Post intelligent and civil comments. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the NLM
I think the great difficulty is in bringing back chant as a lived reality, with local variations, and re-establishing some of the connections with other music (primarily polyphony), or introducing the other complements to chant current in the Middle Ages and after, fuaxbourdon, say, or hocket. The great advantage that the Jews had with Hebrew is also that they had a definite sense of identity and of wanting to retain that identity, which we have gradually lost, I think.
Interesting point but it works both ways: it was Hebrew that helped forge the identity or at least shore it up and have it move up the value scale over assimilationist agendas.
Let's not forget that there was a 'war of the languages' in the Yishuv with Yiddish fighting for a place as the unifying language.
Catholicism will also need a 'war' to re-introduce Gregorian Chant as a mainstay of our churches.
Let's not forget that you can learn Hebrew on your own, without requiring any permission; but you can't institute chant in your parish all by your ownsome.
Very interesting discussion. Closer to my own experience is the resurgence of the Irish language in Ireland, a language long suppressed by the English. While not universally spoken in Ireland, it is universally taught, and bits of it are almost unconsciously a part of every Irish person's cultural kit. I'd agree with M.J. Ernst-Sandoval: Catholicism will need a 'war' to reclaim Chant, just as Hebrew and Irish were born out of conflict and a strong need to re-establish a unique identity—an identity with a rich, wonderful history in all cases.
But Maureen, it begins at home. It did in the Jewish case too. Long before Hebrew was used in civic life and the classroom, it was spoken in the family. Once enough families joined the effort, the rest took care of itself.
And it's possible that the first salvo in that war was fired last July 7th, and we are in the early battles as we speak. The analogy with the resurgence of Hebrew is compelling, although the forces behind the use of Hebrew were perhaps more powerful than those currently and openly behind the use of chant. It would be helpful to "the cause" if such support were forthcoming from the "official church", not just in the sense of saying "Chant is good and should be used", but more in the sense of "Chant is THE music and will be used". I'm sure Hebrew would still be that academic and poetic language if those who were behind it merely said "It's a nice language and it would be good if we used it, but we don't have to use it ALL the time, maybe just for part of the time, and we can combine it with what we'r using now.....", you get the picture....
This would be easier, of course, if children in America all had a year or three of Latin in school, taught well and smartly. I'm grateful that my parents insisted that I studied Latin in high school.
Chant can be sung in english. Why isn't this being done anywhere either?
it is fast approaching a year since the motu proprio and there isn't a single place i know of that has either the old rite or even the new rite with chant celebrated ad orientem that didn't have it already before july 7. if there are such places they certainly aren't in the archdiocese of philadelphia.
it is clergy who prevent there being chant. when they prevent it in english then it is clear that they do not want the psalms to ornament the liturgy. only protestant hymns. but people want what reflects who they are. it is time for a theological commission to review the validity of the "obligation" to attend these masses. can you be obligated to attend something that makes you feel protestant every single time? why can't attending something that is honest about being protestant fulfill your obligation?
Simply a great post - very visionary.
It is actually quite difficult to institute chant in a parish. People don't (by and large) appreciate it unless they are exposed to it, and they can't be exposed to it unless the parish priest allows it, and in most places the parish priest, unlike Barkis, is unwilling. I can see Jeffrey's point though. Children respond very well to chant, and bringing them up with chant (and classical music generally) is one way to bring chant back. Also, it is important to see singing (particularly at Mass) as something which is integral to the act of praying (at least praying publicly) well, not just an optional extra. For instance, in most Australian Novus Ordo parishes (which is a criticism not so much of the Novus Ordo as of a certain mentality), the Creed is never sung.
Re. the English suppressing the Irish language: this is absolutely false. It was the Irish who chose to begin speaking English. The same cannot be said of the Catholic faith: the aim was to suppress it (which only made it stronger).
Hebrew and liturgical latin and Gregorian chant cannot really be compared. They're the metaphorical "apples and oranges". That's not to say that Greogrian chant (in Latin) cannot be a significant part of our liturgical music - e.g. the Ordinary of the Mass.
