Chant in Concert
From the Gloucester County Times:
The Cathedral Singers of Camden will present a concert of sacred music on Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at Broadway and Market streets in Camden. The event is free, the public is welcome, and ample parking is available next to the cathedral.
The Cathedral Singers of Camden are an a cappella ensemble of singers from many churches and parishes throughout southern New Jersey. Specializing in Gregorian Chant, the 40-voice choir performs sacred music from ancient to modern. The choir is led by its founder, Ted Kiefer, who is director of music at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., organist at St. Agnes in Blackwood, and choir master for the Diocese of Camden.
On Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Cathedral Singers will perform a brief concert prior to the 7:30 p.m. Mass at the cathedral. They will also sing responses during Mass that evening.
In July 2005, Cathedral Singers will participate in a choral festival in Krakow, Poland. For information about the choir trip or the concert, call (856) 694-3693 or e-mail Ted Kiefer at chadorgan1@aol.com.
18 Comments:
"They will also sing responses during Mass that evening."
One hopes they will be joined in these responses by those in the pews as well. Even the Gloria, which some concede may be sung at times by choir alone, that choir-only option is number three in a hierarchy listed in IGRM 53. Certainly, the expectation would be that the Sanctus and other core acclamations and psalmody would be sung by all; that is the simple directive given in the Roman Missal.
"One hopes they will be joined in these responses by those in the pews as well."
Don't lecture and don't presume that the faithful won't be participating. Who appointed you as an officer of the active participation police?
Also: a fascinating piece on the director.
It should be noted that the choir may perform an entire Ordinary alone (including the Sanctus) at a Novus Ordo Mass according to article #34 of the 1967 instruction Musicam Sacram which is still in effect. The congregation, in these cases, participates by "unit[ing] themselves interiorly to what the ministers or choir sing." (art. #15). The GIRM has to be interpreted in this context.
I found this quote from one of the choristers interesting: "The cathedral has some of the best acoustics of any church in the area. The blend of our voices increases the spirituality of the building."
From the mouth of a church musician of a more progressive bent, such a statement might come under suspicious scrutiny, if not outright criticism. I think it shows a healthy pride in what must be a fine accomplishment.
It should also be noted that article 34 of Musicam Sacram is abrogated by the specific legislation of the 1969 Roman Missal. That edition, as well as those subsequent to it, indicate in the rubrics that the people are to sing the Sanctus. No leeway given. A very strong preference is given for the assembly singing the other parts of the traditional Mass propers.
What that means is that as a matter of liturgical policy, a parish or choir must give due consideration to the vocal and spiritual participation of the assembly as called for by the Roman Rite. A situation in which this was consistently denied would be a severe liturgical abuse, regardless of how beautiful the unlawful alternative might be. And given that the traditional repertoire lacks little in matter of quantity, a choral emphasis on the Mass propers to the exclusion of those at worship strikes me as just plain selfish.
Mr. Flowerday is simply wrong. Anyone with a basic knowledge of ecclesiatical law knows that an immemorial custom (i.e. something practiced for more than 100 years-which would certainly include a choral Sanctus), if it is to be abolished, can only be done so by specific mention (canon 28 in the new Code). In other words, though the GIRM certainly gives preference to congregational singing (Bugnini's influence no doubt) it would have to specifically forbid choral Masses. It does not. It would have to have said something like, "The Sanctus is to be always sung by the congregation, and all practices and legislation to the contrary are henceforth revoked."
This plus the fact that choral high Masses have been sung every Corpus Christi at the Papal Mass in St. Peter's (at least during the 80's and 90's-I have the one from 1984 on video tape, Mozart's Coronation Mass) proves that Choral Masses are not forbidden.
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"In order to legally abolish a choral Sanctus . . ."
