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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

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“And thus, when we renounce for Thee | Its restless aims and fears, | The tender mem’ries of the past, | The hopes of coming years, | Poor is our sacrifice, whose eyes | Are lighted from above; | We offer what we cannot keep, | What we have ceased to love.”

— Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman

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