On Demand
And the Chant Goes On
Pope Benedict XVI is considering a dramatic overhaul of the Vatican in order to force a return to Gregorian Chant, the medieval music that served the Catholic Church for centuries. Today, two Vatican watchers discuss what this might be more for more modern forms of music. Joining us is Damian Thompson, a leader writer for London's Daily Telegraph and editor-in-chief of The Catholic Herald; and William Berger, a librettist and author of several books including "Wagner without Fear" and "Verdi with a Vengeance."
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Comments
As a now-lapsed Catholic who grew up in the heydey of the 70s and 80s non-traditionalist, folk-inspired mass, I'm horrified by the pope's assertion that it is a less appropriate form of devotion. My faith is profoundly tied to such music, so much so that in hearing your opening sequence of the familar Catholic ditty "Gather Us In," I immediately felt an uplifting sense of joy, warmth, and community--a wonderful reminder of why I feel so fortunate to be raised Catholic in the first place.
I would love to have some good southern hymns sung at our mass, because at everyone who goes to a Roman Catholic Church knows it can be very boring!
Bring on the blue brothers!
I understand the dislike of badly done liturgical music of all genres. However, as someone who grew up in a community that used "worship" music with guitar, and who now worships in a community with very traditional organ and choir music (paid and volunteer), I see the advantage of guitar music for youth services. The youth of my childhood church could perform the music themselves because it was basic guitar and piano. The service was more enriching because we could take responsibility for that aspect of the liturgy as well.
What there was no mention of is the cultural direction, if you will, the music will take. What is considered 'traditionally' Catholic music is largely, if not exclusively, Eurocentric. With the largest and growing part of the Catholic Church found in Africa and Latin America, how will the music speak to the changing face of the world's Catholic?
As an older person who grew up with Gregorian Chant and studied it in college, I personally prefer chant. However, I can understand how people who are used to folk masses feel more at home with it. The main thing is that the music be GOOD music and it be well performed with enthusiastic participation. I liked the idea of southern hymns, too. The person who reminds us that the traditional church music is Eurocentric is right. Many churches are populated by worshipers from Africa and Latin America. There ought to be enough flexibility in the Church's rules to respect people's various cultural traditions. Thanks for focusing on this important subject.
The focus on styles is understandable, since that's how the debates have been framed for as long as I can remember. However, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, a Vatican II document, specifically mentions Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy and is therefore to be given "pride of place" in it. In practice for over 40 years, this "pride of place" has been the dustbin - take that as you may.
When I took a position as music director, the first thing I read was the manual - that is, primary source Church documents regarding sacred music. What I found (as anyone will find who studies them - do a web search, they're available to the public) is that for 40 years we have gone so far afield of the original intentions of Vatican II regarding the liturgy that a reset is almost required.
I am now working very part-time at a parish on Long Island attempting to bring awareness of the Church's music back, within its proper context. A few young ears are being turned...
By the way, I am 31, a former music major, liturgical pianist, and did not discover the music of the Church until well into my 20s, did not love it at first, but now am enchanted by it. I have documented this journey online since 2002 at http://www.cantemusdomino.net/.
One must read the Pope's moto in context with all his other writings which concern itself with the theology of the Mass. I view his moto as stop-gap to the proliferation of music that has not changed in style for the last 50 years and perhaps has fostered the much "in the spirit of Vatican II" a major factor of the great secularized thinking of the faithful. I think new music will appear once the current trend is halted.
I regret the copyeditor's use of the word "force". It is absolutely not true and suggests an agenda on the part of the writer or the radio station. It at the very least belies a pitiful lack of knowledge of Pope Benedict's statements on sacred music.
I'm glad to see a return to the beauty of the "old" chant. There will be a battle against this movement by a lot of people who get paid to write the contemporary... stuff. Most of those writers are also liturgy directors.
And now for a Catholic church that never left traditional chant. :)
http://www.byzantinecatholic.com/music.htm
Styles are not all equal. Some "styles" are better than others. If Gregorian is a "style" then it is the most suited for the Roman liturgy as the documents of Vatican II mandate. But 2 things were not mentioned in this show. First, the Gregorian is over 95% scripture put directly to music: it is sung scripture, and therefore the best prayer set to music available for the liturgy. Hymns composed by mere mortals and used during a Eucharist comes from the Protestant tradition, and was always suspect and indeed often banned in the Catholic church, particularly the metrical hymns. What happened after Vatican II was a radical shift, not called for by any of the official documents. Second, Gregorian has sttod the test of time, and is therefore eternal: it does not conform to the musical styles of any age as neither does the singing of the Koran. It is not a "style" but is pure expressions of prayer through music and a gift from God sent through His angels to mankind. It is inspired music, and therefore divine in origin.
This thread is closed.
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