The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24
EXPLAINS POP['S
DECREE ON MUSIC
w. F. Markoe Makes a Lengthy
Statement Regarding the
Gregorian Chant.

Regarding the papal decree affecting
choristers and organists recently promul-
gated and then suspended, w. F. Markoe
makes the following statement to L h e
Globe:
IAN authorized translation of this re-
markable document bearing the imprima-
tur of Father Lepidi, master of the apos-
tolic palaces, together with the pope,s let, =
ter to the cardinal vicar of Rome, and a
pastoral letter, written when he was
patriarch of Venice, has just appeared in
the New York Freemans Journal, f1lilng
two columns of notes and comments by lts
special Roman correspondent.
Plus x. treats the subject with a de-
gree of earnestness and energy well cal
him in prophecy, Ignis ardens.' His
language is terse and vigorous, and ne
uses the knife without fear or favor: He
speaks from personal knowledge ana eA5
perience, and the success that attenoeu
his efforts to reform church music In VEN
ice, which brought that city and the great
Perosi into worldwide prominence, augurs
well for similar success in his present fl-
fort at universal reform. Indeed, he plain
ly hints that although the DEGREES OF his
predecessors in this direction nave peen
fiagrantly ignored, his will not be allowed
to become a dead letter. Addressing tne
cardinal vicar of Rome he expresses tne
hope that all will second us in this de-
sired restoration, and not merely with tnat
it be, which is accorded out Of pure spirit
of obedience to commands which are
onerOuS and contrary to ones own man
ner of thinking and feeling, but with tnat
alacrity of will which springs from the IN
innate persuasion of having to do 80 on
grounds duly weighed, clear evident and
beyond question:
Discusses Church Music.
with a master hand he lays down the
general principles, on which all true
church music, whether ancient or modern,
must rest. In order that no one for the
future may be able to plead in excuse tnat
he did not clearly understand his duly;
and that all VagueneSS may be eliminated
from the Interpretation OF matters Wh1cn
have already been commanded he pro
ceeds to discuss in a most lucid style the
different kinds of sacred music, the l1tur,
gical text, the external form of sacred
compositions the office and duties OF the
singers, the use of the organ and other
Instruments, the length of the l1turg1cal
chant, and the principal means for Sc
curing the reforms which he aims TO IN
troduce. He enters into most minute
details.
after eulogizing the Gregorian chant
and the poryphonic music of Palestrina
and his school, he declares that modern
music is also admitted in the church, since
it, too, furnishes compositions OF such eX-
cellence, sobriety and gravity that they
are in no way unworthy of the l1turglcal
functions Latin being the language pro-
per to the Roman church. it is forbidden
to sing anything whatever In the YER.
nacular in solemn hturgical functions.
He deprecates and forbids the alter,
ing of the sacred texts prescribed
others The liturgical text must
be sung as it is in the books, without
alteration or inversion of the words, With
out undue repetition, without breaking
Syl1ableS and always in a manner intel
ligible to the faithful who listen Psalms
known as di concerto are forever exclud-
11 ox,1 Nit fa1 fnf
'falsi bordoni style may be used at
vespers, treats at length of the proper
and improper use of the organ and other
instruments leaning to the use of string
ed rather than wind and percussion in
struments. The piano is forbidden by
name, but brass bands are allowed in
professions outside the church, with the
permission of the Ordinary provided no
profane pieces are executed.
Commission to Watch Music.
" Bishops, if they have not already done
so, are to institute special commission
of persons really competent in sacred
music, and to this commission let them
intrust in the manner they find most suit
executed in their churches Such COM
mission has been in existence in Cincin-
natl for three years, and its catalogue of
accepted and rejected music is much
sought after in this country.
Without referring to it by name. the
pope speaks in the highest praise of the
edition of sacred chant issued by the
Benedictine Monks of Solesemes, and the
Freeman's Roman correspondent inti-
mates that it is likely to supersede the
present official 'Ratisbone edition. as it
is strongly championed by Perosi, Di
Santi Hartmann, Respigi and other mu-
SicianS of note.
Particularly gratifying is the pope's
defense of the people, against the false
charge of incompetent organists and
choirmasters that they want the inter-
minable unintelligible and scandalous
musical productions too often palmed off
on them as the music of the church.
Father Lepidi assured the correspondent
that the time will come when we shall
have our Catholic congregations joining in
the liturgical singing as they used to do
long ago in the ages of faith Think,
said the learned Dominican, what a
glorious thing it will be when a whole
churchful of people will rise to their feet
and sing aloud the profession of their
faith in one Cod and the correspondent
adds that the grandest thing he ever
heard was when at the papal jubilee last
year the TIE Deum intoned by thin dis
tant voice was taken up by some CO. 900
persons. Congregational singing is truly
the music for the multitudel 1t is safe to
say that Plus ks latest contribution to
| this subject will prove an epoch making
document.