Recorded music on any form is not officially allowed during services in RC churches.
Why is that?
To quote Google's AI trawl ....
Recorded music is generally discouraged or forbidden during the Catholic Mass because the liturgy emphasizes authentic, live participation by the assembly, with pre-recorded music lacking the "veracity" of human voices and instruments; however, exceptions exist, like using recordings to teach music, for processions, or carefully with children's Masses, but never as a substitute for live singing. Church documents state only live instruments played by a person are allowed, and recorded music substitutes true communal worship with a commercial, static product.
I suspect behind it all is the much controverted idea that the only proper music for RC worship is unaccompanied plainsong. At our place, for example we have had recorded music after a wedding as the couple leave the church since the service has actually ended .... but if the priest thinks the song is totally inappropriate for church, the regulations are a handy way of saying "no." And for requiems he suggests that favourite secular songs are used at the crematorium.
On a positive note it means that I have attended Mass where the instrumentalists have ranged from African drums, via a solo recorder and all the way to full orchestra and choir. And weekday services where simple congregational chants have been unaccompanied.
Where the guidance/regulation seems to fall flat is in situations - particularly smaller churches - where people want to sing but no musicians are available. Granted, singing can be unaccompanied (as per "Wee Frees" in Scotland and Plymouth Brethren) but that can be very dreary!
Where the guidance/regulation seems to fall flat is in situations - particularly smaller churches - where people want to sing but no musicians are available. Granted, singing can be unaccompanied (as per "Wee Frees" in Scotland and Plymouth Brethren) but that can be very dreary!
Yes, and a small congregation may not even have one person to act as a competent cantor.
Once upon a time, vernacular hymns were not part of the official liturgy, and AIUI that applied mainly to the Church of England. Did the same apply to RC churches, at least until comparatively recent times?
As regards today, the Faithful gathered at Our Place to commemorate St Stephen were enjoined to sing Good King Wenceslas, which is sentimental quasi-romantic Tosh, and has nothing to do with the Incarnation, or the Martyrdom of Stephen. It will have been sung a capella, and I hope they made a good job of it, as it at least has a good tune.
True, though I doubt if there were enough present to attempt it. FatherInCharge is enthusiastic, but I'm afraid he simply can't sing...
Incidentally, the tune (Tempus Adest Floridum) appears in the collection Piae Cantiones of 1582, and is set in the Oxford Book of Carols to a Spring carol whose first line reads Now the spring has come again, joy and warmth will follow - a translation from the original 16thC Latin.
There's a tremendous lot of interesting, and nowadays little-known, material in the Oxford Book of Carols.
Midnight service (late to the party this year- a busy Christmas):
O come, O come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
It came upon a Midnight Clear (Carol)
O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel)
While Shepherds Watched (Winchester Old)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (Sussex Carol)
O come all ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)
Comments
Ah, yes... I do see what you mean...
Why is that?
To quote Google's AI trawl ....
Recorded music is generally discouraged or forbidden during the Catholic Mass because the liturgy emphasizes authentic, live participation by the assembly, with pre-recorded music lacking the "veracity" of human voices and instruments; however, exceptions exist, like using recordings to teach music, for processions, or carefully with children's Masses, but never as a substitute for live singing. Church documents state only live instruments played by a person are allowed, and recorded music substitutes true communal worship with a commercial, static product.
I suspect behind it all is the much controverted idea that the only proper music for RC worship is unaccompanied plainsong. At our place, for example we have had recorded music after a wedding as the couple leave the church since the service has actually ended .... but if the priest thinks the song is totally inappropriate for church, the regulations are a handy way of saying "no." And for requiems he suggests that favourite secular songs are used at the crematorium.
On a positive note it means that I have attended Mass where the instrumentalists have ranged from African drums, via a solo recorder and all the way to full orchestra and choir. And weekday services where simple congregational chants have been unaccompanied.
Yes, and a small congregation may not even have one person to act as a competent cantor.
As regards today, the Faithful gathered at Our Place to commemorate St Stephen were enjoined to sing Good King Wenceslas, which is sentimental quasi-romantic Tosh, and has nothing to do with the Incarnation, or the Martyrdom of Stephen. It will have been sung a capella, and I hope they made a good job of it, as it at least has a good tune.
True, though I doubt if there were enough present to attempt it. FatherInCharge is enthusiastic, but I'm afraid he simply can't sing...
Incidentally, the tune (Tempus Adest Floridum) appears in the collection Piae Cantiones of 1582, and is set in the Oxford Book of Carols to a Spring carol whose first line reads Now the spring has come again, joy and warmth will follow - a translation from the original 16thC Latin.
There's a tremendous lot of interesting, and nowadays little-known, material in the Oxford Book of Carols.
O come, O come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
It came upon a Midnight Clear (Carol)
O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel)
While Shepherds Watched (Winchester Old)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (Sussex Carol)
O come all ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)