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From Romano Guardini's The Spirit of the Liturgy:
"The prayers of the liturgy are entirely governed by and interwoven with dogma. Those who are unfamiliar with liturgical prayer often regard them as theological formulae, artistic and didactic, until on closer acquaintance they suddenly perceive and admit that the clear-cut, lucidly constructed phrases are full of interior enlightenment." (From Chapter 1, "The Prayer of the Liturgy.")
Admittedly, this was more the case with the pre-Vatican II liturgy. However, a trip to "What Does the Prayer Really Say" will help the thoughtful overcome the vicissitudes of translation and truncation.
Yes, I'm quite over the top for Arve Moen Bergset, a Norwegian kvedar singer and fiddle player. How did it happen? Blame it on emusic.com. There I was, looking for chant, and I followed one of those "people who liked this like this as well" links. This certainly takes my Norwegian music beyond Grieg.
So he's my flame of the moment. And definitely worth sampling (and purchasing, if you like). This unaccompanied folk song style from Norway is equal temperament, straight-voiced, and ernest without stridency. (This link is about another singer but will fill you in on the history.) The accompanied works are delicious as well. This YouTube of an 18th-century Christmas hymn was done in Bergset's youth. (Yes, he was a famous boy soprano, just like Aled Jones. And like Aled, he matured into a great tenor.) Search him on YouTube and you'll find tracks with his band.
I shall have to live to 1,000 to discover all the beautiful music in the world.
Evangelist Ravi Zacharias has a well-known apologetics program entitled, "Let My People Think." Admittedly, the title of this posting doesn't have quite the punch, but I think my point is valid nonetheless.
Last evening I listened, for what seems the upteenth time since I began working as a musician in Catholic Churches, to a discussion of how it is IMPERATIVE (all caps deliberate here) for the congregation to sing everything. We must work and work to make them want to sing it. And if they don't want to sing, we will tell them they must - that they are there to sing and enjoy singing too. And that Vatican II says they must. So there!
Leaving aside the exaggeration of conciliar and later documents which is usually accompanied by a distorted history of music in Christian worship for at least 1,000 years, why would we think it is the role of musicians to dictate the emotions of the congregation? Because every time I hear this little speech, I hear how the people must learn to love singing and feel good while they're doing so. And any resistance on their part is childish, backward, petty, and probably a sign that they have retrograde opinions on almost everything else.
Well, I disagree. Surprised, aren't you? Actually, I ask lots of people how they feel about singing at Mass. Just regular people in the course of ordinary conversations if my work as a church organist comes up. News flash! Many people don't like to sing some of the time or all of the time. They have trouble carrying a tune in the first place. Quite honestly, there are people whose voices are a bane to those around them. Perhaps they don't agree with the sentiments of a particular hymn. In many cases, they find the music too difficult in terms of range or syncopation. And sometimes they just don't want to.
And that's their right. Use singable music for the Ordinary and only switch it out a few times a year. Encourage without browbeating or guilt-tripping for that. On everything else, let the choir and those who wish to sing with them take care of it. Leave those other folks be - and let your singing be a beauty they can drink in.
One of the pleasures of buying online is tracking one's purchases if they're being shipped by UPS. (Okay, I look for happiness where I can find it.)
On Tuesday, I ordered some additional music stands from Musician's Friend. Last night I got the "item shipped" notice. Always a good sign.
While listening to "The Testament of Freedom" by Randall Thompson, I just checked and my package has already arrived in Earth City, Missouri! Will there be another stop on the way to Jacksonville? Trust me, I'll be checking later.
And if you don't know this splendid choral work, go and give it a listen. With its text from the writings of Jefferson, it's art and patriotism at their best. My recording is one by the Turtle Creek Chorale and includes two of Thompson's wonderful songs from Frostiana.
Since Jefferson is known to have been a tireless shopper and lover of inventions, I'm sure he'd appreciate the ability to follow up on his deliveries, while working on other projects.
Why bother? Because February is National Grapefruit Month, of course. Honestly, the educational work that I am forced to undertake for my faithful readers.
The grapefruit's origins are uncertain. First described in 1750 as the "forbidden fruit" in Barbados, it took a while to catch on. Even when it was grown in Florida, it was mostly ignored.To learn more about grapefruit (well, practically everything), you can go here.
Better still, head to the nearest fruit stand or grocery produce aisle and indulge in the grapefruit. It will put sparkle in your morning, clear your sinuses, provide an elegrant broiled first course at dinner - and generally expand your citrus horizons. No longer "forbidden" but meant to be enjoyed.
This week's installment from The Spirit of the Liturgy by Romano Guardini is very short but worthy of extended contemplation. So I'll let it stand alone.
"The first and most important lesson which the liturgy has to teach is that the prayer of a corporate body must be sustained by thought." (From Chapter 1, "The Prayer of the Liturgy)
