Spiritual/Political/Philosophical Blog on the Nature of Truth and Falsehood and Heaven
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| Sunny Days in Heaven Spiritual/Political/Philosophical Blog on the Nature of Truth and Falsehood and Heaven |
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Thursday, April 25, 2002 You are what you sing? Jimmy Tomato at Louder Fenn's has more to add to his side of "I never want to hear another guitar in church!" debate. Problem is that Jimmy essentially argued himself into a corner and can't get out. Psalms 149 and 150 clearly illustrate an enthusiasm for a "joyful noise unto the Lord" with lots of noisy instruments jingling jangling, thumping, and blasting. What kind of music? It would have been a highly rhythmic, modal with microtone singing and playing. Not a lot different than Klezmer or Middle Eastern music you hear today. Now Jimmy has in mind something rather like Bach or Handel or even Arvo Part. Add Chant to that (and I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean Taize). This is what I wanted to hear when I first went to church and heard these awful songs and wimpy guitar playing. But I objected to the playing and songs and not the guitars. Why? Because I am a part-time virtuoso guitar player on steel string acoustic, classical, and electric guitars. (Part-time virtuoso since I'm only really good when I'm practicing and keeping my chops in shape.) There are great guitar players and music which belong in church, though. I know, I've written enough fine music and played some, too, in church. A good performer knows when they've communicated something precious and beautiful to an audience - you feel the Presence of Beauty and essence of Peace in the room - contemplation of that which is Perfect. Music can do that more often than any other form of expression. Jimmy (and others) are basically expressing a very snobbish (as he seems to admit) notion of taste and worship. A great many Catholics buy into a whole Tridentine (no, not a sugarless gum) nostalgia for Gregorian chants, Palestrina motets, and Latin mass. There is a solemnity about such moldy things which appeals to many. It makes church seem so serious and important. It's very effective liturgy; no question. But it also becomes a kind of false idol. People start feeling frustrated and unable to pray unless they get the kind of show they prefer. Or they center their whole idea of prayer around a worship style - that prayer only happens effectively in church. And they take slogans to justify their prejudice - as you pray, so you believe - you are what you eat - and so on. But I noticed through my years of study of liturgy and what churches do is that God doesn't seem to mind. Remember the Robert Duval movie, The Apostle? The first service of his new little church he calls for people to make a joyful noise and some child gets up and blows a trumpet not very well. It was perfect. God was smiling not because people execute desires perfectly and beautifully, but because intentions count more with God than a Bach concerto played by atheist pro's who couldn't care less about service and love of faith. It would be nice if the churches (pastors) cared more about quality and excellence in liturgy and music (and quite frankly, Protestant ministers care a whole lot more than Catholic priests), but we get pot luck in our parishes and cathedrals. Also, I can't tell you how much "serious" classical music and Gregorian chant just plain stinks as music; but people think it must be good if it has that certain floridness of classical mannerisms and intoned vocalizing. Sorry, most chant is like most anything - 95% is junk. Same with classical music. But I have guitar music that would make you weep for sadness and joy if you had an open heart and ear for Beauty. Tunes and arrangements on guitar by myself and others which are breathtaking in purity and soulfulness. I know how to play a simple series of chords that would make you dissolve in a pool of molten love, if you had the heart for music instead of a "taste" for proper instruments. Also, I know some rock and roll which would make you want to leap out of the pews and dance in the aisles for pure joy and happiness at being alive and loved by God. Dance music does belong in church, too, along with solemn, sedate, and contemplative strains. posted by Mark Butterworth | 12:08 PM | |
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