Author Topic: What do you consider a guitar mess? (Read 2119 times)

Lighthouse · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2015, 11:24:55 AM »

Yes, I was aware that it was a theorbo.

I still think the problem is with the kind and presentation of the music, not the instrument used.

In the case of the NO, it started with a group of Jesuits at St. Louis University who took a bunch of maudlin and silly folk songs (e.g. Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore, Kumbaya) and developed their own compositions based on then current music of a rather thin and ephemeral nature.

PG · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2015, 12:42:06 PM »

Maleus - Thanks for the great post. I did not know those details. As for my comment that during piux x time the instrument was profane was somewhat of a half truth. I think it was in 1915ish that albert augustine invented the nylon strings to replace animal gut strings on the guitar. They became a huge hit, and promoted the use of nails for plucking due to their durability. The use of nails is not nearly as lovely as flesh(I use my flesh to pluck). And, it was right around the turn of the century that they got rid of bar frets and went to a more technologically advanced T fret design. Now, you cannot find traditionally made gut strings for the classical guitar. The ones that they do sell, do not escape the mark of modernity's yoke in my opinion.

PG · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2015, 12:47:19 PM »

Malleus - concerning musica sacra 1958, here is the email I got a few days ago from fr. cekada. "How did this come about?" is correct! Because, it indeed has come about, and it is a shame.

Friday 6, February 2015
Help Us Replace Our Dying Electronic Organ...
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... and help our young organists carry on SGG's church music tradition!

Click here for info — and hear one of them play a fancy toccata!

Sacred music is an integral part of our liturgical apostolate at St. Gertrude the Great, and the organ, whether for accompaniment or solo pieces, is indispensable to our musical program.

Our current 30-year-old electronic organ, however, is the product of an old technology — it uses computer punch cards! — and is slowly dying.

We need a newer replacement, not only to maintain and expand our current musical program, but also for the sake of our upcoming generation of young organists, now 12 and 15.

We recently came across a newer used digital organ which is reasonably priced and which will meet our needs.

Please consider making a generous, one-time donation to this project, perhaps as a memorial to a loved one. The names of benefactors and those memorialized will be put in the program for the blessing of the instrument.

The names of those memorialized with a $500 donation or greater will also be inscribed in a plaque on the organ.

And to inspire your generosity, we present a new video of one of our young organists playing the challenging and brilliant B minor Toccata of Eugène Gigout.

PG · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2015, 12:54:05 PM »

Lighthouse - I agree that the presentation of the music is a huge factor. A good example I think is when you hear a lute played by one with nails vs without nails. The nail player does not sound solemn. They can be impressive, and for some music styles necessary, but I don't think they can produce something solemn. And, that is a requirement for mass.