Tomorrow is "new music Sunday" at Church again. Ugh. And it's combined with a "Service of Remembrance" for 9/11. I hope, if I am ever killed tragically, people don't "honor" it with schmaltz
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We used to discuss this in http://www.gtng.org/ discussion groups once in a while. Sounds like "new music" means Dated Boomer 60s Hippie Music. Which, of course, means that this has less to do with attracting new folks than making the ageing boomers feel valued and young again.
To be honest there is very little "new music" that expresses Catholic truth. But "new music" is on this year's WOW Worship albums, not on the Easy Listening, "Adult Contemporary" radio station.
Yes - you're right! And even the new rector as (privately, of course) admitted to me that he's not expecting the new music to bring in any young folks. Young folks are looking for tradition and mystery and....
Stupid thing is ... I LOVE this music. But if Christ is who we say he is, and the Church is his Body and the Eucharist is his Flesh and Blood....can't we take it a little more seriously?
(Or, as I suspect, the majority of people who make these claims either (a) don't really believe them or (b) haven't thought out their logical conclusions or (c) are post-modernists to two contradictory positions are "no problem")
Edward Elgar's "Ave Verum Corpus." It's beautiful.
And John Tavener's "Funeral Ikos" (which I guess Grace, Utica did once after I left, thankyouverymuch....) But it is not musically too difficult (like other Tavener) peices, and quite appropriate for All Souls.
No, seriously, you're right. But I think I'm preaching to the choir here, especially considering that we learned this literally in the same choir. I just want to bring God my best. I can turn on the radio and listen to crap. ::sigh::
Speaking of music, my choir director is looking for suggestions for our spring work. Any suggestions? I'm kinda stuck on the Faure Requiem myself.
Well, I dunno.. I mean in theory I don't have a problem with something just because it's new. Certainly there are new and lovely and appropriate settings of ancient texts that can be appropriate. And there can even be new texts that are fine. But what we generally get is of (as jjostm so eloquently puts it) "love songs to my girlfriend Jesus" variety.
When I was growing up at a high church in Utica, NY I sang in a choir (with litchick) that did not flee immediately from new pieces. But choirmaster had some standards that must be met before he used a new peice.
Wouldn't it be interesting if all church choir directors were required to study liturgical theology?
Wouldn't it be interesting if all church choir directors were required to study liturgical theology?
It surprises me that so many barely understand simple "mere" theology. It surprises me even more that so many have...jobs.
I think there's so much *good* music...that isn't appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice. There is that ignorance-willful or otherwise-concerning Who Is There under the species of bread and wine. And I haven't much problem with different cultures doing things differently. I would expect the music that's "appropriate" to differ in Zaire as the music that is appropriate in our context.
Ultimately, the music should befit royalty, and should-as +++Papa Ratzi put it-reflective of Christ en toto. Liturgical music should be iconic, allowing one to worship outside of linear time-moving toward the Cosmic worship of God, where we join angels and archangels and all the company of heaven...
The thought they were playing the Beatles at church on Sunday grosses me out. It'd be like playing the "Wild West City" theme song for an
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Liturgical music should be iconic, allowing one to worship outside of linear time-moving toward the Cosmic worship of God, where we join angels and archangels and all the company of heaven...
To be honest there is very little "new music" that expresses Catholic truth. But "new music" is on this year's WOW Worship albums, not on the Easy Listening, "Adult Contemporary" radio station.
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Stupid thing is ... I LOVE this music. But if Christ is who we say he is, and the Church is his Body and the Eucharist is his Flesh and Blood....can't we take it a little more seriously?
(Or, as I suspect, the majority of people who make these claims either (a) don't really believe them or (b) haven't thought out their logical conclusions or (c) are post-modernists to two contradictory positions are "no problem")
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And John Tavener's "Funeral Ikos" (which I guess Grace, Utica did once after I left, thankyouverymuch....) But it is not musically too difficult (like other Tavener) peices, and quite appropriate for All Souls.
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No, seriously, you're right. But I think I'm preaching to the choir here, especially considering that we learned this literally in the same choir. I just want to bring God my best. I can turn on the radio and listen to crap. ::sigh::
Speaking of music, my choir director is looking for suggestions for our spring work. Any suggestions? I'm kinda stuck on the Faure Requiem myself.
Reply
When I was growing up at a high church in Utica, NY I sang in a choir (with litchick) that did not flee immediately from new pieces. But choirmaster had some standards that must be met before he used a new peice.
Wouldn't it be interesting if all church choir directors were required to study liturgical theology?
Reply
It surprises me that so many barely understand simple "mere" theology. It surprises me even more that so many have...jobs.
I think there's so much *good* music...that isn't appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice. There is that ignorance-willful or otherwise-concerning Who Is There under the species of bread and wine. And I haven't much problem with different cultures doing things differently. I would expect the music that's "appropriate" to differ in Zaire as the music that is appropriate in our context.
Ultimately, the music should befit royalty, and should-as +++Papa Ratzi put it-reflective of Christ en toto. Liturgical music should be iconic, allowing one to worship outside of linear time-moving toward the Cosmic worship of God, where we join angels and archangels and all the company of heaven...
The thought they were playing the Beatles at church on Sunday grosses me out. It'd be like playing the "Wild West City" theme song for an ( ... )
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Beautifully stated, mon frere
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