The English speaking world is at a huge disadvantage liturgically speaking. While the worst excesses of liturgical experimentation happened in the likes of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the best of the reform happened there also. Why? Because they had a very strong liturgical tradition which the English speaking world did not. And even during the "mad years" of liturgical daftness, the sung preface remained quite common, sung dialogues between president/deacon and assembly. There was a good sense of liturgical celebration, even if the experimentation went too far. The experimentation was informed experimentation, unlike those more tame experiments that ended up being gibberish in the English speaking world.
If my interpretation of liturgical rules is correct, anything sung other than the Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) and the Proper (Introit, Psalm, Alleluia, Offertorium, Communion) must be sung using the melodies approved by the Bishops' Conference. In practice, this means the melodies contained in the Missal.
If we insist on that, and encourge our priests and deacons to use those melodies, it will become easier for these ordained ministers to fit into any liturgical celebration by singing the melodies "everybody knows", and the style of those melodies is, precisely, based on Gregorian chant.
In the countries I mentioned above, as well as other regions where Catholicism is more conservative (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden), only the melodies in the Missal are used for dialogues, acclamations (including Memorial Acclamation and "Great Amen") and, guess what, it works!!!
As a starting point then, I suggest that you all try using only the Missal melodies for Memorial Acclamation and Great Amen. You'll find they become true acclamations of the people - at present these musical interventions can hardly be termed "acclamations" they're so musically developed. Show me an Eastern Church where people need to here the musical introduction to know which version of "Amen" to sing! (OK, there are no instruments...). Themed "Amens" make no sense.
Interesting parallels indeed. Another element that is key to the revival of chant is passion. The type of passion that moves people to talk, do, work, whatever on a project tirelessly. And being passionate about anything is seen by many as very "uncool." There's also the distinct possibility that other people will tell you that you're unrealistic (or less kindly, suggest that you jump in a lake).
At the same time, it's passion that brings results.
Great article. You wrote "to forget a composite vernacular." You meant "forge," not "forget," right?
I only mention this because I heard JPII make the same verbal glitch during his homily at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 1995. He was talking about something that must be "forged" and he read "forget" and then said "Forged, forged, never forget."
Great minds, Jeffrey.
The Holy Father ought to take steps, in consultation with the Bishops, to establish some sort of class for the study of Gregorian Chant (and Latin of course) in every Archdiocese. Easier said than done of course but its a start. I think that the Holy Father should also abolish ''folk choir'' Masses that make a mockery of the Holy Sacrifice, and also to abolish Protestant hymns from Catholic hymn books.
whooops! typo fixed.
Another worthy article again, Jeff, thanks.
Interesting observations here. Our struggles with Latin have a lot to do with lost identity of Catholics. Latin is tied to learning and the arts, for instance medical training used to be in Latin, as well as classes in the old seminaries. Today's society suffers from anti-intelligencia, to-wit, the French Revolution killing off the educated and the royalty. Thus began our inherited American attitudes about culture, society and the ruling class that fuel this disassociation with Latin. Additionally, the separation of Latin from our liturgy, as if our liturgy can survive without it, "proves" to the nominal Catholic that Latin is unnecessary.
Until Latin is restored as intrinsic to learning, arts and music, the Liturgy, a tool for "oneness", a sacred language worthy of direct address to God - is its restoration possible?
I also see a connection to the lack of the understanding of what the Mass is and this misunderstanding of the need for Latin. This is similar to our struggles to introduce worthy music at Mass when very few understand what Mass is, and music's relationship.
Until the value of Latin is recognized, who is going to promote it?
Until priests start using it again, its a tough fight. Not only do we need it in the seminaries, but our present priests should be learning it.
Its a tough fight if our authority figures remain listless in this regard.
What comes to mind lately with the scant practice of the Extraordinary Form, Latin, and good music is Our Lord's multiplication of the loaves and fishes. With just a few offerings from individuals, Christ fed the crowd.
The quiet revolution will happen, but only if we focus in particular in teaching the Chant to children and, I believe, reviving the ancient tradition of choristers(children 7-14 or so). I have seen the fruits of this in my own parish where six years ago I began with my first group of probationer choristers, spending the first two years in teaching and singing the Chant and only then moving on to modern notation and polyphony. The choristers sing with the choir (providing the soprano line in polyphony), and usually put the adults in the choir to shame as they are better able to sight-read and sing the Chant. Their knowledge of the Chant gives them a certain "ownership" of it, and I am always pleased to hear that even outside of choir, at summer camps or when traveling, they will often step in and provide music, propers and ordinaries singing from the Graduale, while the adults around them scratch their heads trying to read square-notes. I suppose I am forming a generation of Chant-Jocks!
