Twiki speaks

So I write about the liturgy being awful and the next news is that old Pope Bennykins wants rid of guitars in church.

Not a surprise because the story’s been mentioned before. It’s still a disgrace though that one of the best things about a Mass - ie decent music - is the cause of so much controversy.
I’ve never got the Gregorian chants or choral music. For a start, I don’t speak Latin so I don’t know what’s being sung. Also I can’t join in.

To me, that’s the crux. Mass should be a participatory event. For that, it needs to be in the same language so people can understand and join in the responses. The music must also be simple enough for everyone to join in and feel they are part of the Mass.

And that’s the problem with choral music – you’re not meant to join in. I’ve been to high Masses like that and I get very little out of them. Yes the music is lovely but if I want that, I go to a concert. Mass is about praising God and a feeling of belonging to a community united by Christianity and faith. Sitting there bored while listening to some chanting in a language I don’t understand doesn’t fill the whole remit.

That’s not to say guitars and the like are always right. I’ve been to churches where the music group has taken over too far and it becomes more of a performance rather than a Mass.
Music groups are there, pure and simply, to lead the congregation through music. That’s the first and foremost consideration and should always be borne in mind.

Obviously, it’s clear I like guitary folk Masses. I think there’s still a part to play with organ music - a lot of them can be really uplifting crowd-pleasing hymns that you can belt out. But, just like there are crap guitar hymns (Bind us together anyone), there are some really naff Victorian hymns that make dirges sound good (All Nations that on earth do dwell... The next line is ‘ Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice’ which is pretty sodding difficult when you’re singing this apology for a hymn)

BTW, why are most hymns on Songs of Praise crap? There’s occasionally a decent one but, for God’s sake, stop singing turgid old ones and equally crap new ones.

Also, the congregation aren’t muppets. So, while it’s advisable not to change the mass parts every week, don’t keep the same ones for ten years. Same with hymns. Add to the repertoire – more often than not, people in the congregation appreciate new music. As long as its good.
And also liturgically correct. At university, I did spend every week vetoing hymns on the grounds they ahd nothing to do with this week’s liturgy (singing Alleluia during Lent for example)

If the lay community is going to be involved more in the Mass, as I believe we should, we need to show we have the ability to do it.