Author Topic: Why Cant We Use Secular Music During Mass? (Read 2154 times)

Geremia · « **on:** February 14, 2014, 11:04:49 PM »

Why Can't We Use Secular Music During Mass?
published 13 February 2014 by Jeff Ostrowski

COMPOSER DAN SCHUTTE,[/b] formerly a Jesuit priest, published a musical setting in 2012 of the Glory To God which has been widely criticized because it changes the words. ¹

To me, however, something else is even more problematic. Please listen to these brief excerpts and see if you can guess what I'm getting at:

* * "Glory To God" — Refrain by Dan Schutte

* * "My Little Pony" — Mp3 Audio Excerpt

Am I crazy, or is this resemblance jarring?

ON 22 NOVEMBER 2003, Blessed John Paul II decreed that Church music must "avoid any concessions to frivolity or superficiality." He went on to remind us of many other important things. For instance, he said neither vocal nor instrumental music can be used at Mass if it "does not possess a sense of prayer, dignity and beauty."

A few years ago, we created this video which presented Church legislation on Sacred music and drew some conclusions. Some of my friends were angry we used the term "Disney" to describe certain liturgical music. Others thought we were kidding. However, I stand behind that term, because technical descriptions like "modal" and "rhythmically free" mean nothing to the vast majority of Catholics who lack professional training in music.

PLEASE, DON'T LEAVE ANY NASTY COMMENTS saying I am "anti-Schutte" or anything like that. I have absolutely nothing against Schutte, who is incredibly accomplished ² and literally world-famous. He's free to write whatever he wishes and folks are free to purchase it.

However, I do object to certain would-be "scholarly" publications treating this music in a serious fashion, using the most outlandish psychobabble. ³ Sometimes I'm tempted to scream: "How can such things be written about a tune lifted from My Little Pony?" Just a decade ago, I believed Musicology symposia had a monopoly on this kind of gibberish â€" I was wrong!

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

Quote

1 Musical settings which alter the official Mass texts were supposed to have been eliminated beginning in 2011.

2 Dan Schutte (b. 1947) is best known for composing the hymn "Here I Am, Lord." He has received three honorary doctoral degrees, numerous Grammy nominations, and many other awards. He is considered one of the most influential living composers of "contemporary" Catholic liturgical music.

3 I have some examples I've saved over the years, but I hesitate to post them at the moment for a reason I will explain another day.

Memento · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2014, 08:26:06 AM »

What's wrong with using secular music for the Novus Ordo Missae?

Nothing! It suits the banality of the liturgy just as the "theater in the round" secular architecture and felt banner art suits its theology.

I notice that these smells and bells people use the most beautiful Gothic and Medieval art clips on their blogs and websites. The art of those times was inspired by the true Mass and a robust faith - not the Novus Ordo free for all.

TKGS · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2014, 09:12:54 AM »

Back when I went to the Novus Ordo, they did sing secular music at the services. Did they stop doing so during the past nine years?

icterus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2014, 12:24:09 PM »

HAHAHA! Awesome. It does sound exactly like 'My Little Pony'.

Well, what do you expect from the gαy-ass St. Louis Jesuits?

icterus · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2014, 12:34:03 PM »

BTW, in case you aren't aware, Dan Schutte lives with his gαy 'partner', while remaining the 'Composer in Residence' at (Jesuit) SFU.

soulguard · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2014, 01:53:19 PM »

You should continue to show the hypocrisy and falsehood of the novus ordo church so that the truth is known. The modern church is an abomination before God and is not the bride of Christ.

crossbro · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2014, 05:18:40 PM »

Let's play some secular music during mass, "Pleased to meet you, can you guess my name ..."

MyTruePower2 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2014, 02:24:10 PM »

My main complaint with this particular example is that it seems to imply a rejection of effort, and if we're not going to put effort into the Holy Mass, where our job is to honor and worship God, we have, in a sense, violated the first commandment. We have failed to love God with all our minds and our strength.

Surely, people can present music for worshiping God that is clever and creative, and puts secular tunes to shame. In fact, we've got a storehouse of it already. Just because the secular world keeps stealing ideas from us (to distort them,) doesn't mean we need to return the favor.

TKGS · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2014, 02:59:49 PM »

Some of the secular music I remember hearing at the Novus Ordo:

Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Simon and Garfunkel)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Let It Be (The Beatles)
The Impossible Dream (Man of La Mancha)
Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens) -- This one was in the parish songbook)

I know there are others, I just don't remember them.

I have to admit that, just as a military band can make any song sound like martial music, a church organ can make many songs sound like religious music. Of course, an organ can also make any song sound appropriate for the circus or the baseball stadium.

icterus · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2014, 03:10:20 PM »

Quote

Let's play some secular music during mass, "Pleased to meet you, can you guess my name ..."

You idiots can't even quote the Stones correctly. It's 'hope you guess my name'.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rollingstones/sympathyforthedevil.html

Matto · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2014, 03:37:55 PM »

Quote from: icterus

You idiots can't even quote the Stones correctly.

You and SJB should talk to each other more.

icterus · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2014, 03:51:26 PM »

Nah, I think he's a pedantic fool.

Cuthbert · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2014, 04:14:26 PM »

I think you're an over-grown spoiled brat icky. You almost have to be to be so ridiculously prideful. Maybe if you had been knocked down a peg or two when you were younger you would have turned out to be a better human being, but as it is there's not much that can be done for you. Maintaining your pride must be very tiring, especially when deep down you realize that there's really no reason for you to crow. Deep down you know that you're really ......well I'll stop right there. Here's to you being cured of your delusions of grandeur.

icterus · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2014, 04:34:14 PM »

And yet all I am is a Catholic lay person, and as a matter of fact, I'm not the one fulminating anathemas on people. Unlike other posters here, I claim no authority to excommunicate anyone, and I try to not judge clergy, particularly the Pope when I can avoid it.

And, in face of all the galactic arrogance of dozens of slack-jawed mouth-breathers declaring popes to be invalid, Masses to be invalid, councils to be invalid...I'm the arrogant one.

Yeah. Pull the other one, idiot.

Matto · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2014, 04:40:03 PM »

Quote from: Jesus

And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

That's from Matthew chapter 5.