Recorded music on any form is not officially allowed during services in RC churches.
Why is that?
To quote Google's AI trawl ....
Recorded music is generally discouraged or forbidden during the Catholic Mass because the liturgy emphasizes authentic, live participation by the assembly, with pre-recorded music lacking the "veracity" of human voices and instruments; however, exceptions exist, like using recordings to teach music, for processions, or carefully with children's Masses, but never as a substitute for live singing. Church documents state only live instruments played by a person are allowed, and recorded music substitutes true communal worship with a commercial, static product.
I suspect behind it all is the much controverted idea that the only proper music for RC worship is unaccompanied plainsong. At our place, for example we have had recorded music after a wedding as the couple leave the church since the service has actually ended .... but if the priest thinks the song is totally inappropriate for church, the regulations are a handy way of saying "no." And for requiems he suggests that favourite secular songs are used at the crematorium.
On a positive note it means that I have attended Mass where the instrumentalists have ranged from African drums, via a solo recorder and all the way to full orchestra and choir. And weekday services where simple congregational chants have been unaccompanied.
Where the guidance/regulation seems to fall flat is in situations - particularly smaller churches - where people want to sing but no musicians are available. Granted, singing can be unaccompanied (as per "Wee Frees" in Scotland and Plymouth Brethren) but that can be very dreary!
Where the guidance/regulation seems to fall flat is in situations - particularly smaller churches - where people want to sing but no musicians are available. Granted, singing can be unaccompanied (as per "Wee Frees" in Scotland and Plymouth Brethren) but that can be very dreary!
Yes, and a small congregation may not even have one person to act as a competent cantor.
Once upon a time, vernacular hymns were not part of the official liturgy, and AIUI that applied mainly to the Church of England. Did the same apply to RC churches, at least until comparatively recent times?
As regards today, the Faithful gathered at Our Place to commemorate St Stephen were enjoined to sing Good King Wenceslas, which is sentimental quasi-romantic Tosh, and has nothing to do with the Incarnation, or the Martyrdom of Stephen. It will have been sung a capella, and I hope they made a good job of it, as it at least has a good tune.
True, though I doubt if there were enough present to attempt it. FatherInCharge is enthusiastic, but I'm afraid he simply can't sing...
Incidentally, the tune (Tempus Adest Floridum) appears in the collection Piae Cantiones of 1582, and is set in the Oxford Book of Carols to a Spring carol whose first line reads Now the spring has come again, joy and warmth will follow - a translation from the original 16thC Latin.
There's a tremendous lot of interesting, and nowadays little-known, material in the Oxford Book of Carols.
Midnight service (late to the party this year- a busy Christmas):
O come, O come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
It came upon a Midnight Clear (Carol)
O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel)
While Shepherds Watched (Winchester Old)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (Sussex Carol)
O come all ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)
Holy Family Sunday at Our Place tomorrow, at which the faithful will be encouraged to do everything they can to strengthen Christian Family Life™:
The holly and the ivy (English folk tune)
Something from The Sheet (possibly the Gloria) Good King Wenceslas (Tempus Adest Floridum)
Something from The Sheet (possibly the Lord's Prayer by St Cliff) In the bleak midwinter (Cranham) Joy to the world (Antioch)
28th December is also Holy Innocents' Day, though that commemoration is set aside by the fact that this year it's on a Sunday. Nevertheless, it would seem appropriate IMHO to mention the present-day slaughter of the innocents, in Gaza, by a present-day tyrant just as afraid of losing control and power as the egregious Herod. I hope that this will be done during the intercessions, as an antidote to the dross being otherwise served up...
They will be without an organist tomorrow, so will have to attempt the songs/hymns a capella. They do have a couple of competent cantors, happily.
Nevertheless, it would seem appropriate IMHO to mention the present-day slaughter of the innocents, in Gaza, by a present-day tyrant just as afraid of losing control and power as the egregious Herod. I hope that this will be done during the intercessions, as an antidote to the dross being otherwise served up...
Sadly, one doubts that it will be mentioned - too disturbing for the cosy Twixtmas spirit.
