November 20, 2007
BACH IN ACTION:
Why the Pope is right to purge modern music (Damian Thompson, 20/11/2007, Daily Telegraph)
Since he arrived in Rome nearly 30 years ago, the music-loving Joseph Ratzinger has had to endure the sub-operatic warbling of bad 20th-century music. Now he has had enough.Posted by Orrin Judd at November 20, 2007 7:09 AMThe Pope, who last year appointed a new choir director of St Peter's, wants Gregorian chant, polyphony and baroque masterpieces to dominate the repertoire in the basilica and the Sistine chapel. And, by making his preferences clear, he is sending out a message to the whole Catholic Church.
We are moving into an era of liturgical revolution. Benedict detests the feeble "folk Masses" that have remained the staple fare of Catholic worship long after they went out of musical fashion.
He wants the Church to rediscover the treasure of its heritage - and that includes Gregorian chant as well as the pre-1970 Latin Mass that can now be celebrated without the permission of bishops.
The most moving worship I have ever attended was a Mass in the cathedral in Buffalo. Twenty-voice choir singing in Latin, a cappella, no microphones, no amplification.
It rocked!
Posted by: Mike Morley at November 20, 2007 8:10 AMAwesomeness.
Posted by: Benny at November 20, 2007 11:53 AMWhenever we play the older traditional music in Mass at our school liturgies the students don't utter a word.
When we play more upbeat, modern hymns they sing like angels.
Which is more important?
Posted by: Bartman at November 20, 2007 2:06 PMoj,
Let me recommend Joseph Haydn's "The Creation".
http://www.amazon.com/Haydn-Sch%C3%B6pfung-Creation-Gardiner-Soloists/dp/B0000057FS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1195612264&sr=1-1