Reflections on a letter from Marty Haugen to Jeff Miller
[This post will be updated to highlight reaction to the letter from the Catholic blogosphere.]
The prolific GIA composer sent the Curt Jester a letter that he posted on his blog.
Marty Haugen’s published works became a lightning rod precisely because his publisher saw fit to heavily promote his ouevre and parishes, operating under a different paradigm of liturgical reform, validated his publisher’s business decision. Oftentimes, his compositions and others of the “Liturgical Industrial Complex” were (are) employed at Mass to the exclusion of the music that was – and is and will be – requested by the Church and was reiterated at the Second Vatican Council and in subsequent liturgical legislation.
While critique of his compositions sometimes (oftentimes?) devolved into ad hominem attacks (and my own posts on his music will either convict or exonerate me of this charge), they nonetheless remain valid. As do critiques of the mechanisms, structures and attitudes that enabled – and continue to enable – his compositions a large audience.
And lest opponents of his music exult, many times it was the ill-will of his musical opponents that further enabled his compositions to gain a wide hearing, regardless of whether they were attacking the music or the man. I do not doubt that from 2000-2003, when I played his music most frequently, I was an accomplice in this crime.
So this reflection in a sense has become a public confession. Mr. Haugen, I still think much of your work, as it pertains to the Catholic liturgy, is of questionable merit at best; I would only play/program your works at Mass out of obedience to a liturgical authority who insists on it. As they are widely published, your compositions will remain targets of scrutiny and critique. But if I have attacked your dignity as a person, please accept my apology and know that it will never happen on this blog, either to you or your colleagues.
- David at Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex
- “Red Cardigan” at And Sometimes Tea
- Patrick Archbold of Creative Minority Report
- Todd Flowerday of Catholic Sensibility
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Well, apologies about the ad hominum attacks aside, I’ve noticed the general theme on Haugen’s letter seems to be an analysis of his understanding of the Catholic faith. Therein lies the problem with most problems of musical and overall liturgical abuses of our age. Just plain ignorance. I find that this ignorance has spilled over to my peers–the youth of the “JP II generation” who have come to learn these ditties and gone further to incorporate praise guitar into the liturgy… anywho I’d better stay off that tangent… back to this Haugen fellow… I’ll just pray that he seeks the truth in all things, and that he stops being paranoid about what other people think of his prayers
(I thought that was a random interjection by him.)
Anywho, that’s all I gotta say on this for now. I love your blog. Really helpful for someone who aspires to help bring about the renewal of the liturgy. God bless.
Jeff