Standard hamburger basics.

The "Pieces of Music" post concerning the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's annual Laudate conference, by which aspiring Catholic musicians are presumptively trained, generated a lively discussion. Two comments worth highlighting came from Ten Reasons "den mothers" Jackie and Maureen. Here's Jackie's:

I think its clear from all the different documents quoted that as far as music is concerned -

1. Gregorian Chant has pride of place in the Liturgy

2. Other music is permitted

I think, starting with #2, most would agree that this doesn't mean that all musical styles or instruments are appropriate. The real work here is determining what is appropriate.

I think #1 would look like having chant in all parishes, at most Sunday Masses, much of the time.

I also think that pride of place’ means FIRST or most important. A way to tell if a musical conference is faithfully following the idea of Pride of Place is that Chant would always be at the conference. And not just one small class to ‘check the box’ but a majority!

Now - to be clear - I don't know if this conference had sessions on chant. (I looked for the list of classes and didn't find it.) If it did not, I'm not saying that the folks that organized it are evil or heretics.

What I am saying is that if there was no chant offered - in fact I would think 50% of the offerings, I don't know how this event is following what has been proclaimed by Vatican II – that Chant has pride of place and that all efforts – certainly ones sponsored by the Archdiocese should be working in that direction.

That might be seen as promoting an agenda not consistent with Church teaching – simply through omission.

And now an excerpt from Maureen's:

Vatican II mandated that all parishes teach all Catholics how to make the basic Latin responses which belong to the people, and to teach them how to sing them.

So it would be logical if every parish music program began with these basics. It would be logical if a diocesan music workshop for young people included such things as remedial education for anybody who hadn't happened to learn the basics.

But usually, Catholic post-Vatican II music programs don't, just as a whole honking lot of pre-Vatican II music programs didn't. The reform has been blithely ignored in the main. Sometimes these things are included as extra enrichment, as I got some of it, but not as the standard hamburger basics.

You can say similar things about the mandate that chant be used, the strong encouragement of polyphony, and sadly, even the strong encouragement of organ as the most suitable instrument when instruments are used.

Shrug. But of course, we live in a society where basics of math and reading are routinely turned into extras or too much trouble. So it doesn't surprise me that other basics are likewise neglected. So much easier to chase the buzzwords of the moment....