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Views from the Choir Loft

Appropriate

Aurelio Porfiri · June 30, 2014

CENE ONE: today I participated in a military parade. It was wonderful, with all the marching stepped to the rhythm of an exciting waltz.

SCENE TWO: my niece returns from a rock concert. She is very excited and tells me how the band blew everyone away with a captivating performance of a Gregorian chant, while everyone was madly dancing.

Ok, now if I ask you what is strange in these two scenes, I am sure 100% of you (ok…99%) will say that soldiers do not march to the rhythm of a waltz and that a rock band is not going to entertain fans at the sound of Gregorian chant. I can only say: you are right. It seems so evident for everyone that there is no need even to discuss it.

In the same way, I have never quite understood why people think it normal to sing pop music during the liturgy. I mean, is it appropriate? Of course not. But when we ask why this is possible we are told that this is what the people like. But look: people like sex, alcohol, games, money…are we going to include all of these in our future liturgies to attract people? As I have always said the problem is not pop music. I also listen to pop music and sometimes compose songs in pop and rock style (when I compose Musicals I need to use a style that is appropriate to Musicals). The problem is not pop music, but pop music in the liturgy.

I cannot understand how some people fail to see that pop music is indeed a bearer, for the most part, of certain worldly values, and that the music and the style remain strongly associated with those values that are in direct contrast with the values and teachings of the Catholic Church. So, to bring this association directly into the heart of the church, that is the liturgy, is not a good thing.

People say that this music can be redeemed like the organ that was used by the early Romans for pagan and secular purposes. This is not true. The organ was transformed into a Christian musical instrument, and the old use was completely abandoned; but the same cannot be said for pop music when its commercial use is infinitely more pervasive and powerful than the use the Church may have with it. Why then is it so difficult to understand that there are things that are appropriate to the liturgy and things that are not? If you still are not convinced about my arguments, that’s up to you. Go out and dance wildly in three quarter time with the soldiers.


BOTTEGA • Aurelio Porfiri is where you can discover
many of Mæstro Porfiri’s compositions in PDF format.

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 Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

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Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Before any seminarian is accepted for ordination, he must not only strive for chastity but actually achieve it. He must already be living chaste celibacy peacefully and for a prolonged period of time—for if this be lacking, the seminarian and his formators cannot have the requisite confidence that he is called to the celibate life.”

— Archbishop Viganò (16 February 2019)

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