Nevertheless, it would seem appropriate IMHO to mention the present-day slaughter of the innocents, in Gaza, by a present-day tyrant just as afraid of losing control and power as the egregious Herod. I hope that this will be done during the intercessions, as an antidote to the dross being otherwise served up...
Sadly, one doubts that it will be mentioned - too disturbing for the cosy Twixtmas spirit.
That was my thought, but, of course, I may be wrong - it depends on who is leading the intercessions. Quite often, there are no volunteers, so FatherInCharge does them himself.
Most of our intercessors mention Gaza (and Ukraine) in their prayers each week.
I'll be honest - I'm not averse to a bit of Good King Winklehof (as David used to call it), especially if the context isn't too formal. At St Magnus Cathedral, before the 11:30 Christmas Eve service, there's a fairly informal half-hour of congregational carol singing, at which the choirmaster would stand in the pulpit and direct the congregation. GKW always featured, and David would get the ladies to sing the page's part and the gents to sing the King's part ...
... until he had a brainwave (or it may have been a brainfart) and divided the congregation into Uppies and Doonies, in homage to the Ba', which would be played through the streets of Kirkwall the following day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkwall_Ba'_Game
Well, OK - I grant that GKW may have a place in an informal setting, but NOT in the context of a Mass celebrating the Incarnation, or the Martyrdom of St Stephen. It does have a jolly good tune, as I said.
I hope my Spy remembers what the Somethings from the Sheet are - she has been known to simply blank them from her mind, given their usual awfulness.
I'm pleased to report that we're still having decently festive fare:
Angels from the realms of glory - Iris O thou who camest from above - Hereford Jesus, good above all other - Quem Pastores Infant holy, infant lowly - Wzlobie Lezy Unto us a boy is born - Puer Nobis
Joy to the world!
Unto us a child is born
In the bleak mid-winter (which it pretty well was, in the church)
Hark! the herald-angels sing glory to the new-born king
We had:
When out of poverty is born (KINGSFOLD)
The Lord of heaven confess (DARWALL'S 148TH)
Unto us a boy is born
It came upon the midnight clear (NÖEL)
Be still my soul (FINLANDIA)
Those of you who sang Unto us a boy is born at least made mention of Holy Innocents - totally ignored at Our Place. It's not even being transferred to tomorrow (as it is at Our Cathedral), but the 10am service will commemorate St Thomas of Canterbury. The Mass intention is given on the notice sheet simply as 'Canterbury Cathedral' - no mention of the incoming Archbishop.
The Somethings from The Sheet were (a) a metrical Gloria sung to the tune Bransle de L'Official (Ding dong, merrily on high!), and (b) the Lord's Prayer, as painfully forced into the tune of Auld Lang Syne by the egregious St Cliff Richard...if St C ever gets canonised (unlikely, I know), FatherInCharge will establish a Shrine...
A good turnout, however, and they sang lustily despite the lack of organists. The three lady cantors sang The Virgin Mary had a baby boy (traditional West Indian tune) as a Communion motet, and my Spy says this was quite an enjoyable treat.
No 9 o'clock communion this morning, just the one combined (non-communion) mid morning service. Pleased that after a busy lead up to Christmas, and the day itself, our rector's presence was not essential so he was able to enjoy some family time. We sang:
Joy to the World - ANTIOCH
See Him Lying on a Bed of Straw - CALYPSO CAROL
In the Bleak Midwinter - CRANHAM
Angels From the Realms of Glory - IRIS
O Little Town of Bethlehem - FOREST GREEN
Praise is rising Blessed be the name of the Lord Emmanuel, Jesus is the Lord, God is with us (a new one) You were the word at the beginning Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Those of you who sang Unto us a boy is born at least made mention of Holy Innocents ...
That's how I got away with persuading TPTB that it was a good idea - "oh look, it's Holy Innocents, and there's a verse about Herod!"
One or two people commented afterwards in a positive way about the nice traditional hymns, and I heard several people singing the tune as we were having coffee, so it must have made a good impression. I can think of far worse earworms!
The customary tunes to OLTOB (Forest Green) and OIRDC (Irby) are excellent, as long as they're not dragged out IYSWIM. The words might be a bit iffy, especially OIRDC, which has several verses best omitted...
Well done @Piglet for getting Your Place to sing Unto us a boy is born !
