Harmony in Church Music

[photosynthesis]

How important is harmony in the music of the Church? It always seems that whenever and wherever I go to Mass, the music is lacking in harmony. The whole congregation sings in unison. Is there a theological reason why? Is it supposed to symbolize the unity of the Church? Or is it because a lot of parishes have lame choirs and they fail to provide harmony in the Mass? Is it because Catholics lack vocal ability?

Sometimes I wish we had more harmony. Sometimes, during the Mass settings I'll sing along in harmony, instead of going with the melody. Maybe it's the inner alto in me, compulsively singing the alto part. Or maybe it's because the mass settings are too high for me and I like singing in my range. It could be because I like things to sound good. Perhaps it's a little bit of everything :

One thing that really grosses me out, though, is when people harmonize in Gregorian Chant. It sounds so...wrong. It's one thing if you're singing the Mass of the Angels and the Saints, or a hymn, but it's another thing altogether when it's the [i]Tantum Ergo[/i]. You just shouldn't harmonize during the [i]Tantum Ergo[/i].

Am I crazy?

[photosynthesis]

oh.. can someone move this to the debate table... that's originally where I wanted to post this. Oops!

[missionseeker]

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that you're musical. Sometimes I'll hear music in Mass that's just awful and I'll comment about to my family and they'll be like

I didn't think it sounded bad.

Of course, they are not musical at all.
I think I'm adopted. lol

[photosynthesis]

yeah, I am kind of a music snob. I have to work on that... because when I hear someone harmonizing during the Tantum Ergo, I shouldn't let that distract me from the beauty of the Blessed Sacrament.

But still..

[philothea]

I don't think most people have any idea at all about music or how to sing in harmony.

[photosynthesis]

That is so sad.

[Guest Rick777]

This is a problem I have to deal with to. It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only wierdo with this on my mind.

[Aloysius]

the real question is, how does all this harmonizing relate to pipe smoking?

I mean, if you're so busy harmonizing all the time, you never have time to smoke a pipe!





















lol jk, just gettin you back for focusin my pipe thread on music :

[photosynthesis]

heehee...maybe that's why there's no harmony in church...

[missionseeker]

you should read "Why Catholics Can't Sing"
Thomas Day

[photosynthesis]

I should...

I shall add that to my growing lists of books to read

[Guest Rick777]

Pipe smoking=uncool

[Aloysius]

well, unless you're GK Chesterton, JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis, or Jimmy Akin... then it's super cool

for everyone else, it's just wicked awesome... but the heat of the ember in the pipe keeps it from being cool at all.

[Aloysius]

well, unless you're GK Chesterton, JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis, or Jimmy Akin... then it's super cool

for everyone else, it's just wicked awesome... but the heat of the ember in the pipe keeps it from being cool at all.

[Guest Rick777]

Again, pipe smoking is as cool as a liberal theologian

[photosynthesis]

[quote name='Rick777' date='Feb 7 2006, 01:57 AM']Again, pipe smoking is as cool as a liberal theologian
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[/quote]
oooh.... Rick's laying the smackdown!

[Guest Rick777]

lol. Smoking is not cool and whenever people endorse it I get a little worked up........

[Aloysius]

that's because you've been indoctrinated by american society with an anti-tobacco prejudice. don't worry, I understand... i forgive you your prejudices.

[Guest Rick777]

Thanks, I can't help that I've been educated.

[Aloysius]

: I was educated the same way dude. It truly is amazing when you discover the greatness outside of the anti-smoking propaganda. People who are taught to dislike smoking really don't know much about why people smoke in the first place, other than "peer pressure"... but of course that explanation can't hold... take it down an Aristotelian path of reason and you gotta come to the "un-peer pressured peer pressurer"... why did he take up tobacco smoking? and that's where you discover the real beauty and symbolism of the whole thing