[Magdalen] Psalm - Whither Goeth Thou?

[James Oppenheimer-Crawford]

Doing it always the same way is perhaps not toxic to some folks, but it
will drive the discerning worshiper to find ways to meet their needs
elsewhere.

Compromise is a great thing to learn.  I once was at a place where the
choir did incredibly great mass settings.  And the next week, it was sing
by the congregation.  That's a great solution.

Folks want to be able to sing, but they then deprive themselves of the
sublime experience of hearing the words set by the best composers in human
history. Not choosing wisely. At All.  At All.

James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy

On Fri, Mar 13, 2015 at 10:23 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

>
>
> In a message dated 3/13/2015 8:17:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> michaudme at gmail.com writes:
>
>
> I  think of the Sanctus as the Great Rehearsal. Taking it away from
> the  congregation and handing it to a paid choir? Feh  !
> -M>>>>
>
> This is one of those areas that my late friend, Mason Martens would
> describe as "double-talk".  The RCC wanted to free up the  Ordinary
> including the Sanctus (now referred to in Rome as the  "Holy-Holy-Holy")
> for their rightful designation of/for the congregation/assembly.
>
> At the same time, Rome has always held up classical polyphony
> (unaccompanied choral) as the "ideal" for the RC Ordinary.  Rome
> since Vatican-2 has also encouraged much singing of hymns for
> the congregation, but again has always held out that the plainsong
> Proper was ideal for worship.
>
> The two positions are 180 degrees apart.
>
> Anglican high church liturgies somehow successfully put together
> congregational hymns, some sung Ordinary (such as at Scott K's
> Ascension where the Gloria is sung, and the rest of the Ordinary is
> for the professional choir).
>
> It almost seems that Rome is too proud to adopt the Anglican format
> that has its cake and eats it too.  The congregation sings some of  the
> Ordinary and lots of hymns.  The choir sings/chants the entire  Proper
> in plainchant, and much of the Ordinary plus motets in classical
> polyphony.
>
> There's enough singing for everyone.
>
>
> David Strang.
>
>
>