Comments on Creative Minority Report: I Can Only Imagine, Murder

oh man this made me laugh so hard! That's how I fe...

2009-11-24T13:07:34.805-05:00

oh man this made me laugh so hard! That's how I feel every sunday at my parish :( I grew up singing in a pretty oldschool choir and it kills me every time they pull out the craptastic music for communion hymns.

Insofar as the question of if there are good communion hyms, there are TONS!
Soul of my savior,
O Lord I am Not Worthy,
Panis Angelicus (or in english Thus Angels Bread is Made),
Ecce Panis Angelorum,
Ave Verum Corpus,
Sing My Tongue The Savior's Glory,
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring... to name just a few. I wish I had the time to be a music director so I could smush all the bad songs out of the mass lol.

If you feel you can do a better job with the music...

2009-11-23T01:25:56.266-05:00

If you feel you can do a better job with the music, step on up! I'll certainly let you have the next chant solo and then we can all complain about how poorly you sing and what a distraction you are...

As a musician who has been in many venues, sacred ...

2009-11-22T14:48:54.679-05:00

As a musician who has been in many venues, sacred and secular (although I hate that false distinction), for many years, I totally agree with the thoughts about poorly done music. However, it breaks my heart to hear that no music is better than some music. I get it, but it breaks my heart.

As a music teacher, as well, I can document the battle for young ears who are accustomed only to pop, which, well, usually has about as much depth as the sound of the word. I flood my kindergarteners with classical music, and they love it. I push it on my older students, who will eventually, grudgingly admit they enjoy it, but who fight me every step of the way.

I watch young children - boys, in particular - shrink from participation in music, especially singing, because it is considered "girly". I tell them about the wonderful boy choirs and how their voices at younger ages are better than girls (yes, it's true - there's a physiological reason).

So, if you have children who are at all inclined, please encourage them so that the dream of the music of the church returning to its former glory can be made reality.

And, as I said before, I am no hater of basically any type of music. Except rap. And some amount of country:-).

This post was PRICELESS! I'm not sure which made ...

2009-11-22T11:55:42.718-05:00

This post was PRICELESS! I'm not sure which made me laugh more, the post or the comment section. Wow, I needed that.

Unfortunately, I can relate. All too well. Did you know that "Angry guns" is a phrase in modern Catholic hymnals? Apparently we should stop all the "angry guns" to bring about world peace.

Just shoot me now.

-Amy Proctor
http://amyproctor.squarespace.com

Diane posted "I also often wonder if no music is b...

2009-11-22T10:47:38.284-05:00

Diane posted "I also often wonder if no music is better than mediocre music."

YES! Silence during Mass can be very powerful, especially during Communion.

Try going to a Latin Mass where there is silence during Communion as one kneels and receives on the tongue. Most people will wonder why this isn't done every Sunday.

We have all been there brother, The Soultion is t...

2009-11-22T00:19:20.178-05:00

We have all been there brother,

The Soultion is to attend the Old mass no 'Chenanegans there'

Mind you I still have flashbacks.

^^ I get up for 7:30am Mass on Sundays to avoid mu...

2009-11-21T15:15:02.539-05:00

^^ I get up for 7:30am Mass on Sundays to avoid music as well, despite my body screaming at me to stay in bed (although thankfully I don't need to be up at 5:30!). I've always thought contemporary liturgical music to be bad and not at all conducive to prayer, but it was when I took a History of Music class a few semesters ago that any small amount of toleration I had for garbage liturgical music was obliterated. When I was exposed to the likes of Gregorian chant and Palestrina, there was no way I could peaceably sit through "Gather Us In" again. My soul longs for beautiful music for Mass, but for now I have to be content with sitting through a Mass without any music at all.

CV- Hilarious! When we moved here to Portland, I ...

2009-11-21T01:22:30.316-05:00

CV- Hilarious!

When we moved here to Portland, I was determined not to put myself through liturgical angst and distress, so we registered at the cathedral parish. And even though it means getting up at 5:30 on Sunday mornings to make the 7:30AM Mass, it is well worth it, because there is NO MUSIC.

