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To: NYer

Apart from the artistic quality of the music of the St. Louis Jesuits (which is not good), one of its worst attributes is that it is not singable. Many of the songs are simply too difficult for the average person to sing. In fact, according to Thomas Day, who wrote the book, Why Catholics Can't Sing, much of today's liturgical music is actually written for small groups and soloists, not for congregations. After Vatican II, liturgists couldn't wait to dump Gregorian chant, claiming that it limited the participation of the faithful in the liturgy. (They never proved this.) Ironically, the music that has replaced the chant has not increased congregational singing either.


14 posted on 05/06/2006 10:36:16 AM PDT by steadfastconservative
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To: steadfastconservative

"After Vatican II, liturgists couldn't wait to dump Gregorian chant, claiming that it limited the participation of the faithful in the liturgy. (They never proved this.) Ironically, the music that has replaced the chant has not increased congregational singing either."

Agreed. Chant is, in fact, the easiest form of music to learn due to its noble simplicity. For me personally, I can reasonably sight read any chant text (13 years of experience), while I still struggle to sing polyphony and other more modern forms of music. But, I'm not a music person, per se.


27 posted on 05/08/2006 6:19:34 AM PDT by jrny
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To: steadfastconservative

"....music is written for soloists and small groups..."

Who usually occupy the stage in taverns and/or Las Vegas bistros.


29 posted on 05/08/2006 9:10:27 AM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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