The choir usurps the believing community's right and duty to continue the hymn of Jesus at this threshold of the Eucharistic Prayer. Beauty is only skin deep, especially in liturgical choices. In this situation, it is not a taste choice, but a principle being violated. Whether to use a set of acclamations by this liturgical superstar from the Midwest or another superstar from the West Coast is a taste choice. Not as harmless as such a judgment can be, what cannot be forgotten is that language and music are formative.
Great caution is needed here.
No, it's not enough for the guitar-accompanied ensemble to replace the psalm in the Liturgy of the Word with their most stunningly beautiful setting of the prayer of St. Francis. The judgments must be based on function and not solely on aesthetic overdrive. Thesis 5 coming up next week. For Job Opportunities at GIA, click here.