The Recovering Choir Director

The short answer: No, he cannot; motivation must come from those he serves. In this Catholic Herald article, British composer Webster Young suggests a general revival of musical amateurism (in the best sense of the term) will help effect a revival of church music. (My emphases in boldface.)

Much of church music is today maintained by volunteers and involves the participation of the congregation rather than a choir. Notwithstanding the good efforts of many people, Catholic music - especially outside of England - is not what it once was. Pope Benedict XVI (who is a literate musician: he reads music, knows the literature of music from Gregorian Chant to the Classics, and plays Mozart at the piano) has been calling for a restoration of high standards. His remarks on music make it clear that he believes that the touchstone for judging the appropriateness of sacred music is Gregorian Chant and sacred vocal polyphony…

But implementing a major change in Catholic music today will involve both a strong will to make changes and a marshalling of resources to carry them out. There has been a hope among members of the Roman Curia that a “grass-roots” movement among parishioners will arise - in the same successful way that one helped to re-invigorate in some countries the practice of more frequent confession - and that this will help to bring about the needed changes in music.

A growth in enlightened musical amateurism might well provide some support for a grass-roots movement in music.

The remainder of Mr. Young’s article gives a few tips on breathing, listening to oneself while singing, and proper enunciation/diction. The piece is worth sharing with clerics and choristers.

(Courtesy of Mary Jane Ballou via Scelata)