Why is it ok to change the Resp. Psalm?

[mosher]

I believe, in reading the instructions that modification of any kind by the parish, liturgist, psalmist, diocese without the express permission of the local Bishop’s Conference is not correct and not liturgically sound. This seems to be the general rule to go by.

 

[JButky]

Deacon Ed:

Just a clarification here (as a liturgist and a muscian). Della is correct that the directives allow a certain amount of musical interpretation of the Responsorial Psalm. What RS prohibits is substituting a non-scriptural reading for the psalm. It was not intended to prevent working the words of the psalm into a musical setting. As Della pointed out, such reworking should be as faithful as possible so that the full meaning of the psalm is brought out. Anything that alters the meaning would be problematic.

Deacon ed

This is not quite correct on one singular point. The texts cannot be changed, only the musical setting. You cannot change any words and the setting must conform to the text. The text must not be changed to conform to a setting, metrical or otherwise. Liturgium Authenticam made this perfectly clear in dealing with translations. Textual translations are supplied by competent ecclesial authority and musicians are not allowed to change them at all.

When LA came out, musicians probably noticed the result of this in published psalters with settings. Since there was not time to correct all the musical settings to conform to this situation, the flow of English in particular was affected since the musical settings were not changed . Editors just corrected the texts as supplied to them with the existing music composed on the faulty translations. Unfortunately that left some psalms in worse shape since the music composed was based on incorrect translation. For it to work properly both music and text must be adjusted. The options composers have is the one that is and always has been proper to them. And that is composing for a supplied text without changing it.

Although it was never allowed to change a text to fit a musical setting for liturgical portions, this did happens for a variety of reasons: lack of musical ability, ignorance, the need to force text metrically, etc., however it was never intended to be such and composers are required to work from the texts as presented without making any changes. Even if attempted in good faith, innocently, it should be corrected. Music directors are the ones most directly confronted and responsible for instituting this properly.

This has seeped into the sung ordinaries as well. Glorias in particular have become notorious as an example to changing text to conform to meter AND style. The question of altering the meaning has been rendered moot, since any group or individual is not allowed to do it. The never have been really, it was just something people did to make up for this lack of compositional talent to realize any musical setting of text.

Unfortunately the correction of this situation will take time.

Joe B

 

[mosher]

JButky:

This is not quite correct on one singular point. The texts cannot be changed, only the musical setting. You cannot change any words and the setting must conform to the text. The text must not be changed to conform to a setting, metrical or otherwise. Liturgium Authenticam made this perfectly clear in dealing with translations. Textual translations are supplied by competent ecclesial authority and musicians are not allowed to change them at all.

When LA came out, musicians probably noticed the result of this in published psalters with settings. Since there was not time to correct all the musical settings to conform to this situation, the flow of English in particular was affected since the musical settings were not changed . Editors just corrected the texts as supplied to them with the existing music composed on the faulty translations. Unfortunately that left some psalms in worse shape since the music composed was based on incorrect translation. For it to work properly both music and text must be adjusted. The options composers have is the one that is and always has been proper to them. And that is composing for a supplied text without changing it.

Although it was never allowed to change a text to fit a musical setting for liturgical portions, this did happens for a variety of reasons: lack of musical ability, ignorance, the need to force text metrically, etc., however it was never intended to be such and composers are required to work from the texts as presented without making any changes. Even if attempted in good faith, innocently, it should be corrected. Music directors are the ones most directly confronted and responsible for instituting this properly.

This has seeped into the sung ordinaries as well. Glorias in particular have become notorious as an example to changing text to conform to meter AND style. The question of altering the meaning has been rendered moot, since any group or individual is not allowed to do it. The never have been really, it was just something people did to make up for this lack of compositional talent to realize any musical setting of text.

Unfortunately the correction of this situation will take time.

Joe B

Thank you for yoru contrabution. I thought that I had read some place that the words could not be changed.

 

[buffalo]

mosher:

Thank you for yoru contrabution. I thought that I had read some place that the words could not be changed.

Anything that changes the meaning and adds confusion is wrong, no metter the good intentions or the music. The music is not the priority here the text is.

 

[spanky]

what about omitting some of the verses to the psalm? If the psalm of the day is 4 verses, my church will likely cut it to 2 verses. Is this permitted?

I suspect this is done to ensure Mass is no longer than an hour (along with other “shortcuts” like skipping the Gloria and having multiple communion lines - some of which face the rear of the church).

 

[mosher]

spanky:

what about omitting some of the verses to the psalm? If the psalm of the day is 4 verses, my church will likely cut it to 2 verses. Is this permitted?

I suspect this is done to ensure Mass is no longer than an hour (along with other “shortcuts” like skipping the Gloria and having multiple communion lines - some of which face the rear of the church).

Nein! That is definatelly a no no. The only option for a shorter reading of any type is if there is a shorter version in the Lectionary.