I have a confession to make. I realize this may step on some very musically oriented toes...that sounds weird. Anyway, I have personally HAD IT (and this is my weakness) with 1960s/1970s/80s folksy style songs during Mass. There are some exceptions to this rule but generally speaking these songs are delightfully, singable, catchy, and nearly void of meaning and spiritual and theological MEAT. These songs tend to be gently lilting, milk-toasty, and impotent. As I have taken the time to explore some of the old hymns of the Church more in detail of late I have found myself longing for the depth and faith-inspiring lyrics to the older hymns. Ill continue.... I was personally in a praise band when I was an Evangelical/Protestant. The reasoning behind us continually staying on the cutting edge of music was to keep things current with the times. We were good...great in fact...we sounded like a mix of U2 and R.E.M...people like it when we played...they would even come specifically to a particular service to hear us. I started to feel like we were missing the point and helping others to do the same. Why do people gather? Entertainment? Around their own preferences? Or to worship and give attention and reflection to The Living God? I understand that some believe we have to make things appealing to the younger crowd. My argument is the old hymns are just as appealing, have a higher minded catechetical quality...and wont make anyone feel as if they should be standing around a camp-fire instead of around the altar! Now, understand me, Im not suggesting we abandon guitars, drums, etc and go strictly back to the pipe-organ and choirs...although this would be my preference. The band I was in...we often would pull out old hymns and play them with our Rock-band instruments. I would say that these created a unique sound without sacrificing content. Anyway, rant is over...much more I could say about this. I understand that the Church has been marinating in this same hippie-dippy sludge for a long time and she is often delicate, careful and slow to turn corners...but I think the time has come to take a good hard starboard turn back to the music being as much about meaning as about, singability. Some might say, How far do you go back? I would say that anything prior to the 1960s would be pretty safe. Bring the music back! https://youtube/watch?v=cObXwn-EgGY
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 16:26:19 +0000
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