tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post1513124997280338065..comments2023-06-16T16:08:23.446+01:00Comments on Edinburgh Housewife: Mad Trad 8: G is for Gregorian ChantMrs McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-17014573683535042032015-09-02T23:31:58.847+01:002015-09-02T23:31:58.847+01:00I am delighted that a reader is learning to be a c...I am delighted that a reader is learning to be a church organist, and that you have found organ practice to be a prayerful experience! That's wonderful.That's a terrific, priceless gift!Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-86358911518239679712015-09-02T20:18:20.855+01:002015-09-02T20:18:20.855+01:00Oops, and I forgot to make my main point, which is...Oops, and I forgot to make my main point, which is that I've come to love and appreciate the reverence and solemn quality of the traditional hymns (as opposed to the religious songs).Michellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-39636294601572773212015-09-02T20:17:09.982+01:002015-09-02T20:17:09.982+01:00Wonderful piece! As a member of 'music ministr...Wonderful piece! As a member of 'music ministry' in my own parish, I can identify with a lot of this. I grew up on the good old 'Breaking Bread' hymnbook, which was essentially full of Dan Schutte, John Michael Talbot, and Bob Hurd. Which I loved. As an accompanist, you could have a lot of fun with these. My current parish is a very old-fashioned Basilica, which means we exclusively sing out of the CBWII. However, our music director is Protestant, so we essentially sing from a very narrow range of 20 or so old hymns, regardless of whether they're appropriate for that Sunday or readings or not... ahem. That's another story.<br /><br />(Don't get me started on P&W. @ Alias Clio -- I too had to stop going to one of my favourite university-aged-community Masses because of the musical shenanigans. Choristers with their eyes closed, hands waving about in the air like especially daffy stalks of wheat --)<br /><br />Anyway, I am especially gratified to read the Council's position on the pipe organ, as I'm currently learning to be a church organist and find practicing the organ -- usually in an empty, quiet Basilica before open hours -- to be one of the most prayerful and reflective experiences I've ever had.Michellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-72203606391668743352015-09-02T14:09:43.721+01:002015-09-02T14:09:43.721+01:00It might be a good idea on some occasions, but I d...It might be a good idea on some occasions, but I don't think it would have worked in the instance I described above. One reason it was such a nice parish was that it was full of young people in their teens who were active and enthusiastic members of the church. Unfortunately, the music was geared to their taste, and their taste was awful. <br /><br />I wonder if it would work at the church I attend presently, where the music director is no pop fan but does insist on using his own compositions for the liturgy, loosely based on chant music but altered as he sees fit. (You should hear what he has done to the Magnificat...) He appears to be a devotee of Schonberg because his music is (a) tuneless, and (b) insists on defying traditional musical form by rising when you expect it to fall, and vice versa. The priests at this parish have changed so often in recent years that they lack the influence to rein him in. But a letters from parishioners might help, if tactfully worded.<br /><br />ClioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-80831884509016794672015-09-02T10:06:11.814+01:002015-09-02T10:06:11.814+01:00I wonder if it would or would not be a charitable ...I wonder if it would or would not be a charitable act if every time a Catholic stopped attending a Mass at a nice parish, he or she wrote to the priest explaining that it wasn't him (or personal laziness) but the music. Naturally this would be outweighed by all the ladies telling him, "Oh, FATHER, I just love those 'Sister Act' songs" but one would have quietly and inoffensively done one's duty.Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-21955899674077159202015-09-02T00:55:28.911+01:002015-09-02T00:55:28.911+01:00I'm all for traditional music and hate the way...I'm all for traditional music and hate the way it's been neglected. However, I must confess to a soft spot for many of the folk and Protestant tunes (heck, Bach was after all a Prot), even the lower ones, and for - ahem - the occasional piece by the Saint Louis Jesuits. <br /><br />The only items on your list that I condemn out of hand are the pop tunes, whether purpose-written for church or adapted from the top 40 for use there.They are seldom tuneful enough to stand up to singing by a choir without sounding ridiculous, and the religious tunes written in pop fashion are also grossly sentimental. I had to stop attending Mass at one really nice parish because their music was of this type and was an occasion of sin for me because it gave me such uncharitable thoughts. <br /><br />Alias Clio <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-41366593988489950712015-09-01T15:13:44.313+01:002015-09-01T15:13:44.313+01:00Pete's really into it. And then he just wiggle...Pete's really into it. And then he just wiggles all over the place. I'd like to think it is the music, but I fear it may be drugs. Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-1654439340506094812015-09-01T14:09:21.995+01:002015-09-01T14:09:21.995+01:00I have never seen such intense tambourine work.I have never seen such intense tambourine work.sciencegirlnoreply@blogger.com