Catholic Sensibility

Moratoria, not MMMMMMM good Now that the dust (or ashes) of Lent has settled, I notice a movement afoot (no, not Holy Thursday) to ban certain composers of liturgical music. An acronym SMMMMMMM (or something like this) stands for the Society for a Moratorium on Maudlin Modern Music that Makes Me Mad (or something like that). The usual suspects are being rounded up for an evening of heretic-burning (no, I don't think any John Lennon records are being included, but don't be too sure). What these people don't realize (Fr Jeff, avert your eyes, please) is that once they're done, they will have ... ashes. (We rise again ...) Hey. If I thought there was something to the need for improving church music, and that this group had good intentions at heart, I'd be supportive of the notion that more (not less) composers need to be writing more (not less) good new music to outstanding texts. The real key is that a musical heritage is not based on subtraction, but addition. Did the Medieval church musicians say, "We have nothing of use in Mozarabic or Gallican or Byzantine chant, let's just stay away from these heretic anti-Romans and stick to Gregorian." Of course not. (Well, some did, but that's beside the point.) Did they condemn polyphony as music of the devil because somebody like Tallis buried a neat little tune for "Spem in alium" under thirty-nine flippin' other voice parts? Of course not. (Well, some did, but ... you get the drift.) Want to improve church music? Here's how: - Hire a good, prayerful, liturgical musician who can lead and inspire people. - Play and sing music you use with sensitivity and prayerfulness. - Actually pray the texts of the music you sing. (This applies to everyone.) - Get the parish clergy 100% behind music ministry. - Select new music very, very carefully before introducing it into the parish repertoire. Be sure it is the best. Be sure you have prayed a text before teaching it. - Realize the Church is in a rebuilding mode and has been for decades now. Make use of the enormous repertoire available and avoid choices based solely on marketing. - Teach the young with more fervor, attention, and budget than sports programs. - Train teens and young adults as music leaders, emphasizing music ministry as a viable vocation choice. Lastly, I don't think that harping is a musical activity. It is discordant, uncharitable, wasteful, and contributes nothing to harmony in belief or practice. I echo the challenge I often make. If you don't like church music, find or write something better and sing it. Failing that, hire someone who can.