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Views from the Choir Loft

Understanding

Aurelio Porfiri · January 27, 2015

418 Traditional Latin Mass NE OF THE MORE SERIOUS problems for church musicians is dealing with those who demand that the liturgy be understood by everyone. Now, this is a tricky concept and must be handled with care.

Of course we want everyone to be able to participate in the liturgy in the most proper way, and so we aim for a spiritual understanding of the same liturgy. But the demands of these people are often of a different nature. They believe that participation means understanding word-for-word, and doing as much as possible. But by requiring this, they condemn the liturgy to a dramatic immanentism.

Immanentism means that there is no reality beyond what we know, so God and the world are the same thing. But if God is not outside the world how He can possibly save it?

Reducing the understanding of the liturgy to a pragmatic dimension avoids taking into account the biggest dimension of the liturgy: the invisible one. In the antiphon for the Epiphany—VENITE OMNES POPULI—we observe that we are asked to glorify the invisibile mysterium (“invisible mystery”). The spiritual and invisible dimension cannot be understood except through the eyes of faith, and calling for this sort of total understanding of everything happening in the liturgy would be a betrayal of what the liturgy is.

After the consecration the priest asks us to proclaim the mystery of faith. We have listened to the words of consecration, but the mystery happening there goes much beyond the simple understanding of the words said. Music—when it is good liturgical music—helps create a reverent atmosphere that allows us to penetrate, a little bit, this incomprehensible abyss.

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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Aurelio Porfiri

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

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“How can we account for differences in the Gospel accounts? Well, suppose after we left Church today, there was a terrible accident or explosion or fire. Soon the news media would be here, interviewing people as to what they saw or heard. Each person would probably say or report what struck him—or what he saw or noticed. All these reports would be different and yet they would be true.”

— Fr. Valentine Young (February 2019)

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