It is imperative, I believe, that we focus on teaching the Chant to our children if we are ever to see real and widespread change, and certainly our Catholic tradition of choristers is there, waiting to be revived!
Jeffrey M: Taching children is extremely important. I bet you have the support of your parish priest, right?
My Aunt, Odette Hertz [RIP] was a student of Justine Ward and taught children chant at the L'Institute Catholique in Paris until the eve of Vatican II. Maybe I'll post the vinyl record someday of her charming work... She was without a job overnight almost - the life's work undone in an instant, to her bewilderment.
Had the hierarchy remained steadfast, her work would have continued to flower. Without aggressive support of the hierarchy and parish clergy, its tough!
Great post, Jeffery. I've also thought the same thing, about how there needs to be a "Catholic movement" to reawaken Catholic identity. My only criticism is what is to be done about those parishes that are predominantly black or Hispanic. Based on my own experiences, if you tell a parish that is used to using the music of their ethnic background (e.g., gospel, mariachi) that they need to switch to Latin and chant, they're going to accuse you of racism and/or cultural imperialism. I've often brought up this point on other sites, but no one has yet answered how to deal with the fact that many non-white Catholics don't feel very connected to the great Western tradition. I'm black myself and attend an FSSP parish, but I'm clearly in the minority on this.
Yes, clearly ethnicity has nothing to do with the project.
by the way, I'm very grateful for all these comments because they will help improve the final version for publication. So I'm secretly looting this brain trust.
Tina, my experience is similar, to a much lesser degree, to what you shared about your aunt. A friend and I were privileged to study the Ward method at Catholic University in hopes of starting a children's choir at our parish. Our small choir sang in Latin and Spanish, and were one of a kind in our diocese. After 4 years, our modest efforts produced a choir of 25 very hard-working children who learned 5 gregorian mass settings and at least 20 of the most popular chants. They also learned some simple motets and hymns for Communion such as Lambillotte's Panis Angelicus. Our supportive pastor was replaced by a newly ordained priest of the neocatechumenal way, who almost immediately forbade us to use Latin, because he couldn't fathom why this was necessary or useful for a Spanish Novus Ordo community. The choir dissolved almost overnight, since the reason why it was created was taken from us, many people were extremely hurt for quite a long time and not a few left the parish all-together, myself included. It is always easier to destroy than to create. But you are absolutely right in how important it is to teach children. Many of those children are graduating high school or beginning college now - when I run into them they always thank me for our efforts, and share how exposure to chant led to high SAT scores, or a love for languages, art, architecture - or a decision to study classical history, etc...I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Tina, you are right, I am a director of music at a parish staffed by the Fraternity of St Peter, and they are most supportive. How fantastic to find out that your aunt was the famous Mlle Hertz, I was a student of Dr Mary Berry, and she often spoke of her. Dr Berry said that Justine Ward told her that "Mlle. Hertz understands my method better than I", Dr Berry even translated and published one of your aunts books for teaching children the Ward Method in the early 1960's, though it was published it never saw the light of day because of certain politics in Ward circles in America. Mary said your aunt's grasp of the Ward Method was nothing short of brilliant. I would love to chat more about this with you!
I think the place to start with Latin is clergy. When I was in seminary (a little of a year ago), Greek and Spanish were considered more important than Latin in pastoral and theological formation. The result was that I was ordained unable to celebrate Mass in Latin, but had no problem doing so in Spanish and Italian. Now I'm celebrating the TLM after a year of spending my days off and vacation studying Latin.
With any luck, I'll be reciting the traditional breviary in Latin in a couple weeks.
Once priests can actually understand Latin as a language that holds the Church together, we will see much more chant, a liturgy that is objective, doxological and unambiguously God centered. The discipline of learning Latin and the access to theological sources would go a long way toward recentering theology and moral theology too.
The challenge if such a project would be to remember that all of this would be a means to an end, not an end in itself. The recreation of a properly ecclesiastical culture must be a means of bring Christ to the faithful and not an exercise in historical anachronism.
