Someone is always unhappy with the music

I have told and retold my daughters if they have "Be Not Afraid" or "Eagles' Wings" played at my funeral I shall arise out of the coffin and personally strangle each one..."Be Not Afraid"'s 2nd verse is NO consolation when you've had a child drown....yeah, don't fret the raging waters....A near relative wanted that to be played at my Dad's funeral, too...I informed them that it was not to be.

Well, Ms. Nussbaum, someone is always unhappy with the music because the music is almost always bad. I am happy to say that I am ignorant of "Here we are," and "Mother, at your feet is kneeling," and it doesn't sound from your descriptions of them as if I missed much. For years my most unfavorite was "Mother dear, O Pray for me," and for a while I was greatly relieved to learn that this was a Civil War production, and that the mother in question was the mother of a soldier boy in the Union Army. In fact, I'm not entirely sure that's correct, however, though the song does seem to have been a favorite among northern mothers hoping their boys would stay out of trouble (see Patricia Richard, "Busy Hands," p. 33).

All Catholics, but most particularly those who are ordained, ought to be required to go to Protestant services at least once a year, to hear how hymns are properly sung by whole congregations. One of the reasons may be that they stick to good hymn tunes, many by people like Bach, Handel, Haydn, Isaac Watts, Vaughan Williams, Elgar, and others, rather than the tuneless (and often rhythmless) pseudo-folk excresences that make "hymnals" like Glory and Praise such a test of one's Christian charity, and which few people bother to sing.

If the Catholic ordained were required to go occasionally to Protestant churches, they might also learn something about preaching, but that's another issue for another time.

WOW! I don't really know which way to take this article. I am currently the director of the Pastoral Musicians Chapter for the San Antonio Archdiocese. And while I see her point to some of the "me" and "we" songs, maybe a better point is that we don't sing them completely, but usually pick and choose verses. It is the God who I praise and love that directs me, challenges me, and supports me as I do my level-headed best to put into practice that Golden Rule. And it is so very important to remember that the greatest commandment is followed by a 2nd, that we are challenged to live. If we don't have love for ourselves, and for our neighbors, how can we love a God we cannot see? Our music has to be balanced, it has to incorporate much of this.

These past few years, we have been challenged in the English-speaking community to come to grips with the Mass as we have known it and to embrace a new translation which will shortly go into effect. This is an opportunity for us to look at the music that we sing as well and envision music that can not only praise God but that can also help us to live out the Gospel commandment to love all with whom we come in contact. When we sing that "All are welcome in this place" we bring everything that we are: our hurts, pains, joys, sorrows, excitement, opportunities, to share with those with whom we are now celebrating. Mass is not a personal prayer, it is a community prayer, and we are reminded that "where two or three are gathered," God is present.

So "Sing A New Song to the Lord" but remember that "We are the voice of the Living God called to live..." (and yes, both can be found in hymnals cited above!

Here is a link to a video of "Mary At Your Feet is Kneeling" sung in a church so the readers who have never heard it can judge for themselves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t05R4gXClTU

I teach seminarians, some of who in the past have reacted unkindly to texts from hymns such as "Lord of the Dance" and "Earth and All Stars". I remind them that we are singing simple poetry and if they cannot understand and
"break open" simple poetry, how will they ever be able to do the same with scripture?

How does "Spirit Seeking" fit in? Or "O God of Loveliness"?
Anyone?

When I praise God in song, I want Him to KNOW it. But, why is it that my mind drifts off to recollections of a skating rink when we sing in the Catholic Church? There are so many great inspirational songs. I know because sometimes I sneak off to the Baptist Church. And, on my bucket list is to hear good Gospel music. I had heard a great Gospel group in Savannah. As a matter of fact, I may get to do that soon....guess where? Yep, at the Baptist Church in the next town.

I think "Let us break together on our knees" a African-American spiritual, but it was defined for me by my brother, who mimed taking a French baguette and cracking it over his knee.

I think "Let us break together on our knees" a African-American spiritual, but it was defined for me by my brother, who mimed taking a French baguette and cracking it over his knee.

