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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

QfoR (“Questions From Our Readers”) • A New Series

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 2, 2022

Question Submitted on 1 August 2022
I am the music director at ————. I also sang in the EWTN choir for about eight years. As much as I love polyphony and chant (and believe they are truly beautiful and holy), your offerings of Mass parts such as these leave me feeling frustrated and confused. If we are to promote the full, active, and conscious participation of the assembly in the Mass, how do we justify singing Mass parts that the assembly can’t possibly sing? It’s always been my understanding that these Mass parts belong to the people. Do you have any suggestions on practical ways this kind of music can be used in a typical parish? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Response by D. F. F.

Vatican II • You ask: “How do we justify singing Mass parts that the assembly can’t possibly sing?” It is true Vatican II said Gregorian Chant should have “first place” (principem locum) in liturgical services, demonstrating clearly that the council fathers believed pieces sung in Latin were not a hindrance to “fully conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations.” The council also specifically and explicitly praised polyphony (Sacrosanctum Concilium §116). Moreover, Vatican II said: “The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art” (Sacrosanctum Concilium §112). Then the council fathers said: “The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care” (Sacrosanctum Concilium §114). In several other places, the council fathers addressed choral singing; e.g. “Choirs must be diligently promoted” (Sacrosanctum Concilium §114).

Clear Verdict • Normal human beings—provided they can read—will understand what Vatican II meant by the declarations cited above. For example, “preserved and fostered with great care” does not mean “denigrated and eliminated.” When the council fathers said choirs “must be diligently promoted,” the meaning is clear. Vatican II spoke of the Roman Catholic “[musical] treasure of inestimable value”—and the most important components of that treasury (most would agree) are the Mass settings by great composers. Palestrina composed something like 120 Mass settings. And we can’t forget about Josquin, Guerrero, Lassus, Victoria, Mozart, and so many others. In other words, Vatican II did not say: “Some parts of the treasury are fine, but other parts are deficient and must be eliminated.” Therefore, it seems impossible to accept the view that choral settings of the Mass Ordinary—such as the one you cite—would be prohibited.

“Participatio Actuosa” • How much should the congregation sing? How much should the choir sing? Choirmasters who have been ‘in the trenches’ generally agree it is not advisable to have congregations sing too much. They should not sing everything. (To force them to sing everything might even damage their voices.) Rather, they should sing certain things—and sing them well. The definitive statement on participatio actuosa (“active participation”) was written by Monsignor Robert A. Skeris:

*  PDF Download • “Participatio Actuosa” (17 pages)
—Published by Dr. Robert A. Skeris in 1973.

People’s Parts • We highly recommend that article by Monsignor Skeris, especially since it deals with the famous question of partes quae ad populum spectant (“parts that concern the people”). Essentially, the Holy Mass consists of certain texts and prayers that must be proclaimed in a new time and space. Whether these texts are proclaimed by the Deacon, the Celebrant, the Cantor, the Choir, or the Congregation does not invalidate them in any way.

Addendum • We believe that Corpus Christi Watershed has done a great deal to provide dignified settings that can be sung by the congregation. Consider Richard J. Clark’s “Mass in Honor of Pope Saint John Paul II,” which was included in the fifth edition of the famous SAINT MICHAEL HYMNAL. Jeff Ostrowski recently featured four Mass settings that work well with congregations. Other contributors to Corpus Christi Watershed have also written vernacular Mass settings which can be sung by congregtions.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: partes quae ad populum spectant, Questions From Our Readers Last Updated: August 2, 2022

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Corpus Christi Watershed

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!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —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. — One of our volunteer choirs also sang that SANCTUS on 24 September 2023, and you can listen to how that came out.
    —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

“Liberalism in religion is the doctrine that there is no positive truth in religion, but that one creed is as good as another… It teaches that all are to be tolerated, for all are matters of opinion. Revealed religion is not a truth, but a sentiment and a taste; not an objective fact, not miraculous; and it is the right of each individual to make it say just what strikes his fancy. […] Men may go to Protestant Churches and to Catholic, may get good from both and belong to neither.”

— Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman (May of 1879)

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