Posted on 01/27/2006 9:51:19 AM PST by franky
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "On Eagle's Wings," the musical reworking of the 91st Psalm by Father Michael Joncas, topped all other songs in an online poll asking which liturgical song most fostered and nourished the respondent's life.
Two songs made popular by the St. Louis Jesuits -- "Here I Am, Lord" and "Be Not Afraid" -- came in second and third, followed by "You Are Mine," by David Haas.
The online poll was sponsored by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. The poll was featured last year in an issue of its membership magazine, Pastoral Music, and announcements about the poll were distributed to diocesan newspapers in an effort to get the input of "rank-and-file Catholics," said J. Michael McMahon, the association's president.
In the poll, respondents could vote for only one song. No songs were listed on the Web site to give them suggestions. About 3,000 people took part in the poll.
Of the 25 liturgical music songs mentioned most, songs written after the Second Vatican Council took not only the top four positions, but six of the top nine, and 12 of the top 25. The fourth-ranked song, "You Are Mine," received 138 votes, 81 percent more votes than the fifth-ranked song, "How Great Thou Art," which got 76.
McMahon, in a telephone interview with Catholic News Service, cautioned against the notion that post-Vatican II music has dominance over all other liturgical music. "We got 670 different songs mentioned," he said. "Even the top choice is only 8 percent of the total," or 242 votes.
The poll results didn't surprise McMahon. "It panned out pretty much like the way I expected," he said, adding that The Tablet, a British Catholic newspaper, conducted a similar survey, which found "Here I Am, Lord" to be the top choice of its readers.
Rounding out the pastoral musicians association's top 10 was, in sixth place, the traditional Catholic hymn "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," whose lyrics are ascribed to Ignaz Franz, followed by John Newton's "Amazing Grace," Marty Haugen's "All Are Welcome," Sebastian Temple's "Prayer of St. Francis," and "Ave Maria."
Those who voted for "Ave Maria" and "Panis Angelicus," which finished 15th, probably meant the versions by Franz Schubert and Cesar Franck, respectively, "but we don't know for sure," McMahon said. "Since many of them (voters) were not professionals, they probably didn't realize there was more than one version."
Currently filling in as a parish choir director, McMahon said, "I'm always surprised how many young people ask for 'Ave Maria' or 'Panis Angelicus' at weddings and funerals."
One Spanish-language song, "Pescador de Hombres," made the list, finishing 17th. Many hymnals print English-language companion lyrics, calling the song "Lord, When You Came to the Seashore." In his current interim job, McMahon said, he asked "who had heard this song, and only one did, and she came from Latin America."
McMahon said this points to "the divergence of American Catholic churches," including "the hymnals they use," since songs published by one copyright holder don't always find their way into the hymnals of their competitors.
Other contemporary Catholic songs in the top 25 were "We Are Called," 11th place; "I Am the Bread of Life," 13th; "The Summons," 14th; "Shepherd Me, O God," 19th; "One Bread, One Body," 22nd, and "Hosea," which tied for 24th place with the traditional Catholic hymn "Pange Lingua."
Other traditional Catholic hymns on the list were "Ave Verum Corpus," 20th, and "Tantum Ergo," 23rd.
Songs on the list with roots in Protestant or evangelical hymnody included Richard Gillard's "The Servant Song," 16th place, and Donna Marie McCargill's "Servant Song," 18th.
Also making the list were "Let There Be Peace on Earth," in 12th place, and "Lord of the Dance," in 21st. "Both found their way into liturgical use, but came from outside the (liturgical music) culture," McMahon said.
"Tantum Ergo" would have been my pick.
I like those. I don't care if I have bourgeois taste!
Call me a traditionalist but it's hard to beat "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today" - kind of a cheat sheet to the whole thing (pardon the phrase) and a stirring tune musically.
Worst song in the history of Catholic liturgical music...ever.
Any thoughts on some hymns that would be good for a wedding. We've already decided on "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire" for the downtime before the ceremony starts (I was thinking good pre-game song), recommendations? Does Holy God, We Praise Thy Name fit for a wedding?
All three songs s-ck dog balls. Forgive the vulgarity, but I couldn't stand singing these songs in high school.
Faith of Our Fathers.
Adoro te Devote is always appropriate.
I refuse to sing Lord of the Dance. Ever. Not because of the tune, per se...And it's not the only one.
I do have a fondness for songs that remind us of the Crucifixion, and the Passion.
O Sacred Head is one of my favorites.
And I like hymns that glorify God, instead of tell us what God is going to do for us.
Holy, Holy, Holy is one of the greats.
Hymns that remind us of how we need God, songs of metanoia, contrition and conversion are also great IMHO.
Jesus Lover of my Soul will come to my lips a lot.
I do like "I am the Bread of Life" because it's the Bread of Life discourse, which is the hope we have.
And any and every hymn written by Thomas Aquinas.
Ubi Caritas would work for the offertory...or communion meditation.
Goes best with one male and one female voice.
My favorite are:
Alleiua! Sing to Jesus
Sing of Mary
Salve Regina (both english and Latin)
Panis Angelicus
Be Thou My Vision (with the slane melody)
and
Mother Dear O Pray for Me
I think in my lifetime I've heard the first and fourth sung in Church once, the second in usually butchered down to two lines, the third all the time at K of C functions and the last never in Church just from Perry Como
Oh, forgot Holy God We Praise Thy Name (think I've heard it twice in Church) and God Father Praise and Glory (Mainze Melody) once.
Another good discussion would be where would Liturgical Music be without the Germans!!
Faith of Our Fathers is good, but make sure it's the American version with...the European version stinks.
Schutte and Haas AAAAARRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
yep. You're not alone in that feeling.
"On Eagle's Wings,"
It's my favorite, so it get's my vote!
Oh just GAG. I always think of Bet Midler singing "Wind Beneath My Wings".
"And I like hymns that glorify God, instead of tell us what God is going to do for us."
Bingo. It's the latest "trend" in Christian music. I call them "Jesus is my boyfriend" songs. Instead of glorifying the Lord.........they are romantic love songs and they turn my stomach.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.