"...someone is always unhappy with the music."
Yeah, especially GOD:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Catholics-Cant-Sing-Catholicism/dp/0824511530
Plus ca change...

The director of our local choral society put it this way:
"It's such a pleasure to conduct the choral society which makes music unlike the church choir that I belong to which makes noise."

Some of the music settings will be changing when the new translation of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal goes into effect the 3rd Sun. of Advent in November of this. If you look carefully at what has been going on the last 10-15 years of excellent music contributions both contemporary and traditional using both keyboards, guitar, etc. and the Organ there has been a diversity of music produced. I affirm the musicians who have made significant effort to adapt the new Mass settings to both contemporary and traditional styles for congregational
use. However, I suspect there is a movement to have more Latin music placed back into the Liturgy and within ten years don't be surprised to see more Latin words back into the Liturgy much like in 1964 when the first English came out using phrases: "Brethren," & "And with your Spirit." These responses are now a part of the 3rd Roman Missal translatons. It appears that the Pendulum is swinging more to the right than some realize.

Nicely done - I too have long held the foot-in-both-camps view that in the 1960s the English-speaking world largley exchanged one type of sentimental sludge for another.

In doing so, we lost sight of one of the fundamental insights of the mid-century liturgical movement: that we should be singing the liturgy rather than singing things at it. The fixation on hymnody - old or new, good or bad - is part of the problem. The biggest favour any parish could do for itself liturgically is to adopt a decent setting or two of the Ordinary of the Mass and, if possible, the propers. Hymns are, or should be, an afterthought.

Thank you, Melissa Nussbaum, for a wonderfully written, timely topic. Our family often has discussions about liturgical music (the selections thereof)the range is from "dirge" to "nightclub/pub" raucous cacophony. There must be a middle ground?! Is it the "Music Ministry" or the Pastor/his Associates, who decide? select? the music? I must admit that often, at post communion time, I put my hands over my ears to drown out the volume (but that is another issue!!)

Probably that's why for my mother's memorial service in 2005, I had a tape recorder with just 2 songs for the Communion time -- The Ave Maria in French, her first language, & an instrumental version of "Meditation" from classical opera...

Not sure what Nussbaum's point is but she sure is right about music being the dynamic as well as the dynamite of liturgical debate- lyrics and melody. I don't really appreciate her seeming disdain for the "we'ness" and predictability of much of the contemporary stuff. First of all, it is telling us that we are/need/lack/want a community of reverence - anybody get the message? We don't need a return to "herding" under the whiplash control of the ontologically different/superior and (albeit beautiful)Gregorian chant as if it were the only music worth the title of "sacred".

What's wrong with flaunting the obvious? We acknowledge our acceptance the first time we repeat anything....

Finally, allowing the emotions once again to fill a church, this time emanating from the p-e-o-p-l-e (you know, "...who are gathered in my name...") rather than so stolidly repressed in a bored priest rueing its absence in the flock who should be awed by him and the magisty of translated/or not musings of a thirteenth-century unintelligible-mystic. Singing and enjoying singing is/was the fuel of nascent creativity as the tons of raw ore is the source of the ounce of gold. Get all the people singing and enjoying it and creativity will emerge, contemporary art will find that place where emotion, understanding and mystery collide.

While I'm all for the revival of the St. Basil Hymnal, we Catholics ought to study the Lutheran Hymn Book which is still 98% hymns and not the rejected show tunes that get accepted as singable music in the Catholic Church. I must say that when I was a kid everybody in the Church sang: if the lyrics were as silly as suggested at least the music was memorable and singable. When we check out the history of those tunes in the Lutheran book, we get a good sense of why the tunes have survived as long as they have. I must say that what passes for hymns in Catholic Churches these days is rarely sung, is forgetttable, has no history at all, and does nothing to enhance the communal structure of the Mass at all. Change the words in the St. Basil if you want, but keep the music. Or, maybe even ecumenically superior, get the Lutheral Hymnal.

Ah yes, indeed, this custom of telling God who we are (as if God did not know) is sort of unusual... :) But God has put up with worse from us!

