What, no On Eagle's Wing, Here I am Lord? I want songs that whine and bore. After all, shouldn't the music be inclusive?
In all seriousness, I was pleasantly surprised by the selections. Certainly a strong movement back to tradition.
Tom
"Let us Break Bread Together!!!" - "Let us drink wine together" - that is theologically unsound - and dreadful rubbish - I banned it in my last parish - the other selections are pretty good.
Can't believe they left out, "The Mass of Creation." How will we post-Vatican II Catholics ever survive this assault of Tradition upon our ears?
Friends;
I'm curious...why is it that when Masses or 'Services' are geared toward youth (as in 'St. Joseph’s Seminary – Meeting with Youth and Seminarians – April 19, 2008
Communion and Liberation (Liberation?)'), almost everything steers away from the sacred, and in its stead one is once again faced with the neo-60's pop-like tunes? Forgive my saying so, but is this not denigrating to youth? To imply that 'ah, yes..you are young, so let's satisfy your uncultivated needs with lively tunes rather han sacred art' reinforces the rationale for the post Vatican II abuses, does it not? Is this not the same old 'demographic marketing' approach to filling Churches that (I had hoped) we abandoned in favor of the sacred? There are so many young perple today who crave transcendence, beauty and indeed, a return to the sacred. Shall our Priests and Bishops not given them access to that aesthetic treasure as well?
Now what about Washington?Remember the Mass JPII celebrated in Baltimore?Ther was at communion time,Placido Domingo singing Panis Angelicus (Franck) and he was followed by Irish Catholic pop hymn singer ,Dana,leading her song "One Bread One body"!Libera Nos Domine!
let us break bread together.... give me a break--it is heretical Protestantism, a song celebrating the real absence! Schutte I could do without as well.
Why use dated pop music for a meeting with youth? Do 60-year old Catholic 'hipsters' really think that their music continues to be relevant to young people? Has anyone actually asked young people whether they think that the music of Schutte, Berthier and Hurd is more timely than Sacred Polyphony and Gregorian Chant? I suspect not.
I second the comments above on the music for the gathering with youth and seminarians. The young people of 2008 should not be saddled with bad music from the 1960s and 70s.
On the other hand, most of the selections, especially the settings selected for the ordinary of the Mass, are encouraging. I do think they could have done better for the Sanctus than Schubert's German Mass - which I love, but it seems a little too low key for a papal Mass. Still, I am very pleased by the choice of Victoria's Gloria and Agnus Dei from the Missa O Magnum Mysterium. And I love the fact that the Creed will be sung. Quite wonderful!
" Do 60-year old Catholic 'hipsters' really think that their music continues to be relevant to young people?"
Yes is the answer to that question.
The formatting seems to have been lost on this list. And did it appear here first.
Jeffrey links the Pope 2008 in the very first words of the post.
Pan De Vida? Jesus Remember Me??? Why don't we just have liturgical dance and female-lead sermons??! I understand the music is on the whole good, but why did this drivel slip through??
this is truly wonderful and while I share naz's view about music for the youth as well as some reservation using a Beethoven symphony as a procession, nevertheless, this list is a HUGE indication that things are a changen'.
the status quo progressives out there must be feeling the love....
hung doan
turnabout is fair play. Remember all those "blended" masses that are 90 % glory and praise drivil and then holy god we praise thy name thrown in in a condescending poorely played nod to tradition. Now the shoe is on the other foot and I for one am perfectly happy to throw the old guard a bone and call it inclusion.
Don Roy:
Haha, you're right! Unfortunately, I experience Pan De Vida and On Eagle's Wings on a WEEKLY BASIS! Pray for me...
The oddballs in the selection will likely sound extraordinarily silly in the midst of some of this great music. All the better to have such great contrast.
Let us break bread together.....oh please...
well I do hope the clergy are attentive with the "Tu et Petrus"
While I agree that, on the whole, "Let us break bread together" is musical and theological dreck, note the refrain:
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Can we say "ad orientem", anyone?
Good point about the oddballs in the mix. It's like a living room decorated in Elizabethan styles plus two or three Warhols. What are you going to change?
Well, Folks what more can you expect? Let's face it the Western liturgical tradition is effectively dead and with it music as a vehicle of spirituality. This list represents music chosen for its entertatinment value only. As for the masses themselves, they are mere mechanisms for the confection of God under the species of bread and wine for which you need only the institution narrative. So everythihng else music, etc. is only to keep people gathered for a respectable length of time—but not too long lest they become bored—until that sacred event takes place.
O Tempora! O Mores!
These Masses look more like concerts than liturgies. Beethoven's Nineth? Brahms Requiem? Why not sing the entire Victoria Mass instead of mixing it up with Schubert, lovely though it may be. And maybe it's just my taste, but I think having Sicut Cervus following Panis Angelicus will only highlight the superiority of Renaissance polyphony over melodramatic operatic romantism. But beauty beats banality any day, so I guess I shouldn't be fussy about the Beethoven or Frank.
For those who asked about the music that will be performed at the Mass in Washington, D.C., I posted what I know at Pope2008.com
dont the Americans sing Full in the panting heart of Rome?
It's been pointed out to me something I should have noticed: there is NOT ONE Gregorian proper!
