Why Catholics shouldn't bother to sing: feeling a little left out during the Communion hymn? It might just be that your parish is dominated by what Thomas Day calls "Big Voice." Tongue in cheek, he pushes current trends to their logical conclusion, telling Catholics to simply shut up altogether. (sounding board).IT'S ALMOST OFFICIAL NOW: CATHOLICS IN THE UNITED States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. will soon be released from the bother of congregational singing. Preparations for this have been going on for years, in the form of signals to the congregation that all carry the same unmistakable message: "Do not sing." In case you have been missing these signals, here are the three main ones. 1. Big Voice will do it for you. Usually in the sanctuary but sometimes in the back, Big Voice is that man or woman--with lips practically on the microphone--who makes the singing congregation obsolete. Big Voice's voice, enlarged by amplification, completely crushes any sound coming from the pews. No matter how many people in the congregation are singing, Big Voice loudly "on top" is all you really hear. What started in the 1960s as a little form of musical assistance for a struggling congregation, the leader of song, is now a required fixture in Catholic parishes, cathedrals, seminaries, chapels, and wherever the congregation is asked to sing. Big Voice does not lead singing. Big Voice rules! What happens when you remove Big Voice? You are left just with that "acoustic," authentic sound of a singing assembly. People can actually hear themselves singing prayer as a blended "all." But let's be serious--that sort of thing is like a cobbler making shoes for the villagers; it's quaint but retro. Today, audio technology--with microphones, wires, and loudspeakers everywhere--has replaced quaintness. We modern people thrill to the sound of an amplified soloist dominating and commanding us. It's so Madonna, so Eminem, so technological, so utterly now. Get used to it. Go with the flow. Just smile, keep quiet, and let labor-saving Big Voice replace your voice. 2. We have bigger plans. To be honest, the actual sound of a congregation singing is usually rather small, almost puny pu·ny adj. pu·ni·er, pu·ni·est 1. Of inferior size, strength, or significance; weak: a puny physique; puny excuses. 2. Chiefly Southern U.S. Sickly; ill. . The modern church really does not want it. We have bigger plans. We want the mighty opening hymn, the mighty alleluias, right through the extremely mighty finale at the end. We want the musical power and glory of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since July 15, 1929, the choir has performed a weekly radio broadcast called Music and the Spoken Word , the Crystal Cathedral The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant, Christian megachurch in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County, California. The church was founded in 1955 by Rev. Dr. Robert H. Schuller and his wife, Arvella, on the campus of what was known until that time as , Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall New York City’s famous cinema; home of the Rockettes. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2338] See : Theater , the Grand Old Opry, and a rock concert for every weekend liturgy, for every funeral and wedding. Of course, that sort of thing is expensive, so we will settle for the cheap imitation, that is, loud Big Voice pretending to be a choir of thousands. Nobody really wants the little noise that actually comes from most congregations, especially anything that sounds like chanting. It's too Orthodox Church, too Catholic. Just pick a few Catholic parishes at random, walk in, and notice how often the emphasis is on big noise. In many cases the priest--his talking amplified to immense proportions--recites some of the assembly's prayers so loudly that all you hear is his voice. Not far away from the priest, Big Voice or The Group musically presides at another microphone. Whenever the congregation is supposed to sing, there is absolutely no attempt to blend all the voices in the building into a unified sung prayer that symbolizes "all." Instead, what you hear is constant overpowering noise through loudspeakers. There are, of course, a few resisters out there--the places that have slipped into a bad habit bad habit Unhealthy habit Clinical medicine A patterned behavior regarded as detrimental to physical or mental health, which is often linked to a lack of self-control. Cf Good habit. that could be called "pre-technology simplicity" as the norm. The congregation's repertory might be anything from Latino to Latin; it might be beautiful or homely. A large portion