Jeffrey M: what a wonderful comment on my aunt, Mlle Hertz. THANK you. It breaks my heart but I really didn't know her since she lived in France. Met her a few times. [i remember her asking me to sing] She died in her eighties only about a year ago.
She visited here, which I vaguely remember. She played the violin well I'm told, and had perfect pitch [probably not rare with advocates of the Ward method].
When I attended the Colloquium last year, I imagined Odette over my shoulder approving of my participation. It was a very odd feeling. It saddens me that I can't attend this year - but how odd that I discovered this dedicated group after her death.
I'll ask my older relatives for memories of Odette - she apparently was an extraordinary woman.
Fr Christopher, how awesome that you are learning Latin. How I wish all priests would.
I agree that Latin is a means to an end, and shouldn't be only owned by pedantic nerds.
Wait, maybe we do need more pedants [not peasants, we have plenty of those] who simply study Latin for love of Latin. I mean, my Latin teacher was one of those, a lovely southern lady to whom I am ever grateful for my Latin knowledge.
Tina, again I want to reiterate that Dr Berry and even Mrs Ward herself thought your Aunt's work represented the "perfection" of the Ward Method, and its a tragedy that her text books were not known in english speaking countries due to silly jealousies. Last time I was in Cambridge a couple of years ago, studying with Dr Berry, she let me copy out some of your aunt's brilliant solfege exercises, and taught me herself some of her original hand exercises, etc.. A few copies of the english translation survived in Dr Berry's possesion. Your aunt would have know Dr Berry by her religious name, Mother Thomas More, she was head of Ward Method studies for Great Britain and Ireland. I can only hope that the Ward people here in America would try and publish your aunt's texts!
I agree that all priests should be required to learn Latin - It should NOT be optional. For each year you are in Seminary, a year of Latin. By the 5th year, all courses and conversations are in Latin.
But let's not stop there. The laity also should also learn Latin. In all Catholic schools, it should be a requirement - at least 4 years in order to graduate from a Catholic high school or college. As part of RCIA, they should teach the basics of the Language in order to recite in Latin the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Gloria Patri, and Credo. All masses should be said in Latin – no vernacular – except the homily.
But unless people feel a real need to capture our Catholic identity, this will never happen.
Sadly, most Catholics are pluralists and relativists – all religions are equal and lead to salvation. Even a Cardinal in the Vatican said as much a couple of days ago.
The Jews believe they are special – “God’s chosen people.” They have a deep sense of identity. The Church is in crisis. We Catholics don’t even believe in “The One True Church” anymore. We don’t believe we are special – the ‘elect’, since we believe you can be saved outside the church –Extra Ecclesia Nulla Salus – minime!
I have tremendous respect the for Jews – at least they are committed and have conviction. Catholics as a group, not so much!
We should drop the “Roman” from our title. We are no longer the “Roman Catholic Church”. That ceased to be the case in 1970! We are the American Catholic Church, the French Catholic Church, the Italian Catholic Church, the English Catholic Church… et cetera.
Lex orandi lex credendi – satis dixi!
Hebrew and Gregorian Chant? Come on! This connection can only be made via the pickle.
I disagree, Rev'd up, the connection can be made via Lingua Latina as the liturgical normative language of the Church.
But unfortunately since there is no pride in Latin, there is very little place for it as well.
The Jews have Hebrew...
The Muslims have Arabic...
The Hindus have Sanskrit
The Catholics 'used to' have Latin.
A second 'Babel' has transformed the Church in just 38 years. Now a potpourri of languages and expressions dominate the Church.
Let’s reclaim our identity through our sacred liturgy – a revival, if you will, in Latin, Chant, Liturgy – and I would go as far as to suggest that a revival in the basic dogmas and magisterial teachings of the Church is need too.
Oremus pro pontifice nostro Benedicto Sexto Decimo.
If you want to learn Latin as the living language of the Church, join the Familia Sancti Hieronymi and come to the Cenaculum on August 5-11 in Mobile, AL:
http://hieronymus.us/
Last year we had a wonderful time:
http://www.slide.com/r/
MEjedYge5...lt_embedded_url
Thanks for the link Bedwere - I just sent in my registration.
What a wonderful post!
My (Israeli) husband and I have had this EXACT discussion many, many times in the past decade. He is the one who introduced me to chant, in fact (and helped perfect my spoken Hebrew as well). I just finished reading Bergeron's history of the Solesmes revival and we have been talking about the historical parallels ever since.
