Music for the Papal Mass at Nationals Park
Being unable to view a live broadcast of this morning’s Mass, I have no opinion on the execution of the music.
Based on seeing the partial playlist at an earlier date, however, I observe that with very few exceptions, the least apt musical option according to the GIRM was chosen, both for the ordinary and the proper chants of the Mass. For those of you who are interested in what the Church says about liturgical music, I invite you to my 2003 series, A Musical Journey through GIRM.
Many observations and opinions—and many pictures—may be found on the NLM’s entry for this Mass.
Update: See the Google Blog Search on “papal mass music” for additional commentary. See also what the official songbook of the Mass prescribes for today’s Mass; audio examples included.
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10 Comments
Aristotle, I watched/listened to it, and believe me, you were spared the agony. Given some of the other choices, even the Sanctus from Haugen’s Mass of Creation didn’t sound that bad.
Not only the selections–but a lot of the choral singing was amateur. Pronunciations (of the English) were very poorly coached with the predictable diversity in choral tone.
Ugh.
There were actually times when I looked at the radio and wondered if I had lost the signal and maybe this was music coming from another station. My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe this was music being done at a papal Mass.
SPeaking as someone who was in the Papal Choir - I thought all of the groups did some outstanding music, and I for one was very proud to be a part of it. I thought the selections did an excellent job if showing off the unviersal cathlolicity of our Church.
It is obvious that those involved in choosing the music for Communion have no understanding of the Eucharist. The song used for that part of the Mass was flat out sacreligious.
there were 6 Communion songs - which one are you referring to?
I was in the Papal Choir, thanks for all your idiotic input. We were not a professional choir. We are all members of parish choirs from the Archdiocese of Washington and the Archdiocese of Arlington. The music was selected to highlight the multicultural nature of the Catholic Church in the USA. I’m sorry it didn’t meet with your Eurocentric expectations.
Luke,
How is Ubi Caritas sacriligious? Or Pange Lingua? Explain that to me you moron.
I couldn’t watch all of it, so I guess I am referring to one of them. It was the one that sounded like lounge music with the lady wailing away. This is not about personal preferences. This is about appropriate music for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Holy Father himself wants the Church’s own treasures used in the liturgy. As far as the vulgar attitude in your comment Ian, there is no excuse for it. I never said that the choir did a bad job in its execution of the music. It was the song choices. You have to know something about Church history. Have you ever attended a Tridentine Mass?
The particular song is “Jesus is Here Right Now.” That song, while the lyrics seem good, is not conducive to prayer or Communion at all. Its very distracting and showy. That among some of the other music was not appropriate for the Mass. Some of it was very nice, others were definitely not.
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