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Views from the Choir Loft

Text matters

Andrew R. Motyka · December 4, 2013

HEN I WAS A TEENAGER and interested in popular music, I was always more interested in the words of songs most of my peers were. It’s not that I had a problem with the genres of pop music, but the words of the most popular songs always bothered me. When I read Mark Shea’s article “I Can’t Imagine a Dumber Song,” it struck a familiar note with me.

Words matter. A couple of weeks ago, I was preparing for an event in the diocese in which an outside group would be leading music. While creating a worship aid, I had to type this text:

You give and take away!
You give and take away!
My heart will choose to say,
“Lord, blessed be your name!”
You give and take away!
You give and take away!
My heart will choose to say,
“Lord, blessed be your name!”

I don’t want to harp too much on the texts of the liturgy. I do want to suggest, however, that our liturgical music would be greatly improved if everyone preparing its music would be forced to type out all of the texts which they had to sing. I got about a line and half into the above before I said, “What the heck is this?”

A good general rule: If it’s too inane to speak, it’s too inane to sing.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“After the Second Vatican Council, the impression arose that the pope really could do anything in liturgical matters, especially if he were acting on the mandate of an ecumenical council. Eventually, the idea of the givenness of the liturgy, the fact that one cannot do with it what one will, faded from the public consciousness of the West.”

— Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

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