What's a Hymn For? (Catholic Music in the USA)

Standing on My Head ^ | November 1, 2007 | Fr. Dwight Longenecker

[maryz]

I'm having some problems with music in Catholic America. Part of it is my problem. I spent fifteen years in the Anglican Church with the New English Hymnal--which is probably the finest hymnbook ever published in the English language. Musically and liturgically it was the best that traditional Anglicanism had to offer.

Catholic music in England--well we won't even go there. Apart from a few islands of decent church music the Catholic church in England was a wasteland.

I am discovering that in the USA it is not much better. My problem is that I am actually unfamiliar with most of the music in American Catholic Churches because I have lived abroad for so long.

However, what I do experience is not encouraging. Who on earth is writing these hymns, publishing these hymns and choosing to buy, prepare and perform these hymns? Doesn't anybody know what a hymn is for?

Surely a hymn is first, and foremost part of our worship. That means the words are words that we use to address our praise, adoration and worship of God. So much of the stuff I come across isn't that at all. Instead it is sentimental language in which God talks to us to reassure us, make us feel better and comfort or inspire us. So..."Be not afraid...for I am always with you...Come follow me.. etc" This may be a pleasant enough devotional song to remind us of God's promises, and there may be times when it is appropriate to sing such songs, but Mass is not one of those times. We're not really at Mass to sing God's comforting words to ourselves. We're there to worship Him.

Another problem are hymns that simply put Scripture verses to music. "I am the bread of life...he who comes to me shall not hunger...etc" Again, the music may be pleasant and the words of Scripture are undeniably wonderful and true, but it simply isn't a hymn. The words are the words of Jesus about himself. They are not words of praise, worship and adoration addressed to God.

The second problem with much of the contemporary music is that it originates from solo artists or has been written for a choir to perform. If the words are praise and worship words, they don't translate well for congregational singing. An example of this is the well known prayer of St Francis, "Make me a channel of your peace." It was originally written as a solo performance piece, and as such it is nice enough, but try to get a congregation to sing it and it goes all over the place with its croon like phrasing and difficult wording. A good hymn has music that has a good steady, predictable rhythm so everyone can join in.

The final problem is that too many hymn writers seem to have little understanding of either Scripture, the symbols and types of the faith or the theology of the faith. The great old hymns that have stood the test of time were written from the authors' deep immersion in the great themes of Scripture, the great stories of the Old Testament and the great theological concepts that inspire and instruct us as we sing. The newer stuff tends to be dumbed down, sentimental and weak.

So what's a poor old convert priest like me to do? One experiences some pressure to 'give them what they like.' My inclination is to 'give them what they need.' In other words, to select hymns on the correct criteria and not bother whether they are 'new' or 'old'. I'm sure there are some worthy modern hymns just as there are some awful old hymns. Then we have to educate those in our charge to understand what a hymn is for and what makes a good hymn--and it's not just the ones we happen to like.

Finally, it seems to me that the underlying problem with the contemporary hymns is an almost universal lack of understanding in the modern American Catholic Church about what Mass is in the first place. If it is a gathering of friendly Christian people around the table of fellowship in order to get strength and encouragement from one another as we all think about Jesus, why then the contemporary hymns fit the bill very nicely, but then, so would quite a few snippets of music I can think of like--"My favorite things" from The Sound of Music.

However, if the Mass is meant to take us to the threshold of heaven; if it is meant to be a glimpse of glory and a participation in the worship of the spheres of heaven itself, why then the sentimental, sweet and comforting songs just won't do. They wont' do not because they are bad or untrue, but because they are not good and true enough. Worship that takes us to the threshold of glory needs to be, well...glorious.

But, it can be protested, not all parishes can manage to have a grand organ, a paid organist and a fine choir. True, and that's why the church recommends Gregorian Chant. With a little effort and just a little expense a small group of singers can learn Gregorian Chant which beatifies the liturgy simply and give is the transcendental glory that our worship deserves, and to tell you the truth, once you develop a taste for Gregorian chant--it's pretty comforting too.

[sionnsar]

Closer than you know! Our rector is writing a series on The Hymnal, 1940 (American) -- I don't know about the New English Hymnal, though I'm sure he does. (He has a doctorate in a closely-related area.)

I no longer look at the 1940 Hymnal the way I used to; there are treasures our parish has yet to discover. (Maybe or maybe not including "where apes swing to and fro".)

[livius]

That was what I was trying to say, in terms of the music it really is a matter of opinion. I don’t think people on the thread were criticizing other people’s taste in hymns, but simply the fitness of those hymns for a formal liturgical setting. So I hope nobody is offended.

[SaintDismas]

I am not offended anymore, just dismayed. I will go on singing for the Lord those God-awful songs you hate, at Mass, while you can go and end up feeling spiritually assaulted. I will go to Mass tomorrow morning and sing my heart out, while you will come out of Mass with a headache. Oh well

[AnAmericanMother]

I think y'all are a little at cross purposes here.

