I’ve been exploring chant tones for the liturgy of the hours recently in an effort to understand better how to read them, and maybe even to learn to chant them a bit on my own (much to my neighbor’s dismay I’m sure.) This morning I noticed an article posted about sacred music in an address given by Pope Francis to the Scholae Cantorum of the Italian Saint Cecilia Association. In it he says:
Paul VI wanted you to be renewed and active for a music that is integrated with the liturgy and draws its fundamental characteristics from it. Not just any music, but a holy music, because the rites are holy; adorned with the nobility of art, because for God we must give the best; universal, so that everyone can understand and celebrate.
He then goes on to quote Paul the VI:
Not everything is valid, not everything is lawful, not everything is good. Here the sacred music must be joined with the beautiful in a harmonious and devout synthesis.
I think this next part is the most interesting to me personally, as both a fan of Gregorian Chant and someone very interested in liturgical music/prayer:
An Association that is not the originator or owner of any music, but has love and fidelity to the Church as its program. Together you can devote yourselves better to song as an integral part of the Liturgy, with Gregorian chant inspiring you as the first model. Take care together for artistic and liturgical preparation, and promote the presence of the schola cantorum in every parish community.
What do you think? Is Gregorian chant the way to go? Will it restore a sense of the sacred to what is happening at Mass? Or is it going backward musically?
Click this link to read the original article at ChantCafe.Com.