Posted on 08/21/2008 8:08:09 AM PDT by NYer
While the head-scratching and hand-wringing continues over the "Ixnay Yahweh" decision, composer Dan Schutte is talking about what led him to write "You Are Near," and reveals that he's revising it.
H/T to Catholic Sensibility.
Here's what Schutte had to say:
There certainly has been a flurry of discussion arising from the recent directive from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. And, as is evident on your website, much of it has been centered around my song, “You Are Near.” I suppose I should receive that as a compliment.
I wrote this piece in 1970, as a very young man. I’m afraid there’s no special story behind it. I do remember beginning it while on retreat and working on it for several months before I was satisfied. When I entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1966, the Jerusalem Bible had just been published. It was the long-awaited project of some of the world’s most respected scripture scholars. The translation was modern, in the best sense of that word, and attempted to be true to the poetic character of the Biblical songs, especially the Psalms. I first learned to pray the Psalms from the Jerusalem Bible. And, like you, I turned to the JB translation in considering Biblical texts my compositions.
The JB team of translators decided to use the name “Yahweh” whenever the tetragrammaton YHWH appeared in the original Hebrew text. It was certainly not a frivolous decision on their part. It might be interesting for your bloggers to read what the Editor’s Forward in the JB says about their decision:
It is in the Psalms especially that the use of the divine name Yahweh may seem unacceptable – though indeed the still stranger form Yah is in constant use in the acclamation Hallelu-Yah (Praise Yah!). It is not without hesitation that this accurate form has been used, and no doubt those who may care to use this translation of the Psalms can substitute the traditional “the Lord”. On the other hand, this would be to lose much of the flavor and meaning of the originals.
As our communal, and my own personal, sensitivity grew in the years after the writing of “You Are Near,” we came to understand that speaking the name “Yahweh” out loud was not in keeping with our long Christian tradition, and was, in fact, offensive to Jewish sisters and brothers. So after 1973 I’ve not used the name “Yahweh” in my compositions.
I’m presently working to revise the lyric of “You Are Near.” I suppose that won’t keep people from singing it the way they have for 37 years, but I feel I need to provide an “official” revised text for use at liturgy. Of course, those who make musical decisions for worship could simply choose not to sing it. There are many beautiful, well-crafted settings of Psalm 139. But, as several of your bloggers attest, “You Are Near” is a beloved favorite of many people. I can tell you that over the years I’ve received more messages about “You Are Near” — people telling me how it helped them to pray when they couldn’t, or sustained them through particularly difficult times, or helped them in their grieving – than any other of my songs. I feel privileged and humbled to be a vehicle of music that brings people to God in this way.
If I find a clearinghouse for reverent liturgy and/or good music, I will be sure to start a thread!
Thanks for the tip!
And this sort of music is liturgical abuse. The Pope has said so himself, and he's certainly qualified to judge.
It's up to us primarily, of course, to encourage and provide good music rather than just snark at the bad . . . . but OCP and the Haagen/Haas/Schutte crowd have done their best to destroy the wonderful patrimony of real Catholic music, and for that they should be criticized and chastised.
I usually wind up in confession for saying ugly things about the Episcopalians . . . .
In our parish, they mostly get sung at funerals.
It's not as if there wasn't tons and tons of wonderful Catholic hymnody out there -- from the old Grossische Catolische Gesangbuch right on down. The new (1982)Episcopal Hymnal is full of old Catholic hymns.
Google "Dan Schutte gay partner" sometime. Your Gaydar is pretty accurate.
I think it was Matt at the Shrine of the Holy Whapping blog that said the song should be reworked into a New Jersey tourist promotion jingle: “Rahway, I know you are near”.
It's great to know that every time we sing his hymns or put on a music workshop in our parishes, we're helping to support Schutte's anti-Catholic lifestyle.
I wonder how many Catholics know or even care that many of their most sung "hymns" were composed by an ex-priest who is an active homosexual?
The comments which I posted here turned out to be true. I've got to go to Confession anyway and for much worse things than I've said here so I'll give my 0.02 gladly.
Am I allowed to say that Schutte has broken his vows of celibacy? Am I allowed to say that he is indeed an active homosexual? Am I allowed to say that his music is really awful?
Homosexuals have brought financial ruin on the Church in the US with their sex abuse scandals and victim settlements. They also turned some seminaries into hostile environments for orthodox Catholic young men who had true vocations. To such a degree that many of these young men were driven away.
Now I find out that much of the banal, shallow music with which we've been afflicted and which has gone hand in hand with liturgical madness is yet another legacy of the lavender wing of the church.
Keeping quiet about this nonsense is not being Catholic. It was silence which gave us the gay scandals. The question is whether the Catholic Church should be seen to be indifferent to or even endorsing Schutte's lifestyle and the musical product which it gives us.
He’s originally from Rembert territory: Milwaukee.
Specifically, Elm Grove, WI., a near-west suburb.
“....drawing people to God”
Really?
Where? NOT in regular Mass attendance post-1970.
So exactly how do you justify that statement?
Michael Joncas and David Haas appear to be Catholics in good standing, as far as I can tell.
My definition of hell would be having to listen to “Yahweh you are near” for all eternity. Just think about it for one moment.
I was at a meeting recently of priests and psychologists and the subject of appropriate penances in confession came up regarding those involved in having an abortion. I never thought about it, but one could require the pentitent to listen to “Yahweh...” for 24 hours straight. But then again, that could lead to suicidal behavior.
Let's face it. Most Catholics are poorly catechized hence, they have probably never read Scripture and are unfamiliar with the Book of Psalms. When one is disconsolate, to hear such a hymn is to hear the Psalm. To hear the words that God is near "standing always at my side" is a reminder that God is not some distant divinity but One who is here, present in our times of solace and grief.
Why is this such a problem for you?
Cranmer's masterful translation follows.
O LORD, thou hast searched me out, and known me. *
Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up-rising; thou understandest my thoughts long before.
2 Thou art about my path, and about my bed; * and art acquainted with all my ways.
3 For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, * but thou, O LORD, knowest it altogether.
4 Thou hast beset me behind and before, * and laid thine hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; * I cannot attain unto it.
6 Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? * or whither shall I go then from thy presence?
7 If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; * if I go down to hell, thou art there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning, * and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;
9 Even there also shall thy hand lead me, * and thy right hand shall hold me.
10 If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me; * then shall my night be turned to day.
11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day; * the darkness and light to thee are both alike.
12 For my reins are thine; * thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
13 I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: * marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.
14 My bones are not hid from thee, * though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.
15 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; * and in thy book were all my members written;
16 Which day by day were fashioned, * when as yet there was none of them.
Schutte has sucked all the mystery, wonder, and power out of the verses.
In Catholic teaching, the Mass is the “source and summit” of all grace. Grace, in Catholic teaching, is the very definition of ‘proximity to God.’
So when Mass attendance drops from 60+% to 30+% (IOW, by half) following introduction of the marshmallow-tune crap of Schutte, I question those who claim that this crap “brought people closer to God.”
Seems simple to me. What’s your problem with that?
A big AMEN to that.
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