What is flash singing?

[amsjj]

Hello,

Another music question here today reminded me of something I wanted to ask. I’m reading through Judith Champ’s very interesting biography, “William Bernard Ullathorne, 1806-1889: A Different Kind of Monk” and on 13 November 1868, Bishop Ullathorne wrote to Cardinal Manning:

‘The clergy know that there are two things that I am strongly opposed to – flash singing in churches and advertising church exhibitions in newspapers; and therefore we have not much of either’.

Can someone tell me what exactly is flash singing? I have no idea!

many thanks,
amsjj

+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851

Tú y yo sabemos por la fe que oculto en las especies sacramentales está Cristo,
ese Cristo con su Cuerpo, con su Sangre, con su Alma, y con su Divinidad,
prisonero de amor.
– San Josemaria Escriva, 1 junio 1974

 

[Dale_M]

Can someone tell me what exactly is flash singing?

I think the two clues here are the dates and the country. Perhaps the bishop is not objecting to “flash singing” but to “flash” singing. In British slang, especially from that era, “flash” = showy but insubstantial, e.g. a flash gentleman or flash clothing. To refer to something as “flash” is sort of like saying it is pretentious.

 

[m134e5]

This was written in the Romantic period. During this time, everything about music was growing bigger (more instruments, more kinds of instruments, more kinds of chords, more volume, more drama, more everything- pretty much). This was a very “showy” time in music and it spilled over into liturgical music. The sacred music written during this time is very nice, but I’m not sure it’s appropriate for Mass. It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing I’d be able to meditate to.

 

[amsjj]

Thank you both for the clarifications. It does seem to fit in with what he describes in another letter twelve years earlier:

“I assisted the other day at the opening of Poplar Church, with kettle-drums, double-bass, and fiddles unlimited. Mozart No. 12, a grand operatic piece in place of ‘Gradual,’ a Tantum Ergo in the same style at the offertory (though the Blessed Sacrament was not at the altar), etc., etc., all just at the back of the Bishops, nearly blew us out of our seats.”

I suspect the Bishops suffered from headaches after their tremendous Mass experience!

take care,
amsjj

+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851

Tú y yo sabemos por la fe que oculto en las especies sacramentales está Cristo,
ese Cristo con su Cuerpo, con su Sangre, con su Alma, y con su Divinidad,
prisonero de amor.
– San Josemaria Escriva, 1 junio 1974