I'm curious. What hymns have you chosen for your funeral? Now that I've lived three score I've started a list I keep in the top drawer of my dresser. I've got "Gather" for the entrance rite, "On Eagle's Wings" for the Psalm. I'd love to get "Hosea" in there somewhere -- maybe the recessional -- but I like the idea of sending folks out of the cheer joy-full, so I've pencilled in "Sing a New Song," mostly because when it was used as a recessional at my parish recently the assembly broke into spontaneous applause at the end. Lifted everyone's spirit. But I can't help asking, why would I care what's played at my funeral? I won't hear it! The only answer that makes sense to me at this point is perhaps helping those who are there know a little better who I was. But again: At that point, why would I care?

Love this article! How well I can relate to this; as a youth I was an organist even back when the St. Basil hymnal was not allowed, only St. Gregory was OK. We could use the hymn in St. Basil only if the rhythmic pattern coincided with the same hymn in St. Gregory. Of course, Schubert's Ave Maria was too secular, never allowed for a wedding or funeral. I am glad those rules have changed, but I'm with you - is it about us or about our creator? Or both, at least. On one hand the atmosphere in the room could be contemplative, and on the other hand could be joyful. But self-involved? Not really. Thanks for a thought-provoking article.

What a wonderful sense of humor; I too dislike the hymns about us - but to read an article that was funny and to the point was great

Note the eighteenth-century spelling of the author's middle name.

The hymns reuired to be used at lituries by the "music police" are pretty awful especially when there is some really good contemporary music that could be used. Where is it written that God likes the music which we are required to use?

come to the Spanih Mass, in the poor neighborhood beneath the Opus Dei radar, where we love the music.

Aunque te digan algunos que nada puede cambiar,
lucha par'un mundo nuevo, lucha par'la libertad

Ven con nosotros a caminar, Santa Maria, Ven,
Ven con nosotros a caminar, Santa Maria, Ven

In the realm of popular music, each decade, each genre, has had its share of classics and stinkers. The thing is - when you turn on an "oldies" station, for the most part, you get the hits of a bygone era - the best (or at least most popular) of what the 60s, 70s, 80s, whatever - had to offer. Number 235 on the charts of 1973 is, for the most part, forgotten - and rightfully so. But with church music, it seems that nothing is ever allowed to die. You're sitting there at mass (minding your own business) and suddenly the choir exhumes some dreadful dirge of the 50s or something out of the Catholic "bottom 40"from the 60s. These are songs that the secular world would have allowed to meet their darwinian ends, but - I guess because they're "about God" - they're allowed to continue as the "undead" of liturgical music. This stuff needs to be weeded out and burnt - like the unfruitful fig trees of the gospel.

Why does the hymnal still carry "Soul of My Saviour" with "santify my breast" and "hide me in thy wounds"??

"it’s hard not to picture a church organist who looks like he left his job at the Shakey’s Pizza Parlor of my youth (Derby hat, striped shirt, gay (18)90s?) just in time to make the 11 o’clock Mass."

Any stereotyping here???

PS: "What code in the image" at the bottom of the page is 6RUNT. Are you kidding--RUNT???

I agree with the person who suggested Protestant hymns. They are far superior in both melody and text. The other problem with music in the Catholic Church is with the weird, dissonant musical settings for the sung prayers, particularly the psalms. Whoever writes these ugly things should be strung up. They are completely un-singable. They're particularly disturbing when the words of the psalms are so beautiful, and then the beauty is ruined by the discordant notes randomly strung together. My complaints about this to a female cantor with a lovely voice fell on deaf ears ( no pun intended).

As a liturgical musician who appreciates everything from the baroque to the contemporary, I'm always amazed at how many "non-musicians" seem to feel incumbent upon them to comment derisively. Consider that most liturgical
musicians are unpaid, either for practice time or for planning time or for the day itself. Consider also, that most of the commentators would by paralyzed by fear if they attempted to do what liturgical musicians do regularly.

Now, granted, some liturgical musicians ought to practice a bit more and play in public a bit less. I've been tortured by the flautist who seems to not know how to tune her instrument, nor find the proper starting note. Or the singer who's best confined to their own shower.

