Sunday, March 11, 2007

A wonderful lesson on Sacred Music

I found a great informational FAQ page on sacred music.
Frequently Asked Questions on Sacred Music from the Church Music Association of America
This is a great resource for the importance of Gregorian chant and the characteristics of sacred music now and throughout history. Of particular interest is the question of two documents put out by the U.S. Bishops Committee on the Liturgy which, as this informational excerpt states, were at odds with other church documents. The following is found in the document Music in Catholic Worship(1972, rev. 1983):
“the musical settings of the past are usually not helpful models for
composing truly liturgical pieces today” (¶51)—a position
that finds no support in any official teaching.
In contrast, Sacrosanctum Concilium teaches that
“the treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and
cultivated with great care” (¶114).

I found it to be very direct and informative. Worth taking the time to read.

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