Nobody is fussing about whether a particular hymn is "good" "bad" or "godawful", from a personal taste point of view. It's that it is musically inappropriate for Mass -- and no less an authority than His Holiness Benedict XVI has said so, and explained why (far more eloquently than we can here) in his book The Spirit of the Liturgy:

"On the one hand, there is pop music, which is certainly no longer supported by the people in the ancient sense (populus). It is aimed at the phenomenon of the masses, is industrially produced, and ultimately has to be described as a cult of the banal."

The American church has allowed a lot of accretions on the Mass, like barnacles, in the years when the permissiveness of the 60s and 70s was allowed to run wild. Liturgical dancing, 'eucharistic ministers' even when not strictly necessary, 'song leaders', lay preaching, and so forth -- inappropriate music is just one of the things that Catholics have "gotten used to" and even enjoyed that really should not have been permitted in the first place. I like dancing, and I've been playing the guitar and singing folk and folk-rock and pop music since the early 60s. But all those things, enjoyable as they are, just don't belong in the Mass.

So whether one enjoys them or they give you a headache, that's not the issue. The issue is whether the Church should permit them in the Mass, and a rather Highly Placed Person has said, 'No.'

[SaintDismas]

Well you may be right in your assertations in that the music we’re singing you say is inappropriate. But then, what would you have me do? Be as unhappy and agitated as you when I go to Mass? Make a big fuss? I can’t see to that. I’m not there to criticize what seems to be the normal for the good people at my parish. I am so happy there, and if they changed it tomorrow to fit your prescription, I would be happy then too. It’s not for me to say. Now if wer’e talking sacralige, that would be a different story. Sorry, I just an’t see why I should be upset at Mass because we’re somehow singing the wrong music.

[AnAmericanMother]

I'm not unhappy or agitated at our parish, because we're following the norms established by the Pope and Vatican Council II (not the "spirit of VCII" that so many used as justification for all sorts of unauthorized foolishness).

Today, we sang the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin and Gregorian chant, as we do on the first Sunday of every month. Our anthems were Palestrina's "Sicut Cervus" for offertory, and for communion Sir Ernest Bullock's "Give Us the Wings of Faith" (a 20th c. Anglican anthem to words by Isaac Watts, but theologically sound and musically beautiful -- and also appropriate for the Sunday nearest All Saints'). Our choirmaster is a genius and plays the organ like an angel. After Mass was over, during the announcements, the celebrant, one of our parochial vicars, publicly thanked the choir for "adding so much to the reverent celebration of the Liturgy."

We hear through the grapevine that people are coming to the 11:30 service from all over town because they want to hear traditional, quality Catholic music. The choir is growing steadily, because people like singing beautiful music.

What would I have you do? First, read the writings of our Pope on music and liturgy, study the Catholic classics, listen to them. Learn about your musical birthright, which has been sold in many places for a mess of pottage. Second, fortified with that knowledge, approach your choirmaster or music director and politely request something traditional, by name. You don't need to be ugly about it. Many times the choirmaster will hail such a request with relief -- they do get tired of doing the same stuff over and over and over again. That's the other great thing about Catholic classics -- Palestrina alone, for example, wrote so much great, beautiful, and appropriate music that you could sing a different one of his compositions every Sunday for a year and not come anywhere near singing them all!

Often what seems to be "normal" is just because people don't know any better. Even the folks with liturgical dancers, lay preachers, clown masses, and reiki practitioners and Buddhist monks in the sanctuary have the most reverent intentions and presumably think it's "normal". But even stuff that isn't actually sacrilegious can interfere with the Mass as it is intended to be. And if you don't at least make a polite and low-key effort to help make the Mass better, to acquaint people with the reverent and elevating music that was intended to aid the Mass, aren't you just kind of along for the ride?

[FloreatIacobus]

RCs, correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't that be considered a High Mass in the Extraordinary Rite?

There is a difference in terminology between the two sides of the Atlantic. There are four forms of Mass in the extraordinary form: Pontifical Mass, Missa Solemnis, Missa Cantata, Low Mass.

Pontifical Mass is celebrated by a Bishop, and has several ceremonies which are proper to it and it alone.

Low Mass is said by a Priest alone, with a server (and sometimes congregation) answering. The congregation can sing hymns during this Mass (e.g., during the offertory).

Missa Solemnis (in England called High Mass, in the U.S. Solemn High Mass) is the full-blown 'proper' form of Mass with Deacon, Subdeacon, and at least 4 servers; the whole of the Mass is either sung or prayed quietly by the Priest (usually whilst the choir is singing). In general hymns are not sung, processional and recessional hymns are permitted and in places where there is an established tradition (e.g., German and ethnic-German parishes) they may be sung at other points.

Missa Cantata (in England called sung Mass, in the U.S. called High Mass) is celebrated by Priest alone (assisted by servers), the ceremonial is considerably smaller than Missa Solemnis but most of the musical rules apply.