Maybe, but Forest Green is English...a traditional English melody, collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams. An impeccable pedigree...
But then sanitised in Anglican SATB style with a different chord on each note, sucking all life out of it. I would love to hear it done in folk style with far fewer chords.
Those of you who sang Unto us a boy is born at least made mention of Holy Innocents - totally ignored at Our Place. It's not even being transferred to tomorrow (as it is at Our Cathedral)
I’m singing evensong with my choir at said cathedral this week. When we arrived, the Precentor (or whatever long winded title he goes by nowadays) asked our director whether the service was recognising the Holy Innocents or Thomas Becket.
Thinking of Puer Nobis Nascitur, there is the "other" version - a slightly earlier translation than Dearmer's - which begins, "Unto us is born a son, King of choirs supernal".
Comments
Ah, yes... I do see what you mean...
Why is that?
To quote Google's AI trawl ....
Recorded music is generally discouraged or forbidden during the Catholic Mass because the liturgy emphasizes authentic, live participation by the assembly, with pre-recorded music lacking the "veracity" of human voices and instruments; however, exceptions exist, like using recordings to teach music, for processions, or carefully with children's Masses, but never as a substitute for live singing. Church documents state only live instruments played by a person are allowed, and recorded music substitutes true communal worship with a commercial, static product.
I suspect behind it all is the much controverted idea that the only proper music for RC worship is unaccompanied plainsong. At our place, for example we have had recorded music after a wedding as the couple leave the church since the service has actually ended .... but if the priest thinks the song is totally inappropriate for church, the regulations are a handy way of saying "no." And for requiems he suggests that favourite secular songs are used at the crematorium.
On a positive note it means that I have attended Mass where the instrumentalists have ranged from African drums, via a solo recorder and all the way to full orchestra and choir. And weekday services where simple congregational chants have been unaccompanied.
Yes, and a small congregation may not even have one person to act as a competent cantor.
As regards today, the Faithful gathered at Our Place to commemorate St Stephen were enjoined to sing Good King Wenceslas, which is sentimental quasi-romantic Tosh, and has nothing to do with the Incarnation, or the Martyrdom of Stephen. It will have been sung a capella, and I hope they made a good job of it, as it at least has a good tune.
True, though I doubt if there were enough present to attempt it. FatherInCharge is enthusiastic, but I'm afraid he simply can't sing...
Incidentally, the tune (Tempus Adest Floridum) appears in the collection Piae Cantiones of 1582, and is set in the Oxford Book of Carols to a Spring carol whose first line reads Now the spring has come again, joy and warmth will follow - a translation from the original 16thC Latin.
There's a tremendous lot of interesting, and nowadays little-known, material in the Oxford Book of Carols.
O come, O come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
It came upon a Midnight Clear (Carol)
O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel)
While Shepherds Watched (Winchester Old)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (Sussex Carol)
O come all ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)
The holly and the ivy (English folk tune)
Something from The Sheet (possibly the Gloria)
Good King Wenceslas (Tempus Adest Floridum)
Something from The Sheet (possibly the Lord's Prayer by St Cliff)
In the bleak midwinter (Cranham)
Joy to the world (Antioch)
28th December is also Holy Innocents' Day, though that commemoration is set aside by the fact that this year it's on a Sunday. Nevertheless, it would seem appropriate IMHO to mention the present-day slaughter of the innocents, in Gaza, by a present-day tyrant just as afraid of losing control and power as the egregious Herod. I hope that this will be done during the intercessions, as an antidote to the dross being otherwise served up...
They will be without an organist tomorrow, so will have to attempt the songs/hymns a capella. They do have a couple of competent cantors, happily.
Yes, but there would have been only a couple of victims at yesterday's Mass. The drivel must be shared by as many as possible...
That was my thought, but, of course, I may be wrong - it depends on who is leading the intercessions. Quite often, there are no volunteers, so FatherInCharge does them himself.
I'll be honest - I'm not averse to a bit of Good King Winklehof (as David used to call it), especially if the context isn't too formal. At St Magnus Cathedral, before the 11:30 Christmas Eve service, there's a fairly informal half-hour of congregational carol singing, at which the choirmaster would stand in the pulpit and direct the congregation. GKW always featured, and David would get the ladies to sing the page's part and the gents to sing the King's part ...
