Posts Tagged ‘sacred music’

Bishop Arthur Roche speaks on the use of music in the new Mass

EX39

Chairman of ICEL Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds has called the new translation of the Mass one of the most significant moments for the English-speaking Church since the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1992.

Speaking to the Catholic Communications Network, he covered many subjects including the beauty of the language and the process of working with so many bishops in far-off lands. The interview is focused in large part on music however. He said:

“Composers who have set this new translation to music have said it is much more rhythmical. In the third edition of the Latin Roman Missal there is much more music, for the people as well as for the priest. I’m going to ask everyone in my diocese from September, to start singing the musical versions found in the new missal, of the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei and the Gloria. When you sing something it becomes more memorable, so we can use them at any celebration.”

He also gave some history of the Mass in English since Vatican II, and looked at the translation process.  In his closing comments, he states that he hoped Mass-goers would realise that when they attended,

“They were entering into a reality which is taking place in Heaven as well as here on earth.”

Music has that ability, to transport us somewhere beyond and other than the physical, in a way that words alone somehow fail to do. The Mass is the nearest we can come here on earth to communion with God; it is hoped that this new emphasis on music will bring us a little nearer still.

A double-disk music CD, And with your spirit that demonstrates how to sing the musical settings accompanying the new English translation of the Mass is now available from CTS.

Of related interest:

CD08 Our Lady of Walsingham – Archbishop Bernard Longley narrates the fascinating history of the shrine from origin, through destruction, to resurrection in modern times. Interspersed are Marian anthems and hymns sung by Schola Cantamus (conducted by Jeremy de Satgé).
RM01 Altar Missal – CTS’s Altar Missal helps bring beauty and dignity to the liturgy. It has been carefully designed in close collaboration with priests and with our Italian binders to ensure practicality, beauty and durability. This Missal, for use in England and Wales, Scotland and Australia, has a uniquely high specification at an affordable price.
LT01 Companion to the Order of Mass -The new English language translation of the Missal uncovers many links between Scripture and the Liturgy that have hitherto been obscured. Mgr Harbert explores the meaning and import of the words of the Mass, reading them in their original context in the Bible.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011 16:25

Gregorian chant the supreme model of sacred music – Pope Benedict XVI

EX39

The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music was founded in 1910 by St Pius X and began work the following year, meaning that 2011 is its 100th anniversary.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote to its chancellor, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, about music being, as Sacrosanctum Concilium had said, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful.

He also spoke of the importance and primacy of Gregorian chant in the Church’s liturgy and history, an importance which is being restated with the new translation of the Mass into English, and the encouragement that is going alongside it, to rediscover this ancient aide to worship.

The new Missal contains all the texts of the Mass set to music, so that this can be another tool for becoming more aware of God’s action.

“It is not the individual or the group that celebrates the liturgy,” said Pope Benedict. “It is primarily God’s action through the Church with the Church’s history and rich tradition.”

The Institute itself has the following aims:

“To teach the disciplines of liturgical music in terms of practical, theoretical and historical knowledge and to promote the dissemination of the traditional sacred music and encourage artistic expressions appropriate to today’s culture; to render, on behalf of the mother Church of Rome, a service to the local Churches throughout the world, as regards the training of church musicians and teachers of sacred music of tomorrow.”

The Holy Father also stressed the importance of other kinds of liturgical music and called sacred music a, “Mark of Catholic identity.”

You can read, or listen to the full story here.

A double-disk music CD, And with your spirit that demonstrates how to sing the musical settings accompanying the new English translation of the Mass is now available from CTS.

Of related interest:

CD08 Our Lady of Walsingham – Archbishop Bernard Longley narrates the fascinating history of the shrine from origin, through destruction, to resurrection in modern times. Interspersed are Marian anthems and hymns sung by Schola Cantamus (conducted by Jeremy de Satgé).
RM01 Altar Missal – CTS’s Altar Missal helps bring beauty and dignity to the liturgy. It has been carefully designed in close collaboration with priests and with our Italian binders to ensure practicality, beauty and durability. This Missal, for use in England and Wales, Scotland and Australia, has a uniquely high specification at an affordable price.
LT01 Companion to the Order of Mass -The new English language translation of the Missal uncovers many links between Scripture and the Liturgy that have hitherto been obscured. Mgr Harbert explores the meaning and import of the words of the Mass, reading them in their original context in the Bible.
Wednesday, 01 June 2011 15:30

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