A Sunday Morning Thought: Escape from Bad Church Music!
It's no secret that most (virtually all) music at the typical Mass (at least Novus Ordo Masses) ranges from abysmal to beyond abysmal. (There are exceptions - rare though they be.)
For years my wife and I attended a Tridentine Mass with our children. Since it was a Missa Cantata, much of the Mass was sung, and there was a rather good choir that sang Gregorian chant for the Propers; the other pieces were traditional Catholic music ranging from Latin hymns, polyphony and other baroque and classical music: What a joy!
Another alternative to the dilemma of abysmal music is the Eastern Right (Catholic, not Orthodox, of course). And along those lines, my wife and I recently have attended Mass at an Eastern Right Ukrainian Catholic Church (she was born into this Right). It's a bit of a drive (depending on traffic) but well worth the time invested.
While it's sad (to put it mildly) that the typical Mass here in the good ol' USA gives us only abysmal to beyond abysmal music, there is relief in the Tridentine Mass (where available) and the Eastern Right. That's where to go for beautiful liturgical music these days.
Maybe - if you've got some extra time this week before Labor Day (you know, since things are a bit slower at work and you maybe are taking some time off), you might treat yourself to authentic beautiful Catholic music, whether it's Latin or Eastern Right. John Paul II referred to the Latin and Easter Right as the two lungs of the Universal Church. When you experience these Rights in all their glory, you'll know just why he said this.
Meanwhile, having attended the anticipated Mass last night at the Ukrainian Eastern Rite Church, which included a special liturgy after Mass to celebrate the anniversary of Ukrainian independence, I'm listening to a Sunday morning opera show on a local listener-sponsored station which was supposed to have been cancelled due to lack of funds, but appears not to have been axed. It seems God's plan for the universe does not include axing this show for now, and so, consistent with today's "music" theme, a glorious soprano aria from one of Giuseppe Verdi's operas filters through my relatively muted stereo speakers (hey, it's early and the rest of the family's still snoozing): perhaps a reward for this morning's lobbying for better music at Mass?
You know, putting these thoughts together - good music, Ukrainian independence - reminds me of an aria I really like about love of country from Verdi's La Traviata, "Di Provenza." I found a version of this sung by American baritone Thomas Hampson in the Met's recent production. Alfredo's father Germont (Hampson), sings this heartfelt song to his son that combines the love of his son with the love of his country. Simply beautiful. The lyrics appear but they're in Italian, so here they are if you're interested:
For years my wife and I attended a Tridentine Mass with our children. Since it was a Missa Cantata, much of the Mass was sung, and there was a rather good choir that sang Gregorian chant for the Propers; the other pieces were traditional Catholic music ranging from Latin hymns, polyphony and other baroque and classical music: What a joy!
Another alternative to the dilemma of abysmal music is the Eastern Right (Catholic, not Orthodox, of course). And along those lines, my wife and I recently have attended Mass at an Eastern Right Ukrainian Catholic Church (she was born into this Right). It's a bit of a drive (depending on traffic) but well worth the time invested.
While it's sad (to put it mildly) that the typical Mass here in the good ol' USA gives us only abysmal to beyond abysmal music, there is relief in the Tridentine Mass (where available) and the Eastern Right. That's where to go for beautiful liturgical music these days.
Maybe - if you've got some extra time this week before Labor Day (you know, since things are a bit slower at work and you maybe are taking some time off), you might treat yourself to authentic beautiful Catholic music, whether it's Latin or Eastern Right. John Paul II referred to the Latin and Easter Right as the two lungs of the Universal Church. When you experience these Rights in all their glory, you'll know just why he said this.
Meanwhile, having attended the anticipated Mass last night at the Ukrainian Eastern Rite Church, which included a special liturgy after Mass to celebrate the anniversary of Ukrainian independence, I'm listening to a Sunday morning opera show on a local listener-sponsored station which was supposed to have been cancelled due to lack of funds, but appears not to have been axed. It seems God's plan for the universe does not include axing this show for now, and so, consistent with today's "music" theme, a glorious soprano aria from one of Giuseppe Verdi's operas filters through my relatively muted stereo speakers (hey, it's early and the rest of the family's still snoozing): perhaps a reward for this morning's lobbying for better music at Mass?
You know, putting these thoughts together - good music, Ukrainian independence - reminds me of an aria I really like about love of country from Verdi's La Traviata, "Di Provenza." I found a version of this sung by American baritone Thomas Hampson in the Met's recent production. Alfredo's father Germont (Hampson), sings this heartfelt song to his son that combines the love of his son with the love of his country. Simply beautiful. The lyrics appear but they're in Italian, so here they are if you're interested:
What has vanished from your heart
The dear sea and soil of Provence?
What has dimmed from your eyes
The bright sunshine of your native country?
Even in sorrow,
Remember you were happy there,
There alone can peace
Shine on you again.
It was God who brought me here!
You do not know
What pain your old father has suffered!
With you away
His home has been desolate indeed.
But if in finding you again
My hopes are not in vain,
If the voice of honour
Is not silent for you,
God has heard me!
The dear sea and soil of Provence?
What has dimmed from your eyes
The bright sunshine of your native country?
Even in sorrow,
Remember you were happy there,
There alone can peace
Shine on you again.
It was God who brought me here!
You do not know
What pain your old father has suffered!
With you away
His home has been desolate indeed.
But if in finding you again
My hopes are not in vain,
If the voice of honour
Is not silent for you,
God has heard me!
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