the choral Sanctus lives....?
CMAA has put up an article by a canon lawyer arguing that because Musicam sacram is a specific law, and because the GIRM is a general law that does not specifically abrogate the terms of the older document, the choral Sanctus (and, indeed, entire choral Ordinary) is licit at Mass in the modern rite.
Anyone care to do devil’s advocate? I am fairly satisfied with the argument.
posted by Cantor @ 1:28 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I'm not.
Musican Sacram was abrogated by elements of the Roman Missal, not the GIRM. The Missal itself says the acclamation is to be sung or said by the people with the priest.
GIRM supports that, but the bottom line is that the Missal sets liturgical law in its rubrics and directives.
Todd,
What is the basis for your argument that the GIRM/Missal abrogates Musicam sacram?
The rubrics themselves give the instruction on how to celebrate Mass. I think an exception can be made on occasion, but the rubrics give only one choice: priest with people.
I'm amused on these reform2 sites that so much typing energy is expended on the Church's first choice of antiphon + psalm, yet so much justification for a choral Sanctus. I also confess a bit of relish in seeing conservative musicians caught in their own web.
Todd,
You make a good observation; I think many reform2 folks (among which, in many/most ways, I do number myself) are looking to make a difference in liturgical music, and a big difference would be more use of .... shall we call it the esoteric? (Gregorian melodies, polyphony, ...)
The solution to all this is not readily apparent, IMO; I do think it unfortunate, and hopefully temporary, that a great polyphony Mass setting cannot be experienced as liturgical prayer in the modern rite. At the same time, it would be equally unfortunate to lose the gains we have made in congregational singing.
One step in the process could be getting people away from the idea that their experience of the Mass should be constant: they should not *always* expect to sing at the Entrance, for example. We could use some fluidity. Most parishes accommodate variety by having “the guitar Mass”, “the choir Mass”, etc. - but what about having “guitar Mass Sunday”, where every Mass is a guitar Mass, then “chant Sunday”, etc.? This would give everyone the full spectrum of ways we pray; more and more, I wish this were our model of diversity rather than encouraging individuals to adopt their preferred style or what not.
“guitar Mass Sunday” and “chant Sunday” .. we do some of that by having all the choirs use the same music each week.
My question: Do we see the choral gradual being used in mass again?
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