It's so nice to drive home with peace in my heart, without letters to pastors and bishops forming up in my mind and driving me to the computer after a hasty breakfast, there to spend the better part of the Lord's Day delivering myself of my indignation in the most acceptable language I can muster.

Sometimes at Mass I used to amuse myself with wondering what the reaction of the early Christians from Corinth would be if they were plunked down in our Masses to hear, "Come dance in the forests, come play in the fields." Talk about bacchanalian. I can only imagine satyrs with flutes. It's amazing we don't all blow a kiss at the sun on our way to the car, as new converts used to do when leaving St. Peter's.

And then there is the kid with the snare drum at the kids' masses during the week, importing into the what used to be sacred liturgy a tempo more appropriate to a bar.

We have become the Church with Ahlzheimer's. We've forgotten our music, our devotions, our saints, our disciplines and our language, so music publishers and diocesan liturgical directors can take us by the hand and lead us wherever they wish.

Basta!

Great post, and I sympathize with the bad music co...

2009-11-20T22:49:06.983-05:00

Great post, and I sympathize with the bad music complaint. I was sitting in the balcony during the Easter Vigil Mass one year at my parish when someone started hammering on bongo drums during the Gloria. I felt like I was on the set of The Lion King. I love my parish, but oh, what a joy it would be to have good music!
~ Siobhan

Speaking of bad music at Mass, I also have heard m...

2009-11-20T22:23:18.829-05:00

Speaking of bad music at Mass, I also have heard my share. However, one Saturday at the Vigil Mass I was absolutely horrified to hear the organist play (at Communion) "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows". She has also favoured us (NOT) with "Climb Every Mountain" once or twice. Now, if only she played it well -- but we are denied even that small grace. We offer it up, like good Catholics.

Well I guess now we FINALLY know what it means to....

2009-11-20T20:09:07.397-05:00

Well I guess now we FINALLY know what it means to...

"give us the courage to enter the song!"

:-)

I was also laughing out loud as I read this! But ...

2009-11-20T17:26:42.692-05:00

I was also laughing out loud as I read this! But until reading other's posts, I had blocked out of my mind my own experience from this past weekend. The 'hymn'...if it can be called that...during the preparation of the gifts was "Soon and Very Soon" accompanied by tambourine and something else to keep the beat (don't recall what it was).

I have no idea how the priest, a very good, traditionally-minded priest was able to prepare for the consecration with that going on. I tend not to sing at those times, but to offer prayers for him. He is temporary administrator at this parish and I pray he is soon to return to my parish where he is in residence.

It must have been a weekend for terrible music! N...

2009-11-20T16:28:39.168-05:00

It must have been a weekend for terrible music! Not only was my parish’s typically decent choir struggling to find a key during every song, but the screeching trumpet player made my sister and I cringe all through communion. All I wanted to do was shout up to the choir loft, “Look, I know you are trying offer your talent to the Church, but you have none, so just stop!”

I suppose I should join you in the confession line…

I think I'm just being picky. The stuff that is co...

2009-11-20T15:29:38.592-05:00

I think I'm just being picky. The stuff that is coming out that is good right now would not be labeled "pop/rock" but probably alternative rock, acoustic or folk, etc. It's a picky distinction, but there is a difference. Jars of Clay is labeled alternative rock/folk/acoustic/r & b. And Dan Haseltine grew up at the Anglican church that my family attends.

I like everything - but only if it's good:-). Except rap. And some amount of country:-).

Yes, and if my parish sings "Lord of the Dance" on...

2009-11-20T15:20:10.018-05:00

Yes, and if my parish sings "Lord of the Dance" one more time I will kill myself.

I was laughing so hard reading this that my 10 yea...

2009-11-20T15:09:42.001-05:00

I was laughing so hard reading this that my 10 year old came in from the other room to ask if I was laughing or crying.

And the first comment, by William, only prolonged it.

Funny stuff. I laugh because I can sympathize.

There's so much good Christian rock out there, tha...