... until he had a brainwave (or it may have been a brainfart) and divided the congregation into Uppies and Doonies, in homage to the Ba', which would be played through the streets of Kirkwall the following day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkwall_Ba'_Game
Tomorrow:
“God rest ye merry, gentlemen” - trad.
“Meekness and majesty” (Kendrick).
“What child is this?” - Greensleeves.
"From the squalor of a borrowed stable” (Townend).
“Thou didst leave thy throne” - Margaret.
I hope my Spy remembers what the Somethings from the Sheet are - she has been known to simply blank them from her mind, given their usual awfulness.
Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken (Austria)
I Am a New Creation (Dave Bilbrough)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn)
Angels from the realms of glory - Iris
O thou who camest from above - Hereford
Jesus, good above all other - Quem Pastores
Infant holy, infant lowly - Wzlobie Lezy
Unto us a boy is born - Puer Nobis
I struggle to think of two drearier hymns.
Try the hymn book. It's full of far worse dirges than those.
Unto us a child is born
In the bleak mid-winter (which it pretty well was, in the church)
Hark! the herald-angels sing glory to the new-born king
I'll pass on that!
When out of poverty is born (KINGSFOLD)
The Lord of heaven confess (DARWALL'S 148TH)
Unto us a boy is born
It came upon the midnight clear (NÖEL)
Be still my soul (FINLANDIA)
The Somethings from The Sheet were (a) a metrical Gloria sung to the tune Bransle de L'Official (Ding dong, merrily on high!), and (b) the Lord's Prayer, as painfully forced into the tune of Auld Lang Syne by the egregious St Cliff Richard...if St C ever gets canonised (unlikely, I know), FatherInCharge will establish a Shrine...
A good turnout, however, and they sang lustily despite the lack of organists. The three lady cantors sang The Virgin Mary had a baby boy (traditional West Indian tune) as a Communion motet, and my Spy says this was quite an enjoyable treat.
Of the Father’s heart begotten
It came upon the midnight clear
In the bleak midwinter
Angels from the realms of glory
Joy to the World - ANTIOCH
See Him Lying on a Bed of Straw - CALYPSO CAROL
In the Bleak Midwinter - CRANHAM
Angels From the Realms of Glory - IRIS
O Little Town of Bethlehem - FOREST GREEN
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Emmanuel, Jesus is the Lord, God is with us (a new one)
You were the word at the beginning
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I'm quite fond of both (assuming OLTOB was sung to Forest Green and not the awful St Louis).
That's how I got away with persuading TPTB that it was a good idea - "oh look, it's Holy Innocents, and there's a verse about Herod!"
One or two people commented afterwards in a positive way about the nice traditional hymns, and I heard several people singing the tune as we were having coffee, so it must have made a good impression. I can think of far worse earworms!
Well done @Piglet for getting Your Place to sing Unto us a boy is born !
(And I’ll confess I prefer ST. LOUIS to FOREST GREEN, but as you say with FOREST GREEN and IRBY, taking it too slowly is the kiss of death.)
And it is an American hymn.
When Bartok and Kodaly collected Hungarian folk tunes, they devised their own notation to make sure they correctly recorded all their nuances.
But then sanitised in Anglican SATB style with a different chord on each note, sucking all life out of it. I would love to hear it done in folk style with far fewer chords.
When out of poverty is born (KINGSFOLD)
Us, too. I had a bit of a lump in my throat as I think it's the first time we've had one of Kathy Galloway's hymns since her death earlier this year.
Oh, please not!
I’m singing evensong with my choir at said cathedral this week. When we arrived, the Precentor (or whatever long winded title he goes by nowadays) asked our director whether the service was recognising the Holy Innocents or Thomas Becket.
Seconded. Your contributions about hymn tunes (and everything else) are highly valued.
It also means you get:
and preferably with Willcocks' wonderful descant.
What I have found is this modern version. I actually quite like it (apart from the anger/danger misrhyme) but wonder if it was really necessary: https://www.praise.org.uk/hymns/jesus-christ-the-lord-is-born