tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post2841111538856308729..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: A glimpse into Vatican II Roman Catholic "hymnody"...Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-7031621951400730852013-06-28T12:30:15.310-05:002013-06-28T12:30:15.310-05:00First Anonymous: There is actually a great book ou...First Anonymous: There is actually a great book out there called "Why Catholics Can't Sing." The author lists several factors, but let me mention two: (1.) The Mr. Caruso effect, where an overtalented singer belts the song into a microphone, intimidating the assembled parish into silence, especially when he or she adds flourishes or does a quick changeup without warning. (2.) The fondness for treacly melodies that can be sung only by professionals. The contemporary music crowd, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, are fond of incorporating dotted sixteenth notes, grace notes, weird syncopation, tritones, difficult ranges, inconsistent notes from verse to verse, and the like. Meanwhile, traditional hymnody (including those written in contemporary times) tend to be musically interesting enough to avoid being monotonous while being musically simple enough to be easily learned with a little effort. I could add that I find it ironic that the music is usually printed for hymns (which are musically simpler), but contemporary songs are presented with words only (even though the music is much more demanding).James Kellermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13159737422545602449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-48956312677319743012013-06-27T22:16:50.440-05:002013-06-27T22:16:50.440-05:00"Why is it so hard for most Lutherans to sing..."Why is it so hard for most Lutherans to sing along to praise songs?"<br /><br />Because it is difficult to sing while throwing up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-65618697532239797792013-06-27T09:59:49.994-05:002013-06-27T09:59:49.994-05:00Are these "contemporary" songs for the R...Are these "contemporary" songs for the Roman Catholic church, Pastor Peters?<br /><br />Why can't Roman Catholics sing? During mass, the cantor and three or four others are perched in the balcony next to the organ, singing hymns sweetly while the rest of the congregation stands mute and stares at the altar.<br /><br />It is funny how most Lutherans do not sing during a contemporary worship service, but most Lutherans do sing during a traditional, divine service. Why is it so hard for most Lutherans to sing along to praise songs?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com