Moreover, if this is such a grave and dangerous abuse, why wasn't it specifically mentioned in "Redemptionis Sacramentum?" The reprobated custom of using glass flagons for the Precious Blood doesn't seem to generate nearly as much attention to the letter of the law as a choral Sanctus. Indeed the Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles has exempted his archdiocese from this ban. I think litugists have a neurotic fixation on choirs in general and particularly on choral renderings of what used to be called the ordinary of the Mass. Let's put this in some sort of perspective.
Peace, all.
I think some musical directors might have a fixation on the traditional Mass propers. Whether the work of Bugnini or the Apostolic Tradition, the GIRM undeniably says the people sing the Sanctus. It wasn't changed in 2002. If that upsets a musical sensibility here and there, that's too bad. Even polyphony takes a back seat liturgically to plainsong. My suggestion would be to sing the choral Sanctus at Preparation, if truly needed during Mass. If you can't give the people a line of it, it really has no place at a Catholic Mass. A concert is really quite enjoyable for classical Mass settings.
I think an occasional lapse on congregational singing for the Sanctus could be forgiven if other aspects of the liturgy included them. But I think a music director who consistently excluded the assembly from singing the Sanctus would be on untenable ground. Certainly more so than a bishop who has the right to set liturgical law and practice within his diocese.
Todd, I see you utterly fail to engage me on the ecclesiastical law argument or the Papal example on Corpus Christi. You might want to check out the Westminster Cathedral website, too, and see that their famous choir sings a daily solemn Mass. Usually a polyphonic Mass. Unless of course you wish to accuse all the Catholic bishops of Westminster since 1969 of disobedience? And, no, they did not have to exempt their own cathedral from a law which doesn't exist (i.e. against a choral Sanctus)--something which they couldn't have done anyway if it was truly a universal law (as in the case against glass flagons).
Really your position is rather quaint. This sort of "power to the people--people cannot 'participate' unless they are moving their lips" view belongs to the 60's and 70's. Even a liberal like the late Basil Cardinal Hume would have reprobated it.
It is also doctrinaire. The majority of Masses at Westminster, for example, would have people saying or singing the Ordinary (they have 3-4 Masses a day, I believe, of which one is the Choral High Mass). So do you mean it is verboten for the choir to sing full Mass ordinaries from the Church's treasury of sacred music (which Vatican II said must be preserved) just so people in the nave can say the texts in every instance?
It seems we conservatives, who want both the options of congregational and choral prayer to be fostered are far more---liberal.
Podatus, nice try, my friend.
"I see you utterly fail to engage me on the ecclesiastical law argument ..."
Well, if you don't read the Roman Missal, I can see why.
" ... or the Papal example on Corpus Christi."
The papal liturgist also says that Latin is a dead issue for the modern Church.
"You might want to check out the Westminster Cathedral website, too, and see that their famous choir sings a daily solemn Mass. Usually a polyphonic Mass. Unless of course you wish to accuse all the Catholic bishops of Westminster since 1969 of disobedience?"
Disobedience? Hardly. But the practice, especially if consistent, is not in keeping with the Roman Missal. Beautiful music, no doubt, but not within the bounds of what is envisioned by the Roman Missal.
"Really your position is rather quaint."
Not really. I think the insistence that the traditional Mass propers remain the ideal musical high points of the Mass is backward.
"This sort of "power to the people--people cannot 'participate' unless they are moving their lips" view belongs to the 60's and 70's. Even a liberal like the late Basil Cardinal Hume would have reprobated it."
You said it; not me. The Roman Missal says flat out the people join the priest in singing the Sanctus. It's hard to worm one's way around that and justify a consistent use of a choral Sanctus. Additionally, Sacrosanctum Concilium and the Roman Missal give frequent emphasis on communal participation. IGRM 86, for example, explains that assembly singing during Communion reinforces the communal nature of the sacrament by "unity of their voices."
"The majority of Masses at Westminster, for example, would have people saying or singing the Ordinary (they have 3-4 Masses a day, I believe, of which one is the Choral High Mass)."
