Habemus Pianist: The Pope on Music

New York Times ^ | May 1, 2005 | DANIEL J. WAKIN

[ELS]

[muir_redwoods]

Infallibility in matters of faith and morals aside, he's wrong about Rock 'n Roll. Nothing banal about Stevie Ray Vaughn, Hendrix or Clapton.

[ndkos]

Well I agree with Pope Benedict. Most modern music has become an idol which people dance around. And the theme of rock and roll music is anti-war, anti-tradition, free love, and anti-Christian.

[Malcolm]

Hopefully, he's not into Wagner...

[muir_redwoods]

"And the theme of rock and roll music is anti-war, anti-tradition, free love, and anti-Christian."

A blanket statement like that about an entire genre is so prone to error I can only be thankful I didn't make it.

[LisaFab]

Agree with him 100% regarding rock and roll.

[Rane _H]

Haha, I just picked up a CD of Lohengrin and I think I like it. It does seem he has good taste though;

"In the message, he called Bach "perhaps the greatest musical genius of all time." :)

[Mr. Mojo]

he called rock 'n' roll "an expression of base passions which, in large musical gatherings, has assumed cultlike characteristics

[Enchante]

"Bach lovers will also be pleased by the new pope's taste. In the message, he called Bach "perhaps the greatest musical genius of all time." And in fact, as he was driven around St. Peter's Square after his installation last weekend, loudspeakers played Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ. When he received dignitaries later in St. Peter's Basilica, the Hallelujah chorus filled the air. It was not known whether he had made the program choices."


The way that paragraph reads, it appears that the reporter believes the "Hallelujah chorus" was composed by J.S. Bach. In fact, it is from Handel's "Messiah".

[TEXOKIE]

I keep thinking what a joy it could be to be a mouse in the room (preferably under the piano!) if Condoleeza and the new Pope ever get together with enough time to talk about and play piano.....

[ELS]

Well, he is a NYT reporter. If one wants to give him the benefit of the doubt then one could assume the editor cut out some stuff about Baroque music and Handel...

[ELS]

Dueling pianos? LOL!

[blowfish]

Well, he can stick to religion, and I'll stick to music, and we'll both be happy. He probably wouldn't like Charlie Parker either.

[ninenot]

Regrettably, the Cardinal is correct.

You'd be AMAZED at the number of very good Catholic folks who think the Cardinal is nuts on this topic--but he's not, and he can prove it.

Of course, one begins with an understanding of the term "art" and works forward from there.

Hint: it is NOT "Ars pro gratia artis" which is the underlying principle...

[Campion]

Hopefully, he's not into Wagner...

Harrumph. All true Germans love Wagner.

For that comment, you get to spend a few thousand years sleeping on a rock, surrounded by magical fire, until a beautiful blonde woman in a suit of armor awakens you with a kiss.

And if you do it again, my next punishment will be even worse. Be very afraid!

[muir_redwoods]

"Regrettably, the Cardinal is correct. You'd be AMAZED at the number of very good Catholic folks who think the Cardinal is nuts on this topic--but he's not, and he can prove it.

Of course, one begins with an understanding of the term "art" and works forward from there.

Hint: it is NOT "Ars pro gratia artis" which is the underlying principle..."

Regretably, you are incorrect. Art is whatever the HUMAN spirit finds it to be.

To quote Mel Brooks, "After the birth of the arts came the inevitable afterbirth of the critic."

[Petronski]

Pop music was a "cult of banality."

Most certainly, and LOL

[Malesherbes]

Only 70 percent is as you describe it. The other 30 percent is simply mindless drivel.

[DLfromthedesert]

Imagine the joy of being in the presence of the Holy Father while the music of the spheres is lifting up your soul.