2009-11-20T15:06:27.067-05:00

There's so much good Christian rock out there, that's unfair. Yes, it was bad in the 80s, but there has been a lot of good stuff coming out since then. If you hate rock music, fine, I respect that. If you only like to listen to church music, cool. If you only like classic rock from the 70s, I respect that, too. But to say that all Christian pop/rock is bad is false. I'm guessing that this is an uneducated opinion. I'm usually with you 110%.

I do understand what you mean about the slaughter of the song, though.

On behalf of mediocre church musicians everywhere,...

2009-11-20T15:04:21.188-05:00

On behalf of mediocre church musicians everywhere, I apologize for ruining a song for you.

I wonder if I've ever completely ruined the Mass for someone with my rather talentless renditions?

I also often wonder if no music is better than mediocre music. This post makes me think so. Can I quote you next time the liturgist begs me to accompany someone so there will be music at Mass?

I don't think I have ever heard "Soul of My Savior...

2009-11-20T14:03:14.534-05:00

I don't think I have ever heard "Soul of My Savior" at Mass, or at least certainly not at St. Matt's. But it's nice to know there's something good out there.

If you don't have the Faith, the Novus Ordo will n...

2009-11-20T12:54:55.128-05:00

If you don't have the Faith, the Novus Ordo will not help you towards it. If you do have the Faith, the Novus Ordo will move you farther from it.

Isn't it "Gather Us In" that has that dreadful lin...

2009-11-20T12:39:12.313-05:00

Isn't it "Gather Us In" that has that dreadful line about "not in some heaven, light years away...". My husband goes ballistic (facially) whenever we're forced to listen to that one! At least, in our new parish, they drop that verse when "Gather Us In" is the entrance song. Funny stuff.

I really hate to post this, I do, but I just have ...

2009-11-20T12:39:03.539-05:00

I really hate to post this, I do, but I just have to say:

We have a harmonica player in our choir. I'm sure he is a very lovely person and I do appreciate the time he gives to our church by blessing us with his gifts. But. The other day the choir started singing this stunning hymn at communion time. I'm not sure the name of it (I'm a new convert and don't know Latin) -- something Dominus? Anyway, hearing the sounds of this chant/hymn beginning to float through the air as if from the mouths of the angels themselves sent a chill down my spine.

And then the harmonica started.

A piece of me died that day. (And then, at a different Mass, the same hymn was accompanied by guitar. I might need to get on medication if this trend continues. What's next? Dum Transisset Sabbatum with accordion?)

We actually sang Soul of My Savior last Sunday...b...

2009-11-20T11:51:00.698-05:00

We actually sang Soul of My Savior last Sunday...beautiful!

Cindy...that's like the trifecta of awfulness!

Oh, Pat. I, too, must confess rolling with laught...

2009-11-20T10:37:43.382-05:00

Oh, Pat. I, too, must confess rolling with laughter during Mass last weekend. I thought for a brief moment sbout setting myself aflame as well. We began last Sunday with the classic hymn, "Gather Us In". During the offering, the congregation sang a few stanzas of "Sing a New Song." During communion, the quitarist strummed "Table of Plenty". If that were not enough, during the recession hymn of "My Country Tis of Thee" a parishioner felt so moved, he pulled out his tamborine. This, sadly, is a true story. Unfortunately, I could no longer refrain myself and burst into laughter. Following my example, our two teenage boys began laughing, then the 3 year old. My husband was not amused. What can one do? Take a longer fuse.....

Paul asked: "So I wonder: are there actually any g...

2009-11-20T10:06:19.952-05:00

Paul asked: "So I wonder: are there actually any good Communion hymns?"

Here's one:

Soul of my Savior
(English translation of Anima Christi)

Soul of my Savior sanctify my breast,
Body of Christ, be thou my saving guest,
Blood of my Savior, bathe me in thy tide,
wash me with waters gushing from thy side.

Strength and protection may thy passion be,
O blessed Jesus, hear and answer me;
deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and shelter me,
so shall I never, never part from thee.

Guard and defend me from the foe malign,
in death's dread moments make me only thine;
call me and bid me come to thee on high
where I may praise thee with thy saints for ay.