of it is memorized music or refrains picked up on the spot. Occasionally, some singing is done without any instrumental accompaniment. As a result of all this deliberate simplicity, the congregation and choir can actually hear themselves singing prayer as a group--an unfamiliar experience for many Catholics. This "musical simplicity" is, of course, a horrendous idea. First of all, the singing is never loud enough for our modern ears. And then there is the more serious problem of it all sounding so devout. Such plain-Jane modesty and humility are all part of that transcendent "churchy church·y adj. church·i·er, church·i·est 1. Conforming or adhering rigorously to the practices or creeds of a church. 2. Of, suitable for, or suggesting a church: "two . . . " experience of yesteryear yes·ter·year n. 1. The year before the present year. 2. Time past; yore. yes . Worship today is not about devotion or thankful praise. It is about me: my immanent im·ma·nent adj. 1. Existing or remaining within; inherent: believed in a God immanent in humans. 2. Restricted entirely to the mind; subjective. religious experience and my victory over the errors of the past. Take the hint. Little musical sounds coming from a congregation are a sign of weakness. Yield to the future, which belongs to heroes behind microphones. 3. We have no culture. Beware of the snobs, the troublemakers who complain about the problem of liturgical music--whether "traditional" or "contemporary"--that has absolutely no "cultural resonance" (a fancy way of saying that the music seems to have no meaning for anybody). Humor the snobs. Agree with them, up to a point: Yes, they are right--culture is a way to communicate values. Yes, the church has persistently tried to communicate through a "catholic/universal" liturgical culture that attempts to embrace different kinds of peoples. Yes, Roman Catholicism Roman Catholicism Largest denomination of Christianity, with more than one billion members. The Roman Catholic Church has had a profound effect on the development of Western civilization and has been responsible for introducing Christianity in many parts of the world. , even before Vatican II Noun 1. Vatican II - the Vatican Council in 1962-1965 that abandoned the universal Latin liturgy and acknowledged ecumenism and made other reforms Second Vatican Council Vatican Council - each of two councils of the Roman Catholic Church , had a long "multicultural" history of trying to communicate through vernacular liturgical music Liturgical music originated as a part of religious ceremony, and includes a number of traditions, both ancient and modern. Liturgical music is well known as a part of Catholic Mass, the Anglican Holy Communion service (or Eucharist), the Lutheran mass, the Orthodox liturgy and other that incorporated ethnic cultural traditions. But then put the snobs in their place with a righteous No. We must get rid of that cultural thinking from the past because it was all based on the notion that a culture has standards of quality and suitability. Tell the snobs that, today, there are no standards, no values, because everything is relative. For about 30 years we have trained millions of young Catholics to sneer at musical standards and values from the past. If we want standards in the church's music today, it will come from the performers singing to us through microphones. All their musical decisions are infallible. They are the culture. We must be especially uncooperative about the idea of a liturgical music that tries to be "catholic" and "universal." The whole concept is based on the idea that the culture and beauty of "art" have a universal appeal. Let us not go down that path again. It leads to this dangerous sense of ownership. What happens is this: People from all walks of life will listen to a choir as it sings music from long ago and far away or they join in the singing of a beautiful old hymn or chant. Pretty soon they start to "understand" the message in that music. They think of this "catholic/universal" music as something that also belongs to them, whoever they are. The music bonds them together in a great, diverse family of faith. The snobs want to take us back to that thing called the sublime. But how thrilling it is to walk into one of those Catholic parishes that have either eliminated or radically disfigured dis·fig·ure tr.v. dis·fig·ured, dis·fig·ur·ing, dis·fig·ures To mar or spoil the appearance or shape of; deform. [Middle English disfiguren, from Old French desfigurer any music that might suggest the sublime or continuity with a Catholic cultural past. To fill up the emptiness, they have brought in the standards of commercial culture. Big Voice