[SaintDismas]

No thanks. I’m not going to let your rants upset me either. I do the best I can with what the Lord has put in my path, and I just don’t have the understanding and position that you do to rock that boat.

Study my birthright of music? Are you kidding? If I have “extra” time outside of working and taking care of my family, I will pray because that is where I lack, not in this hand wringing about what is wrong with my parish music. I’m sorry if that offends you.

We sing a lot of things that you don’t approve of, and a lot of things you probably do. Either way, I am happy with where things are, I just hope the Lord is too. Dancing? We don’t do that, and if we did, I would find another place in a New York minite. Never even heard of that crap until reading about it here on FR. If I lived in a place like that and couldn’t escape it, I’d probably agitate, you could bet on that.

[NYer]

In the history of the Church was the Low Mass ever chanted?

[AnAmericanMother]

We're all busy, you're not unique. It just depends on what's important to you and where you want to spend your time.

Music and its place in the Mass are very important to me, to the Holy Father, and to a lot of other people. In fact, we hesitated before converting to the Catholic Church because of the music, and we know other folks who were in the same position. It's probably more of a difficulty for folks converting from a church with a very strong musical tradition - such as the Lutherans (with Papa Bach) and Episcopalians (who may be heretics but are excellent musicians.)

Ultimately we decided it was better to be saved with "On Eagle's Wings" than NOT even with Tallis, Byrd, and Farrant. But as it turned out God and St. Cecilia were merciful to us, and we got the True Church and the music, too.

If music's just not important to you, then that's where it's at, I suppose. Hard for a musician to understand.

But if you think I'm ranting, you may be just a teeny bit too sensitive to hang around here . . .

[ArrogantBustard]

Here’s a suggestion, dump ALL the hymns and go back to a sung Liturgy

You realise, of course, that doing so will deprive schutte and haugen and haas (oh my!) of their royalties.

Anathema sit!

[ArrogantBustard]

Why am I singing that people should follow me?

Even worse: "I am the Bread of Life ..."

Not only "NO!!!!" but "HELL NO!!!!"

I most certainly am NOT the Bread of Life. I know Who is, though ...

[ArrogantBustard]

Why am I singing that people should follow me?

Even worse: "I am the Bread of Life ..."

Not only "NO!!!!" but "HELL NO!!!!"

I most certainly am NOT the Bread of Life. I know Who is, though ...

[Aquinasfan]

The newer stuff tends to be dumbed down, sentimental and weak.

The heart of the problem.

Banality is a very effective means of lessening reverence, morale and, ultimately, faith.

[Aquinasfan]

Finally, I decided to beat them at their own game. When they clapped hands, I clapped mine longer and louder and threw in a few extra claps. Sometimes I beat the palms of my hands on the wooden pew in front of me in rhythmn with the music.

Funny, but does it have to come to this? Some priests just can't help but put their "personal mark" on the Mass.

[Aquinasfan]

I leave the service feeling like I should have been standing on a mountain with a Coca-Cola in my hand, teaching the world to sing.

Bingo.

[Aquinasfan]

Many of the contemporary songs that are used in Mass are not only too hard for congregations to sing, they are doctrinally unsound.

Like Karl Keating's favorite, "Amazing Grace." The heterodox line is, "How precious did that Grace appear... the hour I first believed."

For baptized Catholics, grace first "appears" at baptism, not 'the hour I first believed.' It's really amazing that this is in a Catholic hymnal.

OK, I love "Amazing Grace." It's a wonderful Protestant hymn.

[trisham]

Surely a hymn is first, and foremost part of our worship. That means the words are words that we use to address our praise, adoration and worship of God.

***************

Amen. I guess it sometimes takes "new eyes" to see.

[FloreatIacobus]

In the history of the Church was the Low Mass ever chanted?

No. It was the last form of Mass to develop, and came into being when the practice arose for each Priest to celebrate Mass everyday (remember the West didn't have concelebration by this point) given churches with more than one Priest - multiple High Masses being a logistical impossibility. Originally it was just Priest and server without congregation, and indeed a common practice was for a number of Priests to be saying Mass at the various Altars in a church at the same time.

The use of Low Mass as a congregational service, to my mind is an abuse (at least on Sundays and Feast days) - Missa Solemnis should be the aim of a parish, with Missa Cantata where clerical resources preclude it.

[SaintDismas]

I was a bit harsh. I have the greatest respect for our choir director and simply disagree with you, and God help me (us)if what you’re saying is true and we’re acting against the Holy Father in how we implement the music ministry in our parish. Music is important to me, but I just think can’t see (hope I’m right) that what we sing as being disrespectful or unpleasing to our Lord in any way. We try so hard and our parish is very conservative and very reverent at Mass, as deficient as we might be in the music chosen for the same.

Sorry for sounding so brash, did’nt mean to.