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Views from the Choir Loft

Cake or Frosting?

Andrew Leung · August 27, 2015

CTL Cake AST WEEK, I posted about the danger of confusing Praise and Worship and the actual Worship, the Liturgy. My post and the article on the LifeTeen blog led to some intense discussions. The discussions were mainly on the meaning of the term “Worship”. The term itself might have different meanings based on different religions and dictionaries. But in the Roman Catholic tradition, it has always meant the Liturgy, that is the Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, Sacraments, Exposition and Benediction. Because of that, the term “Worship” should not be watered down to just any prayer meeting, like praise with guitars and drums.

During our discussion, this following line came up:

I find praise and worship odd when the Blessed Sacrament is not present.

I do not wish to discuss whether praise music should be sung during Exposition and other liturgies because that is not the point of this post. I would like to focus on the sentence above objectively. I have heard similar lines from people many times when I was in Steubenville. I totally understand what my friend was trying to say and some of you might think what I am about to do is just me being too picky. But bear with me.

After I read the line, I felt there is something wrong with it and it is disturbing. I tried to look at the sentence objectively and analyze the structure of the sentence: “praise and worship” is the subject and “Blessed Sacrament” is the object of the line. If the Eucharist is the source and summit, shouldn’t this sentence be reverse? Saying that the Eucharist makes praise and worship better is basically saying that praise and worship is the cake and the Eucharist is the frosting. But the truth is, the Eucharist is the cake, the source and summit, and praise and worship is the frosting, devotion that leads us to Christ.

Now, let’s apply the same idea to Sacred Music and the Liturgy. Sacred Music is the handmaid of the Liturgy. The Liturgy is the cake and Sacred Music is the frosting; Liturgical Music elevates the minds of the Faithful to God and add solemnity to the Liturgy.

OR MANY church musicians, now is the beginning of a new music season. We need to be careful not to reverse the cake and the frosting. We need to remember to “sing the Mass”, but not just “sing at Mass”. We must pray as we sing. It is not a performance, however, nice-looking frosting attracts people and “elevate people’s minds”; quality and certain level of perfection is still required. Similarly, quality and authentic Sacred Music (or as the Church said: Holy, Beautiful and Universal music) will lead people to our Lord.

Now would be a good time to learn or review how to Sing Prayerfully.

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 Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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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

“Our Christian people regard with great joy everything that contributes to the splendor of the ceremonies. Jesus—who was poor in His private life—received ointment on His feet. See Thomas Aquinas (Prima Secundae, q. 102, art. 5, ad 10) and the holy Curé of Ars. The Church has always loved beautiful churches, and so forth. We must preserve our sacred patrimony and make sure sacred objects do not become secular possessions.”

— Abbot & Council Father denouncing “noble simplicity” during Vatican II

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