tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30490922.post4657965234271759048..comments2024-03-26T12:56:54.350+00:00Comments on LMS Chairman: Westminster Cathedral Choir is in perilLatin Mass Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17951084157414901564noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30490922.post-66911494511111574632020-09-18T09:54:35.269+01:002020-09-18T09:54:35.269+01:00Here is a letter I sent to the catholic press (unp...Here is a letter I sent to the catholic press (unpublished) with a certain tongue in cheek flavour.<br /><br />Sir.<br /><br />In contrast to the uproar created amongst the parents of the choristers of Westminster Cathedral Choir as a result of the proposed changes to the choir school, I wish to add a more positive note. <br /><br />In Catholic Churches all over the world, and for some fifty years now, the Church liturgical experts have tried to make the Mass more relevant to the beliefs and daily lives of ordinary people and that does not include plainsong and the works of William Byrd and Palestrina. During this time Catholic choirmasters have battled to save the deposit of sublime music handed down to us from antiquity. Unfortunately they are fighting a losing battle because the clergy, most of whom have been educated in post-Vatican II seminaries, have been indoctrinated with the notion that the Mass comprises the three ‘C’s: Communication, Celebration and Commitment. This is the governing principle now prevalent amongst Catholic Priests and has resulted in a transformation of Catholic culture.<br /><br />Most of the beautiful music which is sung by the choir of Westminster Cathedral was definitely not written for the new English Mass and it simply isn’t good enough for the choir to be singing Missa Papae Marcelli whilst, in the sanctuary of the cathedral, the celebrants are sitting down and looking at their watches. The music and the liturgy should be in complete unity and complement one another and a visit to a sung Tridentine Mass will demonstrate how this is achieved. <br /><br />Perhaps many of the faithful who attend the Cathedral services enjoy the music but the Mass is not some form of entertainment which excludes people who don’t like classical music. <br /><br />The Cathedral choir had always been under threat from the liturgists who feel, rightly in my view, that in the English Mass different music is required and the choir should not be so remote from the proceedings, stuck out of sight well behind the main altar. It might be a better idea to place it at the back of the cathedral in order to lead the congregation in the communal singing. <br /><br />Now that the Church has embraced the English Mass it is logical that Westminster Cathedral should also embrace the new music which emphasises the element of dialogue and communication with the faithful. A choir of such international renown is not necessarily needed for this purpose.<br /><br />Yours faithfully,<br /><br /><br /><br />Joseph Bevan LLB<br />Joseph Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10641535949657460105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30490922.post-38530672139411196762020-09-17T09:59:22.066+01:002020-09-17T09:59:22.066+01:00It seems that some people are determined to stamp ...It seems that some people are determined to stamp out any remaining vestige of Catholic sacred practice, perhaps because it does have a profound and enduring spiritual impact on the faithful, those who sing and those who listen. These are truly enemies of God who would bring ruination to such an exalted institution. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679235017879473485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30490922.post-9494510689651483612020-09-17T09:45:05.462+01:002020-09-17T09:45:05.462+01:00This is just the final act in a situation which be...This is just the final act in a situation which began after Vatican 2. I was a chorister in Newcastle in my very young life (I'm now 82). I was not a cathedral chorister but at St Michael's Church in the urban area. There were several great choirs in the diocese; St Mary's Cathedral (under Bishop Lindsay's father), St Michael's (under Joe Gribbin), St Dominic's (under Mr Malia), St Bede's in Jarrow (under Gerard McNally). These were amazing choirs of boys & men & we even had a competition at which each choir sang 3 motets. Not only did these choirs provide a wonderful musical accompaniment to either Missa Cantata or Missa Solemnis each & every Sunday, they also brought young boys into a sacred atmosphere which served them all their lives. Vatican 2 has, quite rightly IMHO, been blamed for many of the worst things to happen in our Church but surely the fact that young boys & men are no longer subjected to the beauties of the Mass & liturgy must rank very near the top. It is to be hoped that the main perpetrators of this disaster have answered to God. David O'Neillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04023042558615821880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30490922.post-34113790027664339872020-09-16T16:11:36.790+01:002020-09-16T16:11:36.790+01:00Thanks, Dr Shaw, for this explanation, which is ve...Thanks, Dr Shaw, for this explanation, which is very helpful. Damian Thompson has a useful podcast on the situation: https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcast/westminster-cathedral-and-an-act-of-spiritual-vandalismSue Simshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976537787708670241noreply@blogger.com