Catholics in this country seem reluctant to sing in public. About the only time many of us raise our voices in song is to sing "Happy Birthday" on occasion. Yet, the liturgy of the Catholic Church is meant to be sung, most especially the Mass. The most important parts to sing are the dialogs between the presider and assembly ("The Lord be with you" etc.), the Responsorial Psalm, and the parts that are clearly acclamations, such as the Alleluia, the Holy, Holy, Holy, the Memorial Acclamation, and the Great Amen.
It is especially moving to hear the presider-assembly dialogs chanted simply. The beauty of chant is that everyone is on the same pitch (as opposed to singing in harmony). We are not only raising our voices, but we are doing it in a way that emphasizes our unity — we're chanting the same words, at the same pace, on the same pitch! To do that, our voices must be in communion with one another. In doing so, we are praying in faith, hope, and love that it is not just our voices that are in communion, but our entire selves.
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Deacon Carl, I especially enjoy chant in the Christian liturgy also.
ReplyDeleteI know considerable research has been conducted comparing Gregorian plainsong with surviving traditional Jewish religious melodies (tropes). [ See Music of the Jews by Aaron Marko Rotmuller] Why isn’t chant utilized more often in Roman Catholic liturgies today.
Chant is still very very much a part of the Mass; the Roman Missal makes that quite clear! However, recent decades have seen greater freedom in using different musical styles in the Mass, particularly here in the US. Chant has, unfortunately, given way to more contemporary forms. And yet, chant is still preferred for the dialog parts (such as "The Lord be with you"; "And also with you"). Most priests, though, are reluctant to sing alone without accompaniment, and so they merely recite those dialogs. Since our Lutheran and Anglican (Episcopal) brothers and sisters continue to sing their liturgies and chant their dialogs, maybe this pendulum will swing back soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be nice!
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