEDIENCE to Him and His ordained ones, and for our efforts to fulfil the Great Commission.

 

[ac_claire]

The writings from Pope Benedict XVI that you often quote do leave room for contemporary music to be used in the Mass, although you don’t seem to see that. Many bishops DO see it. I seriously doubt that virtually all/most of the bishops in the U.S. are disobeying the Pope and continuing to use inappropriate music in the Mass. That’s a pretty broad accusation to level against the ordained apostles of the Lord, not to mention against Pope Benedict XVI, who comes across as a wimp unable to enforce his own decrees in the U.S.

Several times, you have taken me to task for wanting to obey my bishops. I would ask a variation of the same question of you that you ask: Since when is a desire to trust and obey wrong?..

If your motive is also to obey the bishops, then there is no argument here. You are doing an honorable thing by working to purify music. I would appreciate it if you didn’t belittle my attempts to obey my bishops.

I don’t understand what obedience to one’s bishop has to do with this discussion. I’m pretty sure most bishops don’t actually get involved in the day-to-day music selections of the individual parishes in their diocese. All that’s being said is that the Church has set standards for liturgical music. As something seperate and sacred and completely different from contemporary popular music.

As we see reported on CAF, many parishes walk a fine line on this point and use contemporary praise and worship music that’s not in the tradition of the Catholic worship nor objectively in line with the criteria the Church has set out. This is usually under the control of the parish music director and/or the parish priest. Unless people make a big stink about it (formal complaints, etc.) how’s the bishop even going to know about it?

Unless it’s a truly extraordinary situation (either in a good or bad way ), I imagine most bishops aren’t even aware of the spectrum of music selections at any given parish in their diocese. So it doesn’t make sense to paint this as a situation of obeying/disobeying your bishop. I mean, you could use that same reasoning to justify ANY liturgical abuse or unorthodox behavior that hasn’t been officially reported or dealt with yet in any given parish.

 

[benedictgal]

The writings from Pope Benedict XVI that you often quote do leave room for contemporary music to be used in the Mass, although you don’t seem to see that. Many bishops DO see it. I seriously doubt that virtually all/most of the bishops in the U.S. are disobeying the Pope and continuing to use inappropriate music in the Mass. That’s a pretty broad accusation to level against the ordained apostles of the Lord, not to mention against Pope Benedict XVI, who comes across as a wimp unable to enforce his own decrees in the U.S.

Several times, you have taken me to task for wanting to obey my bishops. I would ask a variation of the same question of you that you ask: Since when is a desire to trust and obey wrong? I believe from the Bible and from the Church that the Lord will honor and count it as righteous my desire to trust, submit to, and obey his apostles. I am not ashamed to say that I submit to my priests and bishops, unless they order me to commit a blatanty sinful act or to believe a blatantly heretical and sinful doctrine.

If your motive is also to obey the bishops, then there is no argument here. You are doing an honorable thing by working to purify music. I would appreciate it if you didn’t belittle my attempts to obey my bishops.

And although the Holy Father denounces “rock music,” there is a great variation in “rock music.” There are rock songs and there are ROCK songs. No one with a sensible, reasonable point of view in this day and age will lump songs like “On Eagles Wings” in with “We Will Rock You,” even though both are technically “rock” music.

As for which instruments are commonly considered strictly for secular use, no one in this day and age with a reasonable mind will state that the acoustic guitar (or piano) is only associated with secular music.

Finally, when it comes to legitimate inculturation, it is legitimate to state that in the U.S., the “world” outside of the Church is a “culture,” and the Church has an obligation to reach out to this culture. Although it was not true in the past, it IS true now: Christians in the U.S. are living in an actual mission field. Our culture is inundated with paganism, secularism, atheism, and idolatry. We do NOT live in a “Christian” nation. It is imperative that we reach out to those outside of Christianity in a “language” that they understand. I agree that the Church should not lose her identity in doing this, and that we should continue to retain those practices that make Catholicism “Catholic.” But as long as there is not outright “forbidding” of contemporary music or instruments (actually, the guitar is rather ancient), then we should use these “tools” to reach out to a lost and dying people. To chant and pipe while lost souls are sliding down to hell is unacceptable. The Lord will hold us accountable for our OBEDIENCE to Him and His ordained ones, and for our efforts to fulfil the Great Commission.