First, the people should be singing. IGRM was very insistent on music as the norm for Sunday and holy day Masses. The practice that there would be no singing at such Masses was criticized even more strongly in the latest edition. Second, there is no such official thing as a "Choral High Mass." Vatican II reforms essentially put the burden on parishes, pastors, and liturgy folk to ensure every Sunday or holy day Mass was a "High Mass," with all the best efforts and resources that could be poured into the celebration. If anything, the olden practice of putting all of one's resources into a single Mass is quaint. Not to mention inconsiderate for people who happen not to be able to worship with the big choir (or might choose not to).
"So do you mean it is verboten for the choir to sing full Mass ordinaries from the Church's treasury of sacred music (which Vatican II said must be preserved) just so people in the nave can say the texts in every instance?"
Nope. Again, I didn't say "every instance." You've misread my posts. I said a consistent practice of excluding people from singing where the Roman Missal intends would be wrong. Vatican II didn't say where or how our treasury of sacred music was to be preserved. It also said plainsong takes precedence over polyphony.
"It seems we conservatives, who want both the options of congregational and choral prayer to be fostered are far more---liberal."
Hardly. Your insistence on singing a choral Mass whenever you please is far from liberal. Choral prayer has a place. A good choir will enhance the worship of others. There is no real lack of opportunity for a choir to shine at Mass. And a good choir might not need to "abuse" a captive audience on Sunday; they would be able to draw a signifcant audience for a concert.
Getting back to the Cathedral Singers. I would hope they provide for congregational singing when they sing at Mass. I'd be disappointed if their director weren't able to come up with better moments during Mass to showcase their talent and repertoire. Music serves the Church, not the other way around. Your attempt to paint as extremists those who want to emphasize the servant role, Podatus, just doesn't work. We want good choirs and good repertoire. We don't have to trample over the liturgy to get them.
There are so many popular myths out there about what is and is not permitted by authoritative liturgical law, and the claim that a polyphonic Sanctus is always and forever forbidden in the Roman Rite ranks high among these myths.
As this discussion above shows, a full article detailing the claims and counterclaims concerning the polyphonic Sanctus needs to be written, but let me just draw attention to the passage in Msgr. Richard J. Schuler's own definitive (and too-little circulated) account of the years before, during, and after the Missal was revised: A Chronicle of the Reform (from Cum Angelis Canere: Essays on Sacred Music and Pastoral Liturgy in Honour of Richard J. Schuler, Robert A. Skeris, ed., St. Paul MN: Catholic Church Music Associates, 1990, Appendix—6, pp. 349-419. Originally published in Sacred Music in seven parts.
He writes:
"Pope Paul VI himself took an active part in determining the final draft" of Musicam Sacram; and the footnote [#24 in the linked edition] continues as follows: "It is said that Pope Paul, in his own hand, wrote that he saw no reason why a polyphonic Sanctus could not be sung, thus correcting the false claim of the liturgists who wished to make that hymn into an acclamation always to be sung by the congregation. The Pope preserved the integrity of the Missa Romana cantata."
I suppose someone might still argue that the Pope's own intentions should be brushed aside, but these arguments and tactics can become tiresome. I'm also struck by the reality that one can, today, hear a polyphonic Sanctus in many cathedrals around the world and in increasing numbers of regular parishes as well. Are we really supposed to believe that all these people are somehow acting contrary to the will of the Church? The issue of chant vs. polyphony in the Ordinary, like so many issues of music in liturgy today, are clearly to be determined by pastoral considerations (with due regard for local law).
Jeffrey, I think my point is that a *consistent* use of a choral Sanctus is an abuse, not its occasional use in a "concert Mass." If the general approval for such a performance existed, it would have been written into the latest edition of IGRM. It is not.
On occasions in which a director saw serious need to perform a Sanctus to the exclusion of the assembly, I would hope she or he would balance such a choice with planning congregational music at another time. That strikes me as a pastorally sensible approach that is respectful of the liturgy as well as the active exterior participation called for throughout the liturgy documents of this past century.
Todd,
It's not always necessary for you to have the final word. You could let it go from time to time.
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