But then I've dealt with commentators who've reacted to really competent renditions by tut-tutting and saying "it isn't a performance, you know." If ever there was an individual who hasn't a clue about what makes a musician able to do what a musician does...

Whether it's "Glory and Praise" played without rhythm and/or spirit or a Bach organ piece played mechanically and with the occasional clinker (throw in distasteful use of registers), bad music is usually bad because it's badly done.

I also wonder if many of the deriders of liturgical music are actually making an excuse for their own hang-ups and inhibitions. They think they can't sing (most people who think they can't actually can) and so they're shifting the blame for what's really their own issue.

I travel quite a bit, and I haven't heard "Here We Are" at any mass in over 25 years. Perhaps it's our #235 on the hit parade (h/t to d. novak for that thought). Forgotten, except when we can dredge it up to make a point.

And to that point -- singing songs about *us* is nothing new. See Ps 100 "we are his people, the flock he shepherds" or Ps 137 "we sat weeping when we remembered Zion"

The purpose of singing selections in the "we are.." vein is not to tell GOD who we are, but to remind OURSELVES who we are and WHOSE we are. As I heard in a challenging homily this weekend - when you answer Jesus' question, "Who do you say I am?", the follow up question is "How do you live your life based on your answer?"

Singing songs of praise to God is a wonderful thing. But isn't there room in our repertoire for those selections that make us think about our relationship to God and to each other and how we live a Christian life?

I wish there was a serious, ongoing effort in every parish to find out how people want to pray with music. Do they not sing at Church because they just don't sing anywhere, or because the music is too high/too low/just plain unsingable?

I'm a little uncomfortable at my current parish because I think it's only the choir that sings. It may be that most people there don't like to sing, or it may be a culture established by previous music directors. If it's the people's preference to listen to music, that's fine. If they feel discouraged form singing, that's not so fine. Are there more light, Christian rock style tunes than I might like? Sure, but from what I can see, a lot of people find those songs very moving. If the music reaches the bulk of the people there, I have no complaint.

I have long held that for any given hymn, 95 people will think it's OK, 4 will name it their favorite, and one person will absolutely hate it!

Easy fix: have some masses without any music. That's one part of pre VII I'd like to see return.

Excellent article. But since I have been playing the piano/playing a mandolin/singing in our rather small parish for some 30 years, I find the comments truly interesting. For about 10 years our parish had a new priest ever year or so, and each of them knew exactly how the music should be, liturgically speaking. And of course, each was different. It eventually occured to us that what the priest wanted was just what he wanted -- the liturgy was the excuse. Since we get many, many compliments on our music from parishoners as well as visitors from around the world, I thought I would list what I believe are the reasons.

1. We have a volunteer coordinator who is a firm task master.
2. We practice twice for every Mass.
3. There is a wide variety of music choosen, but always it enhances the Scripture readings for the Sunday.
4. All hymns are announced prior to being sung, as well as the numbers posted in a visible place so all know exactly what to sing.
5. The final hymn, if appropriate at all, is upbeat. The people leave Mass with a positive feeling.

When we first started years ago, no one sang. Now, weather permitting, our ushers open the doors on the final hymn so that passersby also can have a positive moment. This past Sunday it was a bi-lingual Mass (Spanish and English), and our final hymn was Alabare. Those who couldn't sing all the words, clapped vigorously, "...making a joyful noise unto the Lord".

It was marvelous.

I have this vision! Hopefuly we are all together one day before the throne of God. The heavenly orchestra and choir are gathering and the director looks to God and says, "the usual Lord?" And God responds, " you know what I really like is jazz." Whereupon the orchestra and choir break out into a rousing rendition of When the Saints Go Marching In.

How about some Masses without homilies? The homilies aggravate me more than music because they are irrelevant. Just had one last week about the landowner who pays all of his servants the same at the end of the day. "Why complain because I am generous?" The homilist focused on "God knows best". Today's workers are not envious or discontent because the landowners are generous, but because they (corporations) are neither generous nor just but consumed by greed. When have we heard a song or homily about that??? When is the last time you have heard "The Cry of the Poor" and a challenging follow-up homily? (Yes, I do know that in the metaphor the landowner is God.)

