tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post78120710595067671..comments2024-03-28T20:30:10.681-04:00Comments on southern orders: SPEAKING OF MUSICAL TASTES AND LIKING CERTAIN SONGS AND THE DESIRE TO LEARN NEW ONESFr. Allan J. McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-41166665544036606922013-09-03T20:47:34.713-04:002013-09-03T20:47:34.713-04:00"He who sings, prays twice."
~SL"He who sings, prays twice."<br /><br />~SLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-839746002474448332013-09-03T16:06:49.633-04:002013-09-03T16:06:49.633-04:00Lewis K., Ah, that is why the choir director at on...Lewis K., Ah, that is why the choir director at one of the churches I pastored always announced, "Hymn number (whatever), lowered an octave for congregational singing. I don't want anyone left out."Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06672484450736725268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-60045577272457256502013-09-03T11:59:02.669-04:002013-09-03T11:59:02.669-04:00There are several things simultaneously occurring ...There are several things simultaneously occurring within this issue. I will comment on only two here. They are familiarity and duty. <br /><br />Firstly, any study of metrical hymnody will reveal that common hymn tunes rarely exceed the span of an octave for the very reason to be instantaneously singable to the untrained voice. There are tines with greater spans, but not many. Composers invariably have lay congregations in mind when composing hymn tunes. If you can't sing it, and do so easily, then it won't get sung often enough to fulfill its intent. What the parishioner was complaining about was familiarity and their individual voice register. Different peoples voices break in different places. This is why different keys are used in printed hymnals. If a person thinks their voice grows ugly in the midst of a hymn, it is usually because they dislike where their voice breaks on the key being played. And, coupled with unfamiliarity, meaning the singer must consciously, actively, actually engage the words and tune, protests arise. <br /><br />The second is duty. We have our parts in the ritual and prayers of Most Holy Mass. They are prescribed for us. Extemporaneous prayers and ejaculations, a figurehead of our daily interactions, are out of place in the communal gathering where the Expiation of our sins is offered. Again, the familiar is challenged. Therefore, our parts are become our bounden duty. Our discomfort, if any arises, should be viewed as something to be purgated, if you will. We do not come to Most Holy Mass just to recharge our spiritual batteries. When details, such as the music or even the Celebrant's accent are complained against for sake of familiarity, then there are deeper issues that need be resolved.<br /><br />Hymns are not for people. Unfortunately too many refer to the singer directly as subject, and God follows indirectly. Hymns are for God and His Saints.Lewis K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-27963882443415498742013-09-03T11:03:30.442-04:002013-09-03T11:03:30.442-04:00Well since this is a "complaints thread"...Well since this is a "complaints thread" if I see I am the Bread of Life, you can count me as one who will close the book and refrain from singing. I categorically refuse to sing such insipid music no matter how theologically sound they are. My Lord, we have countless worthy composers counted among the Bride of Christ, there's no excuse for singing something from 1971.<br />Now a little closer to my heart, I do wonder why when we do sing such time honored hymns as Te Deum we sing it in English and not Latin.Templarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18204866760862707908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-47128980871206065792013-09-03T09:56:26.893-04:002013-09-03T09:56:26.893-04:00This is one of the strange things that has happene...This is one of the strange things that has happened to our Church in the last 50 years. The 'old' is really the new; what we call new is restoration.<br /><br />I don't disagree with someone liking these sorts of tunes, I, too, sing some of them during the day. I do disagree about how easy they are to sing, versus real Liturgical music. But that is a personal opinion. <br /><br />I still do not understand why the people who want that sort of music don't simply schedule the parish hall for after Mass and have coffee and pastries with singing of the 'old' hymns. rcghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09131930849106490711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-957744024447963322013-09-03T09:37:03.924-04:002013-09-03T09:37:03.924-04:00My impression is that people who make these compla...My impression is that people who make these complaints want the protestant sounding metrical/lyrical hymns from the Baptist or Presbyterian hymn books. I think it is good to remind them that hymns are not the Mass. Probably, some catechesis is in order regarding the theology of the Mass and that the hymns should reflect and support that.<br />Now, there are some really good protestant Christological hymns that beat anything in "Breaking Bread," and some of the other awful "hippie" hymnals and which are even more "singable." A few that come to mind (and which I do not believe would be in conflict with Catholic theology) are, "The Solid Rock," "My Faith Looks Up to Thee," "God of Our Fathers," "Blessed Assurance" (for the sweeter touch), even "Sweet Hour of Prayer," for all of its sentimentality, beats some of the stuff in these post-Vat II hymnals. Not "Amazing Grace" and not "Rock of Ages," as popular as they are, because they are hard core Calvinist in their theology.<br />Truly, "A Mighty Fortress" is one of the great hymns of the faith and I see no serious conflict with Catholic theology. It does appear in the St. Michael book, I believe, but with the words drastically changed. I guess they just couldn't stand that it was written by Luther. You can't beat this: <br /><br />"And tho' this world with devils filled,<br />Should threaten to undo us,<br />We will not fear for God hath willed <br />His truth to triumph through us.<br />The Prince of Darkness grim, <br />We tremble not for him,<br />His rage we can endure, For, lo, his doom is sure.<br />One little word shall fell him."<br />Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06672484450736725268noreply@blogger.com