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December 2, 2005

Positive Critique

The Liberal Side always challenges all to speak of the songs we would choose along with their qualities, rather than nixing the songs we dislike. The problem with failing to critiqe the bad music is that it may seem to some as acceptable for Catholic Worship, like the time that the editor of GIA personally defended the use of Let There be Peace on Earth for Catholic Liturgy.

I have already spoken of my favorite Advent Music. With the O Antiphons, Rorate Caeli and Conditor Alme Siderum you have wonderful melodies which serve to support the prayer text or the text from Scripture. The mark of the good liturgical piece is that it is the appropriate music to serve the Scripture text it bears.

I must confess to actually liking a selection by Marty Haugen, My Soul in Stillness Waits. It is a modern setting of the O Antiphon text.

The important thing is the Text. Music is the servant of the text.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at December 2, 2005 4:03 PM

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"I must confess to actually liking a selection by Marty Haugen, My Soul in Stillness Waits. It is a modern setting of the O Antiphon text."

Father, have you seen "Christ, circle 'round us"? This, I have to confess, is one of the only a couple of pieces I like by Dan Schutte ("Only This I Want" is the other). Its text is based on the "O" Antiphons, as is "My soul in stillness". The tune is a metrical adaptation of the "Salve Regina" that doesn't sound bad at all.

Peace,
BMP

Posted by: Brian Michael Page at December 2, 2005 7:39 PM

Of course, I agree that text is primary. At the same time, the 1980s brought us a raft of music which texts drawn from Psalms and other scripture and melodies way beyond the reach of the congregation/assembly. While I know the original intention was "verses by cantor," we all know how that worked out - the mostly silent on the verses assembly, the cantor unsure whether he or she is leading or soloing, and a few valiant souls out there struggling to keep up.

Thanks to Brian for the tip about Christ, Cirle Round Us. It looks pretty good - and sometimes I blush to admit I get tired of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. And the folks I work with love Dan Schutte.

Posted by: Mary Jane at December 5, 2005 1:32 PM

As important as Scripture is in liturgy and liturgical music, I think there's more to the music of Advent than the Scripture.

After all, Creator of the Stars of Night is an old chant piece that isn't directly linked to Scripture. Was it a prayer before it was set to music, Father Jeff, or is that a silly quesion?

My favorites include "The King shall Come when Morning Dawns" and "Savior of the Nations, Come" along with a piece by an obscure local composer "The Lord who comes."

I've been listening to the 2 SAVAE cds I have with music from 16th and early 17th century Mexico -- Spanish Latin, Latin American Spanish, Nahuatl, celebrating Guadalupe. It's a bit early, but great music to grade projects by. The have a new one with Christmas music, La Noche Buena, that I'm thinking of giving to a number of people on my Christmas list.

Posted by: Maureen Lahiff at December 5, 2005 3:59 PM

"Thanks to Brian for the tip about Christ, Cirle Round Us. It looks pretty good - and sometimes I blush to admit I get tired of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. And the folks I work with love Dan Schutte.

No problem, MJ. Personally, I'm not crazy over most of the Dan Schutte/St. Louis Jesuits fare. But I do like the "Christ, cirle 'round us" and "Only this I want".

BMP

Posted by: Brian Michael Page at December 5, 2005 8:29 PM

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