The Recovering Choir Director

Thank you for the heads up on this fine weblog entry. I’ve already desecrated the place with my own comment.

I’m familiar with the setting to which the author of the original post refers, and perhaps his complaint is with the jarring fit between the majestic qualities of OLD HUNDREDTH and the rather clunky translation of the In Paradisum from which the lyrics are drawn.

I love both the In Paradisum and OLD HUNDREDTH, but I don’t necessarily like them in combination. It’s sort of like pickles and chocolate to me.

I’ve the Old Hundredth In Paradisum, and I wish I hadn’t. There are much better in Latin and in English.

I sang and liked the folk mass, when “On Eagle Wings,” “Be not Afraid,” or “Go up to the Mountains” were among the songs that were popular. No longer. The music has become unsingable and high in octave (i’m a baritone), and the words are no longer biblically based and just are stupid and filled with PC rubbish. “We are Church” comes to mind as an example of unsingable and meaningless inclusive PC trash.

I recently attended a high Latin Mass for the first time since I was a young boy. The difference I noticed immeadiately (besides the latin) was how unhurried and how calming it was. The choir was marvelous and the latin hymns and chants enfused the service with mystery and grace. The music did not disturb the solemnity of the moment, rather, it was a part of the moment.

I’d say that was the biggest difference….everything fit (word, music, and actions) together in the process of worship. I didn’t realize how much I’d miss that until then.

“‘Old Hundreth’ in the Lutheran circles I travel in is used in a hymn called ‘Praise God From Whom all Blessings Flow.’ Hearing a hymn tune I associate with praise and thanksgiving put to the lyrics it was put to just did not seem appropriate.”

That’s the text many, if not most Catholics would associate with the Old Hundreth as well.

This using new or different words to a familiar tune, often one that has very strong associations iwht other texts or holidays or liturgies is an unfortunate by-product of this kind of pitiful desperation from TPTB to get the PIPs to sing, ANYTHING, just so long as they sing.