Cheers!
Loraine, that's very interesting. I sort of figured that someone must have thought of this first. I do wonder whether anyone has written about this in the past or if it inspired any of the chant movement in the 30s and 40s.
Personal preference for shoddy music has become an entrenched bias. Most people get their aesthetic formation through the profit driven media. The market is conditioned to produce consumers who will buy into ideas that impel people to purchase products that appeal to the basest instincts in man. It is sad that so-called Catholic publishers promote heterodox and bubblegum music.
I’m convinced, based on my experience with my college students, that people will want quality if they learn how to find and appreciate it. One has to first contend with the frustrating issue of how people are conditioned to specific misconceptions about music.
When it comes to the task of overcoming ignorance, the problem is complicated when people expect to be motivated from without rather than from within. Frequently, students will characterize something as boring or unnecessary because they prefer the comfort of their misconceived notion rather than invest themselves in discovery. “I don’t want to put in the effort to appreciate something that does not immediately conform to my understanding.” I have found that if learning is presented as a treasure hunt, students soon jump on board the learning wagon. The treasure to be found (within and without) is worth risking a step outside our confining notions about chant.
Let’s hold up a mirror that specifically challenges people to examine their assumptions, i.e., the reasons they have for putting feeling before faith, the role of music in the liturgy, etc.
The challenge is this: educate the palate in order to help people distinguish between music of substance and mere pablum. How do we do this? 1) The pastor as teacher must lead by example (preach on the true, the good and the beautiful) and gather a team of cooperative laymen to 2) restore a sense of authentic identity in continuity with Church tradition; 3) foster dialogue on the criteria for evaluating music and art (host a course or retreat, publish thoughts in the parish bulletin); 4) present models of quality (invite Choirs from Catholic colleges to present a workshop and present music at Mass); 5) make small changes. Plant a seed, nurture it, make sure it gets enough sunshine, watch and wait and continue watering. Use manure when necessary. Root out weeds.
Without a set of authentic criteria for evaluating artistic merit, we end up with a cafeteria (of ideas prone to the whims of people with an un-Catholic agenda).
Benedict XVI’s revolution is about a restoration of quality, or refinement and deepening of: Faith (and worship), Hope (for living the Faith) and Love (of God and neighbour). Let’s follow his example.
Great post.
Personally I hope that the Traditional Latin Mass communities might act as 'missionaries' for this push: many of them do use the chant as the mainstay of their music (something that in Australia must be attributed to the efforts of Dr Berry, the Ecclesia Dei Society and a few key individuals).
I've set out some thoughts on this here:http://australiaincognita.blogspot.com/2008/
06/can-gregorian-chant-be-revived.html
Jeffrey Morse, how wonderful that you are training a generation of chant jocks! I think that is exactly the key to changing the state of affairs.
Tina, I forgot to mention that you MUST post your Aunt's recording that you mentioned! It is important that her work not be forgotten. Also, I am so glad to have a first name for her, as I'd always just heard her referred to as "Mademoiselle Hertz" If you want, you can contact me at St Stephen the First Martyr Church, Sacramento, CA.
Kiran, thanks so much for your encouragement, if the choristers are successful it is because I have the most wonderful students/choristers and incredible support from the FSSP clergy. It was Fr John Berg, FSSP who hired me. He of course is now Superior General and I know he will do wonderful things in regards music and good liturgy during his term. He is a man of great vision. We also have a truly "lived" liturgy at St Stephen's, there are usually at least 2-4 High Masses a week, sometimes more, and Vespers on Sunday and often a "pick-up" Compline at various times during the week. This gives the students ample opportunity to become "Chant Jocks" because they must learn the proper chants for each Mass, and these aren't the Rossini propers either. Anyone that has to just prepare a full set of Sunday propers each week will know what I mean! Thanks again for your kind words.
If Catholics would mobilize to connect with each other and claim "Lain" as their heritage and future I would gladly spend my nights in Latin Class..I think what the Jewish people have done is nothing short of remarkable and admirable....We Catholics should be a little jealous of all their efforts to be unified..Maybe not jealous, but inspired... I for one wold love to speak it fluently with other people in our faith...What a beautiful dream to have....Blessings............
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