affects a country and western twang. We hear an Alleluia Alleluia, Latin form of the expression Hallelujah. sung in the manner of Celine Dion or some other pop diva. Someone from The Group breathes into the microphone after a Communion song, "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and now, for Fathers' Day, here's a little something for you fathers in the congregation." If you close your eyes, you can feel yourself transported right into a cocktail lounge, where the audience is not invited to sing along. In the commercial culture of pop music, you are supposed to watch pop stars emote (chat) emote - (emotion) A command used on talk systems and MUDs to indicate the performance of an action, usually a facial expression of emotional state. ; you are really not welcome to sing along with them for more than a spasm or two. But do not worry. At the rate we are going, cocktail lounge liturgical music will soon be the norm. THE PURPOSE OF SACRED MUSIC "IS THE GLORY OF GOD AND the sanctification sanc·ti·fy tr.v. sanc·ti·fied, sanc·ti·fy·ing, sanc·ti·fies 1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate. 2. To make holy; purify. 3. of the faithful"--those were the words of the Second Vatican Council Noun 1. Second Vatican Council - the Vatican Council in 1962-1965 that abandoned the universal Latin liturgy and acknowledged ecumenism and made other reforms Vatican II Vatican Council - each of two councils of the Roman Catholic Church . Go buy buckets of whiteout, and, wherever you find those words, obliterate o·blit·er·ate v. 1. To remove an organ or another body part completely, as by surgery, disease, or radiation. 2. To blot out, especially through filling of a natural space by fibrosis or inflammation. them. The council's intentions were lovely, but who talks like that anymore? The purpose of liturgical music today is sometimes to give glory to performers, sometimes to create the illusion of great participatory enthusiasm among the faithful, and sometimes both. God has nothing to do with this. And the "sanctification" of the faithful, trying to lead them to holiness? Don't waste your time. In our opinion, most Catholics are hopeless dolts. If we took the council's words seriously, any interpretation of them would be about these intangible ideals of the sublime and authenticity: doing what you can do well (for God's glory), respecting the useful wisdom of the past, and not being afraid of simplicity or low sound volumes--all as a way of expressing a spiritual commitment. In that kind of "environment," Big Voice and friends (as well as the intrusive Big Priest) would look like clowns. The very thought of such things is frightening. Advance copies of Sounding Board are mailed to a sample of U.S. CATHOLIC subscribers. Their answers to questions on the topic of this Sounding Board article and a representative selection of their comments follow in Feedback Feedback Q: The main problem with Catholic singing today is ... Most contemporary liturgical music is written for choirs, not congregations. Many songs are not in a singable range. Steve Knoff Redmond, Wash. Where the heart is. We sing the national anthem before sporting events, but then are tight-lipped tight·lipped also tight-lipped adj. 1. Having the lips pressed together. 2. Loath to speak; close-mouthed. See Synonyms at silent. during Sunday worship. Richard T. Szafranski Saginaw, Mich. Most of us are lousy, untrained singers. Richard Mihan Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Calif. The same as every other problem that we have as church today. Only 20 percent of the parishioners take ownership of their faith. Name withheld Springfield, Ill. People just don't understand that singing is an integral part of the Mass. It's just as much a prayer as the spoken words. Fran Neuman Rochester Hills, Mich. Music is not a high priority in parish budgets, and we get what we pay for. Carol Koppenheffer Anaheim, Calif. It's too slow and plodding. We need more praise and worship music. Mary C. Moosbregger Salem, S.C. Some of the traditional hymns carry themes that don't quite fit scripture (triumphalism tri·umph·al·ism n. The attitude or belief that a particular doctrine, especially a religion or political theory, is superior to all others. tri·umph , monarchy, feudalism feudalism (fy  `dəlĭzəm), form of political and social organization typical of Western Europe from the dissolution of Charlemagne's empire to the rise of the absolute monarchies. , slave, Lord, servant). Bob Hawking Chelmsford, Mass. The problem is also the grace. We don't have music police enforcing rules and amplification and hymn selection. Terry Bianchi East Amherst, N.Y. Q: If I were