, 1877-11-25

| Judge whether {iregorian music Is holy or ,'un-
ssaxsns E sesns
these quotations, the grand functions OF last
Wednesday at the cathedral with that magnificent
priests, Dr.. 7. J. Butler and the Rev. P. Butler,
and the Li,any Of the Saints, in which over 100
P5 5Gnd s in we're ee!e'i vas p95o Tf of the
Appropriateness for the CATHOLIC Worship From
your Kindness in inserting his article lit ,eas ind)
while they are prayins, undisturbed BY thls u1 IN,
holy, unheayenly substitute for TIE Grand aa old
this ''grand old Catholic music II dated back sew
cral centuries, and that Gregorian was new, par
or M Hs e f s is so Dc
Fage says {Traite du ptain-chant) that we may
consider five epochs in Plain Chant: L. From The
2. From then to the seventh century, when Pope
Gregory l., called the Great, introduced the pres
enr perfect system in the church music. 3. From
for iti' the e' notation t 'i o. music T. From then
ey<a sas hssG!n sse m sseeaa eas into or ersncs M '
From the fifteenth TO the present century, when
the cultivation OF. church music received great
quent anarchy throughout Europe This fifth
epoch he calls the ''Decline Of Plain Chant; but
were he writin. now he could, happily, in view Of
the great and glorious movement going on over the
sancc Of Plain Chant This shows us the antiqai-
ty Of i1esorian music It il this venerable o!d
inspired, music Of the Jews, sung by our Lord Him
self and His disciples at His last supper by the
early Christians il. the .catacon.bs and the holy
his life in adapting to the wants Of the Church lit
urgy; which holy monks and nuns have ever sung
WheS charcd Council: have osdaned to ne
the music OF the Church. merely to1erGting
figured music, and which glorious b9ay @ Of re-
ning, and many All Archbishop, Bishop md priest.
supported by the armies Of the cIcilia- Eerein,
and other societies in Europe and q, America, nre
'Parishioner u {supportcd possibly by his family
considers SO uncatholic, and for which be wishesto
substitute ..Nozart's Twelfth. (which Mozart
bilots MASSES, none Of them century old.
couEase i always resps;etabc' even ;a. In T. hid
bravery {pcrtaps u little headstrong) OF g Parish
ioncr, Is that could almost take sides with him.
merely for the sake of fair play At least woald
tue he, arguments which intelligent adv-rsaries
Of Grcgorian have advanced. Why not say: 1T
ommenat this. CGcilian, Gresorian.. anti
Catholic stuff. this unholy, unhcavenly substitute
for 5ae old ca1nos M y nut sha 9es not
o} ifs Kind Then why force US to listen to this
I wifi only add, in regard to 'sparishioner's"
assertion tiat the vocal part Of the concert was
denounced on all sdcs as we'll as by many OF the
musicians who participated IN the concert" that
l have heard many concentrations, both from
clergy and laity, bnt no Recommendations, and
that if the tto great Instrumental musicians who
took part the concert besides myself. one tand
lie uas, as ''p. says, many, y remarked to me,
first hearing the selection sung by the Cathedral
choir. and afterwards toa similar number Of
musicians Ia mutual frend), ''Why, this
il beautiful music. such mnsic might make
one Catholic" We Htust make allowance for
this rather Falsatilan enu;ne!ation ct tue mns,
Of charch music. Is fully exciting that OF Bos
worth field and it b1t natural to magnify the
number OF such men in bpck1am, rather broad
eloath suits. !
regret to say that I have not said word on
Pacstrina, <-Frince OF Musicians, " nor on CH
Gillian music, partly founded Oh divine mnsic !
itself founded on G1eeorian, and partly forming !
q beautiful school OF his own. But I am ready to |
speak Of it whenever challenged. |
HEMEN ALLEN, 4 III.
Director of the Cathedral Choir.