... I really agree with a lot of this, but it's hard to put into words.
I try not to worry too much about liturgy. I guess I think that people get too wrapped up in how we do things and forget what we're doing. However, there is nothing wrong with trying to do it better.
I personally don't like the typical stuff that we sing in parishes (i.e. One Eagle's Wings). The words are usually ok (except in the cases of songs like Anthem) but the music is fairly blah ... Coming to seminary, I've been able to experience a whole new world of liturgical music: chant and lots more latin. It's pretty old-school.
I like this new atmosphere that I've experienced, but I'm also from Steubenville. If you attend a daily mass at Franciscan University you'll hear modern songs played on guitar, but they are just as prayerful as anything we sing here.
The big problem, I suppose, is distinguishing between praise and performance. I like going to the Youth Rally at the March For Life every year, but a lot of times the music is just performance ... especially when PEOPLE CLAP AFTER THE SONGS. ARGH. It's mass! We're not at a concert.
In a praise service, I think solos are fine. That way people can have silent prayer with the music helping them. That's a place for making the music a little more complex and using some not-so-typical instruments in a setting more like a concert; but I think that the music in mass should be reverent, beautiful, and easy to sing along with. We're not there to praise the choir or the organist - we're there to worship Jesus.
Opinions?
2 comments:
This is very true. I like masses where the organist/pianist has some musical thingamabobs before mass (after too, especially St. Peter's) because I think it helps to center yourself and focus on what you're supposed to be there for. You're right, its not a concert... Even though I have felt drawn to applaud a cool song or something someone did lol..
I know personally that one must try to be reverent with the choice of songs to sing at mass; i.e. scripture reading coherence, difficulty of the songs, etc. I personallly prefer the traditional, older songs that are found in the Missal and generally well-known music..
I like your point on the different types of music that are available to assist worship in the Mass. The sheer broadness of that spectrum ranges from, like, rock-ish stuff to Chant, basically.. Not all of the choices of songs are great but I think as long as they are used for their main purpose, and that's praising God, then there really shouldn't be that much of a problem as to what should be generally "accepted" for a Mass or service.. (within reason, of course).
That was probably my longest comment ever.
CHERISH IT lol
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