Cat, with all due respect, you continue playing the obedience card and, after a while, this is becoming tired. Your accusations are baseless. Not once have I encouraged people to disobey their bishop. I have simply reminded us that obedience is a two-way street: just as obedience flows from us to the bishop, they, too, need to obey the Holy Father. Have you not heard the old phrase, “trust, but verify?”

Pope Benedict has laid down parameters for what contemporary music should be:

Liturgical song

1. In the ars celebrandi, liturgical song has a pre-eminent place. (126) Saint Augustine rightly says in a famous sermon that “the new man sings a new song. Singing is an expression of joy and, if we consider the matter, an expression of love” (127). The People of God assembled for the liturgy sings the praises of God. In the course of her two-thousand-year history, the Church has created, and still creates, music and songs which represent a rich patrimony of faith and love. This heritage must not be lost. **Certainly as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another. Generic improvisation or the introduction of musical genres which fail to respect the meaning of the liturgy should be avoided. As an element of the liturgy, song should be well integrated into the overall celebration (128). Consequently everything – texts, music, execution – ought to correspond to the meaning of the mystery being celebrated, the structure of the rite and the liturgical seasons (129). **Finally, while respecting various styles and different and highly praiseworthy traditions, I desire, in accordance with the request advanced by the Synod Fathers, that Gregorian chant be suitably esteemed and employed (130) as the chant proper to the Roman liturgy (131).

These are clear-cut. Unfortunately, they are also, for the most part, ignored, by publshing houses that are more along the lines of mass production than suitable for the Mass.

Musicam Sacram is also clear about the kind of instrumentation used. It specifically notes that whatever is associated primarily with secular music should not be used.

The inculturation argument that you pose simply does not work for the United States. It is, as the Church defines it, geared towards those missionary lands such as Africa, Central and South America and the South Pacific.

For you to make the assertion that chanting and the organ will lead people to hell is simply unfounded and, with all due respect, illogical. You have associated the organ with horror, but, this is, as I see it, a sad and gross misinterpretation that follows a Hollywood stereotype than what the Church says.

 

[benedictgal]

From New Advent

The art of music, both vocal and instrumental, occupies a high position in the Bible. Previous to the time of David, the music of the Hebrews seems to have been of the simplest character, as direct efforts to cultivate music among them appear first in connexion with the schools of the prophets, founded by Samuel. Under David’s direction not less than four thousand musicians, i.e. more than the tenth part of the tribe of Levi, praised the Lord with “instruments” in the service of the temple. A select body of two hundred and eighty-eight trained musicians led this chorus of voices, one person being placed as leader over a section consisting of twelve singers. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were among the most famous of these leaders. Men and women were associated together in the choir. In later Hebrew times the art of music developed still further till it reached its acme under Hezekiah and Josiah. The Hebrew musical instruments were, like those of other nations of antiquity, chiefly of three kinds, viz: stringed instruments, wind instruments, and such as were beaten or shaken to produce sound. To the first class belong the harp, the psaltery (also rendered “viol”, “dulcimer”, etc.), the sackbut (Latin Sambuca). To the second belong the flute, the pipe (Latin fistula), and the trumpet. To the last belong the tabret, or timbrel, the castanets, and the cymbals.

“in the service of the temple”

It is not described whether “service of the temple” includes the actual sacrifice or not.

Possibly why music is forbidden during the Consecration.

newadvent.org/cathen/02548a.htm

Now you are going to tell me my source is not Catholic enough.
Right

But, even New Advent does not say that this was specifically used in sacrificial worship. In fact, whatever was in the service of the temple was more than likely a priestly function and not something that the average pious Hebrew would be doing. Thus, the citation really does not make your argument.

 

[crazzeto]

I don’t think its “dangerous”, but it’s not preferred for me. I prefer the organ, and traditional hyms and chants, despite having grown up with all music being played on piano, guitar etc. It feels more Godly to me, and that’s important.