“Masses without homilies”—an excellent idea! I remember in pre-Vatican II times when homilies were not given during the hot summer months. Over the years I’ve heard so many terrible homilies—I want that time back—so that I can read something truly inspiring. I’ve often thought that I would rather hear a priest read a well prepared but brief article based on the Scripture, rather than a poorly articulated and banal fifteen minutes of sheer boredom!

The only thing I miss about pre-Vatican II liturgies is their length. I know some folks will counter with the “can’t you give one hour a week to God” argument, but I say that our liturgies can be an occasion of sin—terrible homilies (with questionable theology…), bad music (of all styles), crabby or indifferent folks in the pews. Yes, someone always is complaining. Who is listening?

Oh my gosh, do need a total reform of the Catholic Mass--not friendly enough. Good music can save us, till Vat III(3)!

I think the Mass bores teenagers to tears. Here are our Mass prayers, written by a people intelligent enough to fly to outer space:

"Lord, being mindful that in your benevolent presence, we [the compliant being led by the unbending] thank you as you sanctify us, in this prayer offered to your graciousness [oh come on!], and therefore we offer these gifts, the work of men [the woman don't count], prepared for your bounteous goodness [Old English or what?]. Father, remembering your redemptive acts [Excuse me, Father God, I know this is a boring prayer to you, but PLEASE try to keep awake till we get to the end. Only 2 more minutes of droning on and on.]"

And just wait till November! [Lord we REALLY are patient.]

When there is BAD MUSIC for Mass, it increases the torture.

Hey, secret worship? Byrds 3 part mass was invented just for that, so it's easy to sing, requires fewer competent singers, and it's some of the best music _ever_ written. They say when the Catholics were being brutally repressed, the reason Byrd got by was because he was that good.

Ya know, the okay has been given to use latin again.

Nils

The author writes, in analyzing words to a hymn:

"Dearest Mother, tell my Jesus
How I love Him fond and true
[You talk to Him; He never listens to me!]
And, oh, Mary, dearest Mother,
Tell Him I belong to you.
[He likes you!]"

I think Ms. Nussbaum is reading things into the hymn.

Certainly, Jesus listens to us, and likes us... and not just Mary. The hymns mentioned are not implying that God does not love us or is in a bad mood.

I think the hymns are pointing to the reality -- willed by God -- of Mary's special role of intercession. After all, Our Lord's first recorded public miracle, at Cana, was requested (interceded) by Mary.

As far as some of the commenters are concerned, I find it interesting- and wrong- that they suggest we go to Protestant congregations to learn the meaning of good music (and preaching).

Although, I suppose this should come as no surprise to me: Vatican II and its aftermath already mimic the Protestant errors of centuries ago.

A great topic but kind of a goofy article. Too forced; the meanings of the hymns - far too stretched.

Now, Glory and Praise can be dropped in the ocean.
Who told those 70's Jesuits they could write music?

Just scan the notes: boring chromaticism; time signature changes for a bar, then back again!?
As Peter Kreeft writes in The Snakebite Letters - these songs weaken and water down our praise to our Creator.

This, you know, aggression will not stand man!

The hymns used in The Liturgy of the Hours might be a good place to start to find replacements for these insipid songs used at Mass.
But you can leave out the Lucien Diess. Not even his Mom knew how his tunes went.

Liturgical music is like pizza, no matter how bad it is, it's still good. The singers and musicians are 99% volunteers. For you naysayers, it is not your position to comment on these poor souls. They are doing songs and selections that make them want to sing out their souls to God and are in their musical capacity. That should be enough for you. Possibly you could put down your own egos, humble yourselves and support them, no matter if it is with old hymns, new hymns, organ, guitar, country or chant. The next time you want to be critical, remember no one has the right until you volunteer week after week since the 1980s or even 1970s, otherwise, learn to love it, in all charity. Charity? Unfortunately if there is a death of charity in America today, it can also be said it's dead in matters like this in the Church too.

When the Catholic church produces a hymnal of decent, singable music, the singing will improve. This 5th-rate stuff now available is not singable or worthy as an offering to God.