Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Good Music Good, Bad Music Bad
On Zenit today:
"Echoing the call of my beloved predecessor, I would like to encourage those who cultivate sacred music to continue this journey," said Benedict XVI said. In particular, the Holy Father suggested that the Vatican congregation reflect "on the relationship between music and liturgy, while remaining attentive to practical applications and experimentation, and maintaining constant understanding and collaboration with national episcopal conferences."
When opening the congress, Cardinal Arinze explained: "Sacred music must be in accord with the grandeur of the liturgical act that celebrates the mysteries of Christ; it must be characterized by a sense of prayer, beauty and dignity."
Vatican Radio quoted him saying: "In no way must it give way to shallowness, superficiality or theatricality."
Naturally, every liturgical musician and pew dweller alive has her or his own take on that one.
What is needed is discernment, a prayerful and thoughtful examination of liturgical music rooted in the local reality. Hopefully some real discussion happened at the conference. That said, I do laud the pope's interest in this issue. It's been with us for at least a century.