in charge of the music at my parish, the first thing I would do is ... Give our music director a raise! Ruth Chronister Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, city (1990 pop. 173,072), seat of Allen co., NE Ind., where the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers join to form the Maumee River; inc. 1840. It is the second largest city in the state, a major railroad and shipping point, a wholesale and distribution hub, , Ind. Have the choir get out of the loft and sit interspersed within the congregation to encourage more people to sing. Cynthia Trainque Leominster, Mass. Pull the plug. Liturgy does not need electronic audio and visuals. Tom Frey Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, resort city (1990 pop. 393,069), independent and in no county, SE Va., on the Atlantic coast; inc. 1906. In 1963, Princess Anne co. and the former small town of Virginia Beach were merged, giving the present city an area of 302 sq mi (782 sq km). , Va. Use a different genre of music at each liturgy. Some people love traditional music, while others pray more fully with more contemporary music. Allow for difference. Heather Triggs Newnan, Ga. Eliminate the choir robes, because it separates the choir from the congregation. Marilyn DeMarais Fridley, Minn. Request a better sound system. Margie Sauer Stillwater, Okla. Affirm the musicians for doing a good job. Father Joseph Bidwill, O.P. Minneapolis, Minn. Make a rule that only one unfamiliar song could be introduced on any given Sunday. Karen Mitchell Port Angeles Port Angeles (ăn`jələs), city (1990 pop. 17,710), seat of Clallam co., NW Wash., on Juan de Fuca Strait opposite Victoria, British Columbia; inc. 1890. , Wash. Ask people their top 10 favorite songs. James O'Neill James O'Neill can refer to:
Wilmington, Mass. Q: The worst example of parish singing I've ever experienced was ... "Drop-Kick Me, Jesus, Through the Goalposts of Life" at a funeral for an old cowboy. Maureen Theiler Polson, Mont. A screechy-voiced high soprano doing a solo (like Edith Bunker Edith Bunker (née Baines) is a fictional 1970s sitcom mom on All in the Family (and occasionally Archie Bunker's Place), played by Jean Stapleton. She was the wife of Archie Bunker, mother of Gloria Bunker-Stivic, mother-in-law of Michael "Meathead" Stivic, ). Name withheld St. Petersburg, Fla. The first years following Vatican II, singing "Kumbayah" and "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," accompanied by bad guitars. Helen Wittman Lewiston, Idaho Lewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. It is the second largest city in the Idaho Panhandle region behind Coeur d'Alene. Accompaniment so slow it was like a funeral dirge dirge n. 1. Music a. A funeral hymn or lament. b. A slow, mournful musical composition. 2. A mournful or elegiac poem or other literary work. 3. . Janice Mackay Kalamazoo, Mich. A tie between a polka Mass and the Celebration Singers pop extravaganza. Karen Karn Plymouth, Minn. At my sister's funeral. It deepened the pain of her loss to hear all those sour notes. Name withheld Chicago, Ill. When there's no singing. No matter how good or bad the singing, without it, Mass is just not the same. Catherine Curran Wethersfield, Conn. Q. The best example of parish singing I've ever experienced was ... At a funeral for a member of the choir. It seemed like everyone in the church was singing their hearts out. Ruth Bene Joliet, Ill. A gospel choir from an evangelical church Evangelical Church: see Evangelical United Brethren Church. visiting a parish for an ecumenical service. Connie Meehleis Anchorage, Ala. Popular carols sung at Christmas with minimal instrumental accompaniment. The people know the songs, the melodies are familiar, and the "liturgists" are smart enough to get out of the way. Name withheld Takoma, Md. On the night of September 11 at an interfaith prayer service. The music chosen was known by all, it reflected what we were praying for and our common trust and hope in God. Everybody sang. Mary C. Romero La Verne La Verne (lə vûrn), city (1990 pop. 30,897), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1906. La Verne, which began as a citrus-processing center, now has varied manufacturing, including electronic components, apparel, hand , Calif. Our teen choir. To hear them using their God-given talents to praise and worship the Lord is a beautiful thing. Every note may not be perfect, but their message is. Maureen Smith Maureen Smith was a third-party candidate for President of the United States in the United States presidential election, 1980. She represented the Peace and Freedom Party (United States) and her running mate was Elizabeth Cervantes Barron. Richland Center Richland Center is the name of several places in the United States:
