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Views from the Choir Loft

Guest Article: “Why That Hymn Doesn’t Work”

Guest Author · September 5, 2016

Note: As a volunteer who loves liturgy but lacks formal training in music, I rely on advice from CCW contributors regarding guest articles. The following submission by Fr. Thompson was interesting because, while several contributors were critical, they unanimously said, “But please post it, because thoughtful articles like this generate beneficial discussion.” Feel free to let Fr. Thompson know your thoughts here. —J. G.


149 Hymnal OST OF US involved with parish music don’t have doctorates in musicology or in the history of liturgy. So how can we convincingly articulate our objections to particular pieces of music, whether hymns or Mass settings? I offer twelve criteria to aid in communicating precisely why you find certain music suitable or unsuitable for use at Mass. Certainly it is better to bring clear principles to the discussion rather than simply shouting, “Because I don’t like it!”

These criteria fall into two categories: Music (criteria 1-8) and Lyrics (criteria 9-12). Each criterion has two poles; the closer to Pole 1 the more suitable for congregational singing, the closer to Pole 2 the less suitable.

Criterion 1 : Range.

Pole 1 Less than an octave; Pole 2 More than an octave.

Criterion 2 : Maximum Intervals.

Pole 1 A Perfect 5th or less; Pole 2 Greater than a Perfect 5th.

Criterion 3 : Syncopation.

Pole 1 No syncopation; Pole 2 Highly syncopated.

Criterion 4 : Accidentals.

Pole 1 No accidentals; Pole 2 Chromaticisms.

Criterion 5 : Metrical Variation.

Pole 1 No variation; Pole 2 One or mere meter changes.

Criterion 6 : Proportion of Maximum to Minimum Note Length.

Pole 1 Two to one; Pole 2 Four (or more) to one.

Criterion 7 : Stylistic Genre.

Pole 1 Dedicated sacred; Pole 2 Secular/popular.

Criterion 8 : Congruent Connection with Liturgical Action.

Pole 1 Consistent compatibility; Pole 2 Disparity.

Criterion 9 : Enunciation.

Pole 1 Easy to declaim; Pole 2 difficult to declaim.

Criterion 10 : Aesthetic Beauty.

Pole 1 Poetic/evocative; Pole 2 Prosaic/trite.

Criterion 11 : Conformity to Church Teaching.

Pole 1 Unimpeachably orthodox; Pole 2 Doctrinally sketchy.

Criterion 12 : Wisdom & Theological Depth.

Pole 1 Expresses profound universal truth; Pole 2 Expresses moralistic platitudes.

We would award an excellent degree of suitability to those musical selections which have the higher number of criteria that are closer to Pole 1 than Pole 2. A preponderance of criteria closer to Pole 2 would be deemed not very suitable for use in the liturgy. For example, a highly syncopated and chromatic melody of wide range, containing 3 metrical changes, in a recognizably popular style whose lyrics are trite and cliched, would not be very suitable. Whereas a selection having an easy range of less than an octave, an uncomplicated meter whose musical style is recognizably that of sacred music, distinctly fits the liturgical action of its place in the Mass, and is poetic and theologically rich as well, would be highly suitable for use in the liturgy.

My hope is that these criteria help us all more readily articulate the relative worth of music proposed for Mass.


We hope you enjoyed this guest article by Fr. James Thompson, O.P.

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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Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Finally, let us not forget that listening especially is active participation. When we listen to the performances of Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, we can fully participate actively in the Passion of Christ. And so, if we listen attentively to the singing and organ music during the celebration of the divine services, our participation is not less complete. The real significance of this objective and very important aspect is insufficiently understood.”

— Flor Peeters

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