Readers have left 30 comments, so far, at the above link. This is one topic that always generates great discussion.
Good hymns are ones that the general public can actually sing and make them sound decent- bad hymns are ones that require a professional voice to order to sound like anything.
“veni veni Emmanuel” is a good Catholic hymn as it covers a very modest range of notes, is easy to learn and has a slow enough tempo that the non-professional singers in the pews are able to keep up with it.
As an evangelical Protestant, I still tend to forget that the Roman Catholic Church has its congregation singing hymns at times. I thought that congregational hymn singing was the venue of Protestant churches alone. Anyhow, can anyone out there tell me when the Roman Catholic church began this practice? My Roman Catholic friends say about 10 years ago. Is that true? The article was an excellent one on a subject that is still hotly debated in Protestant circles. So much of the contemporary worship style found in evangelical churches is comprised of second rate songs instead of the glorious historic hymns of the Church. It is interesting to see a Roman Catholic on board with this discussion.
I wouldn’t mind the flower-child, feel good songs so much if they were sung OUTSIDE of Mass ONLY. Not in the church - maybe in the school or church hall. At Mass, I want my mind & spirit lifted, not my hands-a-clappin’!
Anything but 7-11: Seven words sung eleven times.
I generally agree with the author on every point except the last one. I don’t find anything elevating about the use of Elizabethan era English when addressing God.
There are no “Good” hymns.
Bad hymns are published by Oregon Catholic Press.
That is all.
To my ear it is a GREAT hymn. But then, I am not a "good" man let alone a holy man. Maybe a I have a tin ear spiritually.
One thing tyhat bothers me is that musicians are so easily bored. They keep trying new stuff. Even bad hims are preferable to ones that only the choir is familiar with. People can handle a song if they can get to practice it. After an “ACTS” retreat, about fifty guys sang a hymn acapella at our Church, Don’t remember the hymn, but hearing that many bass and baritone voices singing in time unison was great.