I mentioned over at the Musica Sacra Forum that between visiting two Masses as “Music Director” not leader on Trinity Sunday I had the inclination to walk across the boulevard to check out the 9am Service at the megachurch Assembly of God. I didn’t actually enter their sanctuary, but observed from cozy nooks with large flat screens and state of the art audio setups that ostensibly serve as cry rooms in the main “narthex.” I have to simply say that I was underwhelmed by the couple of songs that were stretched beyond their usefulness for P&W in my estimation, and then by the less than deft transition to the opening prayer by the pastor who serves as the church’s CFO. So I was relieved when a couple and their infant pulled up in their Escalade-like stroller and slinked out and back to the second Mass. I didn’t want to really fisk out what little I’d observed there, it wouldn’t be fair. But this morning my eye caught a headline link to an article at the eminent Catholic blog/magazine, First Things: “In Praise of Praise Music” by Stephen H. Webb, one of their contributing columnists. As First Things is primarily a subscription-based publication, I won’t reprint much of the article at all. However, Mr. Webb made four rather pointed concerns that compel me to respond. I was mildly surprised that his article was accepted by the editorship for its content alone, but hey, who am I to question authority? He does qualify the context of his premise by this quote:
A note to the trads no doubt already heading for the comments: I am not talking about liturgical music.
Let’s look at his concerns. I will try to be brief with my remarks.
So why do so many Christians have such a condescending attitude toward praise music?
Because, for the most part, within or without it’s context as a congealing agent in a worship serve, it barely qualifies as “music” in the first place. Even the maligned (on YouTube) Kanon in D has melodic expeditions that are purposeful attempts to demonstrate how many layers of clothing the otherwise naked emperor can bear to wear. Webb makes a comparison between the “authenticity” of Stairway to Heaven trumping “Here I am to worship” without realizing that the Zepplin staple is a cornucopia of harmonic fruits versus the praise tune’s “Heart and Soul” progression of chords, over and over. Pachelbel, where are you when you’re really needed? Kanon is for many an anesthetic itself even fully realized. “Here I am….” is an ever increasing morphine drip when what the soul needs is an adrenaline shot to the heart; John Travolta, where are you when we need you?
All I am saying is that praise music should have a significant place in every Christian’s heart—or at least in their iPods.
This declaration has a much legs as the equally ineffective plea of my teen hero John Lennon’s plea “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” No, no, no. Praise music, to continue the above analogy, at best should be a mild and occasional palliative to be used to alleviate stress and strain, maybe. But if my heart is aching for any reason, depending upon what my mind and my soul determine ought to be the direction my emotional needs should take, on one extreme I’d rather have Barber’s “Adagio” express empathy for my angst, or Prokoviev’s (how im-Modest of me! H/T to John O) Mussogrsky’s* “Great Gate of Kiev” filling my eardrums as a sympathetic relief. Heck, even if I’m at peace, great chant such as from Heilingenkreuz Abbey, is a much better accompaniment to my soul through my earphones than MW Smith’s “Breathe.”
The words are too simple, direct, and demanding, the emotions too transparent.
For those who say rock and praise can’t coexist, listen to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
*Darn Russki’s, can’t keep ’em straight unless they’re Armenian! Oh, wait a minute, was the film scorer Dmitri Tiomkin or Dmitri Potemkin? Fuggedaboutit, I’m gonna go Khatchaturian, if I can find one.
Yay! Another great read by Mr. C. Just one thing…"Great Gate of Kiev" is by Mussorsky (sorry!) From what I've read/heard of P&W music, it's really the ultimate American sacred music of the early 21st century: Keep it simple, make me happy, and don't you DARE make me think! Oh, the humanity!
I am not talking about liturgical music.
Yeah, but you are what you eat; and if one lives on a constant diet of what is essentially the music of secular therapeutic culture with lyrics that daub a thin veneer of Christianity on it, the soul starves.
Why can't I play Van Halen's "Eruption" during the elevation of the host!?!?!?!?!?
r
I had a colleague who referred to that as "musical McDonalds." Made you feel real good, but not good for you (as a musician)…
<font color=purple> r, it's right there is SC 666: Power chording (with or without shredding) may attend the elevation of the host on alternating Sundays provided a suitable classical voluntary (ie. "Also sprach Zarathustra") is employed similarly by appropriate instruments.*
*Tambourine may not be substituted for tympany on such occasions, as per Sir Thomas Beecham's recommendation. (source-Msgr. Bugnini, Seance consultation June 6, 1966, Budapest)</font color=purple>
Darn, not all html works here!
RC, you may want to let folks know about our purple prose = humorous remark to follow.
It only makes you feel good if you like kvetching.
<font color=purple>I think it works</font>, but you closed the declaration with the wrong tag (should have been </font>, not </font color=purple>).
Well, well, well. It doesn't work … sort of like that P&W music.doesn't work for me.
MussorGsky
Gar! And of course before that I was playing through Moszkowski! (I know, I know Russian vs. Polish…)
Yeah, I'm impressed. I'm going to go home and throw my Libers and Graduales away and go find a Les Paul to play on for the liturgy at my church from now on………………………………………………………………………………………..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jsNd5YarWo
No, I don't want to encourage using colors to indicate moods like irony or whatever. It's not as clear as using smiley-face symbols such as 🙂 , which is widely understood with no explanation needed.
Darn, I couldn't get "Hammy" up via link or direct YouTube!
I wouldn't throw the books away, C, but I'd opt for a Flying V over the Les Paul, Paul Stanley being much more in vogue now than Slash.
Dear. dear Charles. I'm so glad you are back!
You are so sweet, dear Dr. Jenny. I tear up remembering that you and so many other dear friends were there in SD when I underwent my "baptism" and totally slain by the spirit of the chant!
It was a brilliant day- at a funeral where the family only requested three "standards" I risked it with the presider, our new pastor, by chanting the Dies Irae (yes, in the NO @ Offertory, yes I know.) But he got it, they got it, I got it, and oh did I pray for the soul of the gentleman who passed in the finest way I could!
God bless his soul, and all those of the faithful departed through the mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
First time I've chanted it at an individual's service, and the pastor was fine with it!
I love good praise and worship music, just as I love Palestrina. One does not preclude the other. Yes there are some vapid praise and worship songs and yes there is some vapid traditional music in our churches. There are people who will never be able to relate to Palestrina and there are people who will never relate to contemporary worship music. If it edifies the heart and soul then God is in it. 🙂