Friday, July 08, 2011

The Good News in Liturgical Music

Jeffrey reports:

The new translation of the General Instruction removes the discretion from the music team to sing pretty much whatever it wants. The new text, which pertains to the new translation of the Missal that comes into effect on Advent this year, makes it clear beyond any doubt: the music of the Mass is the chanted propers of the Mass. There are options but these options all exist within the universe of the primary normative chant. There can be no more making up some random text, setting it to music, and singing it as the entrance, offertory, or communion.

WhatEVER will they do at St John Vianney?

Here's the text of the GIRM for the Entrance:

48. This chant is sung alternately by the choir and the people or similarly by a cantor and the people, or entirely by the people, or by the choir alone. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, there are four options for the Entrance Chant: (1) the antiphon from the Missal or the antiphon with its Psalm from the Gradual Romanum, as set to music there or in another setting; (2) the antiphon and Psalm of the Graduale Simplex for the liturgical time; (3) a chant from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including Psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) another liturgical chant that is suited to the sacred action, the day, or the time of year, similarly approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop.

Nothing there about Scott Joplin- or Broadway-based tunes/cartoons.

At the Offertory:

74. The procession bringing the gifts is accompanied by the Offertory chant (cf. above, no. 37b), which continues at least until the gifts have been placed on the altar. The norms on the manner of singing are the same as for the Entrance chant (cf. above, no. 48). Singing may always accompany the rite at the offertory, even when there is no procession with the gifts.

At the Communion:

87. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, there are four options for singing at Communion: (1) the antiphon from the Missal or the antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum, as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the antiphon with Psalm from the Graduale Simplex of the liturgical time; (3) a chant from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including Psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) some other suitable liturgical chant (cf. no. 86) approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop....

Just in case you missed it, or are deliberately ignoring it:

The difference in word choice here is unambiguous: a chant is part of the liturgical structure. A hymn is something else. This usage is 100% consistent from the beginning of the GIRM 2011 to its end. And this clarity about usage finally removes all doubt about what must be sung at Mass: the Mass must be sung at Mass

Heh.

9 comments:

Aquinas said...

"WhatEVER will they do at St John Vianney?"

They'll do what they've been doing all along: Whatever they want to do!

Besides, Fr. Tan-and-a-$300-Haircut finds things like the GIRM "suggestions" at best, and "troubling intrusions" at worst.

And, finally: Could you name even three "music ministers" in the Milwaukee archdiocese who are capable of finding (nevermind doing) the appointed chants?

Dad29 said...

Yes, I CAN name three who can do them.

There may be a couple more...but I know of three.

And--as a bonus--they can do them WELL!

Anonymous said...

This raises a very interesting question regarding Catholic hymnals: When would a hymn now be legitimately used? Catholic musicians have used them as liturgical placeholders for so long that I imagine none of them knows their (rather limited) legitimate place. Will Catholic publishers re-evaluate their editorial policies re: hymns to reflect the clear direction of the GIRM? Will these same publishers abandon their (very profitable) "house" composers in favor of compliance?
I have to think that, if they take things seriously, the publishers are having to do some serious soul searching regarding their editorial policies. Then again, that's a rather large "if." For a very long time, the publishers' tail has been wagging the incredibly ignorant/heavily-agendized liturgical cabal when it comes to "sacred" music.

Aquians said...

This will bring you to tears. I'd pretty much take any one of these kids over the adult "music minister" at my parish.

There is hope!!

http://youtu.be/ZDu90-eeulA

Dad29 said...

Well, the GIRM does not rule out hymnody altogether; one can use a hymn before the Mass begins (but not as a processional); one could use a hymn as a voluntary at both Offertory and Communion, and as a recessional.

(We'll assume that the hymns are doctrinally acceptable.)

Given that NO Missalette actually has printed the Offertory verse in the last 30 years, that would be one thing that should change.

I'm not sure of whether the printed Psalm-between-readings is the Missal-specified Psalm for the day or just some handy ditty; that may have to change, too.

Certainly, the need for 300 printed hymns will disappear.

And don't worry about their profitability. USCCB controls the copyright for the texts, meaning that they control who gets the money. They'll take care of their friends (and have made that VERY clear in correspondence with Jeffrey of CMAA).

David said...

Hey! St. John Vianney has the best cocktail music this side of the Grand Geneva Resort. Too bad they don't serve martinis at the holy sacrifice.

Dad29 said...

The piano could use a good tuning, too. To be fair, the priests over there have never strayed TOO far from the printed word.

Problem is, the priests haven't taken control of the "liturgy wonk" department.

David said...

You can bet the parochial vicar at SJV is biting his lip.

Aquinas said...

@ David:
Best cocktail music this side of the Grand Geneva Resort is actually right next door to the Grand Geneva Resort at the parish in Fontana. Go, just once, to hear how cloying (glissandi during the Psalm accompaniment!), how kitschy (modulations? YOU BET!!), how awful (syntheizers!) "liturgical" music and a liturgical musician can be. It's truly unbelievable.