General Comments I am uncomfortable with the custom of the assembly applauding the choir at the end of the liturgy. While I understand it is showing appreciation for their hard work, it also leaves the impression a choir is there to perform. Charles Barnes, S.J. Seattle, Wash. I've heard more small voices than big ones. Jean Feterl Hartland, Mich. There has to be a gentle, tactful tact·ful adj. Possessing or exhibiting tact; considerate and discreet: a tactful person; a tactful remark. tact way of relieving the inept volunteer of music ministry. Name withheld Livingston, N.J. Which side of the bed did Thomas Day get up on? He should have bitten his tongue while it was in his cheek. His superior attitude only discourages participation. Name withheld California, Md. There are parts of the Mass in which the music should be "mighty," like the "Alleluia" and "Holy, holy." I agree that hymns should be sung at a moderate level, but we should not feel self-conscious about singing aloud on occasion. John King Wauwatosa, Wis. Big Voice is one problem. Amateur Folk Group is another. Name withheld Newburyport, Mass. The poor state of singing is a symptom of the perception people have about the church. If they aren't heard when they voice opinions, then why should they bother to sing? If their voice isn't needed or heard on one hand, why is it important on the other? Linda Fitzsimmons Poughkeepsie, N. Y. I sometimes don't attend Mass because of the insults to my auditory senses. Name withheld Chicago, Ill. Too much of any one style gets boring. I remember in my childhood parish we sang "Sing a New Song" every Sunday for what seemed like forever. We should have taken our own advice. Name withheld Lafayette, N.J. I agree with someone who once said, "If God gave you a lousy voice, let him hear it!" Name withheld Albuquerque, N.M. Bless all those who generously give their talents to lead others in sung prayer. Margaret A. Bowman Marshalltown, Iowa Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. It is the county seat of Marshall CountyGR6 and the home of Marshalltown Community College. AND THE SURVEY SAYS ... 1. I agree with Thomas Day that "Big Voice" dominates at many Catholic parishes and discourages people from singing. agree 47% disagree 45% other 8% 2. My favorite church music genre is: 49% Contemporary American liturgical music. 28% Traditional. 4% Gospel. 4% Rock/Folk. 15% Other Representative of "other": Both traditional and contemporary. 3. I would rate the music in my parish as ... 43% Good. 29% Excellent 18% So-so. 6% Bad. 1% Terrible. 3% Other. 4. I feel welcome and comfortable singing during Mass at my parish. agree 81% disagree 16% other 3% 5. The state of Catholic singing is: 49% Better than 20 years ago. 32% About the same as 20 years ago. 15% Worse than 20 years ago. 4% Other. These results are based on survey responses from 281 U.S. CATHOLIC readers and Web site visitors. NAME THAT TUNE When we asked readers to name their favorite liturgical song, many admitted they couldn't narrow it down to just one. But one was a clear winner--"On Eagle's Wings" by Michael Joncas. "Here I Am, Lord" by Dan Schutte came in second. Other frequently mentioned favorites included: "Amazing Grace" "Ave Maria" "Be Not Afraid" "Canticle can·ti·cle n. 1. A song or chant, especially a nonmetrical hymn with words taken from a biblical text other than from the Book of Psalms. 2. Canticles Bible The Song of Songs. of the Sun" "City of God" "How Can I Keep from Singing" "How Great Thou Art" "Lead Me, Lord" "Let There Be Peace on Earth" "Lord of the Dance" "Pan de Vida" "Panis Angelicus" "Pescador de Hombres" "Servant Song" "Song of the Body of Christ
The Body of Christ is a term used by Christians to describe believers in Christ. Jesus Christ is seen as the "head" of the body, which is the church. " "You Are Mine" THOMAS DAY, professor of music at Salve Regina University Salve Regina University is a university in Newport, Rhode Island. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the university is a co-ed, private, non-profit institution chartered by the State of Rhode Island in 1934. in Newport, Rhode Island Newport is a city in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Providence. It is the home of Naval Station Newport, housing the United States Naval War College, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and a major United States Navy training center. and author of Why Catholics Can't Sing: The Culture of Catholicism and the Triumph of Bad Taste (Crossroad). |
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