I know this guy who has really traditional views about the reformed liturgy and whose great project in life is promoting Latin chant. But he comes from a place which is, or at least used to be, kinda liberal, so I sometimes wonder if he’s really with the program. Since we are fellow Christians I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt and build bridges if possible. Below is something he wrote on the GIA website with my comments in [boldface brackets].
The Second Vatican Council stated [I’m glad he starts with an authoritative document of the Magisterium] that the faithful should be able to sing the ordinary parts of the Mass in Latin (see Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 54). [Sure is good to see GIA finally emphasizing this statement of Vatican II.] Catholic congregations in most parts of the world sing at least a few chants in Latin. [I think he’s saying, if everyone else can do it, why can’t we Americans?] But in the U.S., for the most part we have a ways to go in fulfilling SC 54. [Might as well name the problem honestly.] One need not look far to find resources for basic congregational Latin chant—every major Catholic hymnal or worship aid includes basic congregational Latin chants. [We should credit the big publishers, often unfairly demonized, for giving us what we need to get started.] The easiest places to start are with the Kyrie [stop the outcries, faux purists – yes, this is a Latin word and it’s in my Latin dictionary, even though it came from another language, sort of like “garage” and “angst” came from French and German but you’ll find them in your English dictionary] and the Agnus Dei. Then one might advance to the Sanctus and perhaps the Pater Noster. [It’s a steep curve for most of our parishes who aren’t singing this stuff, but he’s prodding us on, and giving us practical advice for how to advance.] The Gloria and Credo are more difficult because of their length. [Wow, he’s putting even these challenging gems out there for congregational use.] In any event, slow progress and pastoral sensitivity are advised. [This is politically savvy. Fast progress which elicits resistance and ill will and ends up being entirely dismantled by the pastor is no progress at all. Slow progress is actually much quicker.] There are several collections with more extensive congregational repertoire: Iubilate Deo, Liber Cantualis, and Kyriale Simplex. [He keeps setting the goal higher and giving us ever more to strive for.] GIA publishes an edition of an earlier version of Iubilate Deo in modern notation: Jubilate Deo. [Folks, there are so many resources out there, you really have no excuse any more. Tiny point you might not have noticed, but he spells Iubilate correctly when referring to the Vatican edition, but then he uses the spelling GIA inadvertantly used for their edition of it, while kindly refraining from pointing out their error.]
But maybe I’m naïve. I just found another commentary, and now I think that maybe this uncovers what the guy is really up to:
The Second Vatican Council stated [actually, it still says this] that the faithful should be able to sing the ordinary parts of the Mass in Latin (see Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 54). [It says that “steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them. This is important because it makes clear that the Latin language is the important issue, not the chant settings. What steps have been taken by GIA to achieve this?] Catholic congregations in most parts of the world sing at least a few chants in Latin. [“Look! It’s being done elsewhere so we don’t have to worry about it!] But in the U.S., for the most part we have a ways to go in fulfilling SC 54. [Perhaps the understatement of the century…] One need not look far to find resources for basic congregational Latin chant—every major Catholic hymnal or worship aid includes basic congregational Latin chants. [OK…so they’re really token inclusions, but so what?] The easiest places to start are with the Kyrie [which in fact is in Greek] and the Agnus Dei. Then one might advance to the Sanctus and perhaps the Pater Noster. [Take note of the language here…”one need not look far”…”one might advance”…rather than “you can find”…or “you can then advance”. In other words, “one could do this if one were so inclined, but not YOU.] The Gloria and Credo are more difficult because of their length. [so…don’t ever attempt to sing them in Latin? We should never try anything difficult?] In any event, slow progress and pastoral sensitivity are advised. [Good Lord!…why would slow progress be advised? I don’t see any descriptions of works in their choral anthem catalogues claiming “One might sing this for the Sunday after Easter, but only after careful pastoral consideration. If one’s choir is successful in introducing this work, one might then advance to the more difficult selections, but do so slowly.”] There are several collections with more extensive congregational repertoire: Iubilate Deo, Liber Cantualis, and Kyriale Simplex. [But since we just told you that it should take a long, long, long time to introduce even the basic congregational chants included in our fine hymnals, why would you ever need a more extensive congregational repertoire?] GIA publishes an edition of an earlier version of Iubilate Deo in modern notation: Jubilate Deo. [We’re not going to tell you what this is or why it might be useful….just that we do publish it. Notice that we replaced the difficult Latin “Iubilate” with the much more accessible “Jubilate”.]
.
So who understands the guy? That’s the interpretational conundrum. I leave it to your judgment. It might help if you know that I am the author of both the GIA post and the first commentary above.
awr
Leave a Reply