That's absurd and it's also absurd that I didn't notice this.
Wow, all of those songs in just one prayer meeting? Everyone's going to end up deaf.
Jeff or Shawn, why can't we have songs like "The Seraphim In Bright Burning Robe," or "Christ Has Made The Sure Foundation?"
Oh, why are we still using songs written by a practicing homosexual?
Beethoven's 9th as a processional? You've got to be kidding me! I second the comments saying that this is better than banal drivel, but it seems just as inappropriate to me as Shania Twain at a nuptial Mass. Both are complete misunderstandings of the nature of liturgical music.
Jeffrey, glad you pointed out there is NO Gregorian anything in that list on the front page. Just when we thought things were turning around, can't even get anything Traditional for a Papal Visit of all things.
Seems like Guido Marini wasted him time coming all the out here for an advance prep. I was hoping to see some drastic changes in the presentation of the altars the Pope might use, but seeing the music selection, it seems like any other stale Papal Visit. Granted we haven't seen any of the designs yet, but judging from the designs Shawn posted a few months... I suppose we can be confirmed in our doubts.
Trust me, I love this Pope, but either he has say in what he does or he doesn't.
"City of God"
Has any one noticed how pelagian that song is: "Let US build..." indeed!
I banned that song in my parish. It will be embarassing to see some of this sung for the pope and then I'll have parishioners saying, "Why can't we sing it here if the Pope does it?"
The "Youth Mass" selections are a problem... maybe they will have a change of heart if this list gets to B16 before too long... same for the the selections for the Mass in Washington. How long until the Pope sends out a "repertoire list" for Papal Masses?
Father Keyes wrote:
"'City of God'
Has any one noticed how pelagian that song is: "Let US build..." indeed!
I banned that song in my parish. It will be embarassing to see some of this sung for the pope and then I'll have parishioners saying, "Why can't we sing it here if the Pope does it?"
()
Well, Father, that is going to be a tough one if that comes up. You can always say it was planned without the Holy Father's say-so and he really didn't like it. 
You know, it is nice when a Pope comes to visit one's country, but when the Masses are stupid, the songs inane and homilies just lofty nothingness--and yes, Papal homilies in such gatherings always are--why bother unless he has something significant to say or some corrections to issue ( to some of is kooky bishops ). Would it be beyond hope to think the Holy Father would issue the Clarifications to Summorum Ponitificum when he's here? Well, was it likely we'd get Gregorian chant or decent songs for Mass while he's here?
Oh, I guess I just answered my own question.
Materfamilias;
It IS just your taste. Your comment, ".. think having Sicut Cervus following Panis Angelicus will only highlight the superiority of Renaissance polyphony over melodramatic operatic romantism. But beauty beats banality any day, so I guess I shouldn't be fussy about the Beethoven or Frank (sic!)." reflects the need to revisit the old "Cecilian" movement prejudice against anything composed after 1700 or so. Superiority? The great choral and organ works of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries are no less sacred than those of Victoria and Palestrina.
Fr. Rob
funny you should mention that phrase..."fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun"
I programmed that piece for communion the sunday mahoney made us all stand for communion.
I prefer "As I fall on my face with my knees to the rising sun..."
Jeffrey,
I'm afraid you didn't notice the absence of Gregorian Propers because the presence of them is unusual in the N.O. We sang them at a N.O. Latin Mass here in Grand Rapids for seven years while the poor, good priests who humored us every Sunday scratched their heads, wondering why we were having a Mass "just like the Tridentine". Well almost, we couldn't convince them that it was ok to celebrate ad orientem.
It's going to be a long, hard fight until Gregorian Propers are ordinary. I wonder if it is possible in the N.O. I have a sinking feeling that most sung Masses from the 1962 Missal use Rossini propers; the proper is sung obediently, but completely unappreciated as part of the Mass by the priest and people.
Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I can't imagine the Pope stepping on some toes in NY and Washington and setting an example by insisting on a qualified schola to do the job on his behalf. It would sure help us here in the foxholes though, wouldn't it Father Rob?
Matt,
You should probably take a look at the Holy Father's homilies from World Youth Day 2005.
Among many other things, he challenged liberation theologians (in Spanish) and materialism (in English) and gave the Latin and Greek etymological backgrounds of the words for "adoration."
The Pope's preaching at WYD 2005 was the best aspect of the event, imho. Way better than the music, that's for sure. Go here http://www.vatican.va/holy_fathe...-
wyd2005_en.htm
and scroll down for all his public talks, including homilies.
The Choir of Communion and Liberation did not choose the music for the youth rally. One needs only to take part in the annual Way of the Cross over the Brooklyn Bridge to understand what the CL choir wants to sing.
Why those particularly un-inspiring songs (yes, songs not hymns or chants) were chosen is beyond me, a youth who knows for a fact that most other Catholic youth are far from impervious to the truly inspiring works of the likes of Palestrina, Ingegneri, Victoria, Byrd, and others, let alone the timeless Gregorian chants that my generation has only heard in films and in video games.
Give us something truly beautiful to move us and we WILL follow it, especially if that Beauty is the One Who made us.
That D.C. Music list that was making the rounds online is erroneous. See Pope2008.com for the details.
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