Another great chant article
posted by Cantor @ 8:28 PM
2 comments
Cantate Deo
Two Catholic liturgical musicians musing on the state of affairs in contemporary Catholic church music, and/or whatever else comes to mind.
Friday, May 05, 2006
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2 Comments:
Thanks so much for this! Please let us know if it is clear and works for you.
I can well recall that editorial meeting we had at Crisis on this piece, when the editor suggested it. We were both filled with dread. We worried about two things: a) we couldn't actually put all this in English, and b) the real experts would balk at it (for failing to enter into the debates over interpretation etc.). And yet it had to be done. I think we managed the first part pretty well, and the experts haven't complained so far (he says after the article has only been out two weeks!).
Really, my own view is that an article can only do so much. What we really need are more workshops, and a willingness on the part of parish musicians to dedicate an hour or two per week to the task. In other words, we all need to become more serious about what we do!
I always go back and forth on the question of whether the chant is hard or easy. It's strange how anyone can learn a quick Kyrie and yet the whole chant books can become a lifetime study and obsession, easily.
Well, thanks again for linking!
Parish musicians, like myself, are helpless to introduce much chant without the support of the rest of the pastoral staff; otherwise it will be seen as “the musician’s effort”.
Lamentably, I think in most parishes that means a demographic HIGHLY opposed to any such reform: baby-boomer women who are staunchly opposed to any suggestion that the post-V2 liturgical reform was in any way flawed. PT and I are young men, and at least I constantly run into the line of “you weren’t there to see how awful it was before V2”. Never mind the droves who thought pre-V2 was way better than what followed....which included Messiaen and Duruflé, who possessed a genius to which at least our own “pastoral associate” couldn’t think to presume.
Just to allay any concerns, I am not sexist in any way. Some commentators have pointed out, in response to the Vatican condemnation of homosexuality in the priesthood, that it could actually be *dangerous* for straight priests in parishes, where most of the staff and volunteer work is usually done by women.
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