The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-28
do AWAY WITH
TRASHY MUSIC
PURPOSE OF RECENT PRoNuN
CIAMENTO o FPoPE Plus K.
Curtis Somers, Choirmaster of Holy
Rosary Church, Says There Will Be
Little Change in Character Of the
Music in the Local Church.

Curtis Somers, organist and choir
master Of Holy Rosary church, in
answer to request from r h e j r
nal, writes the following letter ex-
planning the recent pronunciamento of
Pope Plus x. regarding music in
Roman Catholic churches:
AS organist and choirmaster of the
largest Catholic church in this city, I
can now state pretty authoritatively that
so far the local church is concerned,
there will be but little change on account
Of this edict.
There Is little doubt in the minds Of
any who know that serious abuses have
been gradually creeping into Catholic mu-
sic in some circles, notably as result
of the influence Of the Italian school, so
that the words. thought and entire pur-
port Of the mass is made to subserve the
effect of the music, which came to take
more the form of an operatic hodge
podge, with all the ford style Of the
stage, and still lacking any word sense
whatever. This, of course. could not help
but distract the minds of the worshippers
from the sacred services.
The edict was largely aimed at such
abuses of the church service as this, and
while return to the Gregorian and Solos,
mes methods was advised, still the latter
is largely left to the discretion Of the
archbishop to pass upon the music used
be construed as prohibiting the figured
music as used in the majority Of local
churches. but simply to confine the use
of such music to what is dignified and
lchurchly and will not interfere with the
solemnity and significance Of the mass.
Is The agitation regarding the singing Of
women in church is one which arises
periodically, and grows out of the very
abuse spoken of above. Too often the
CIV &c fNr fIo f1,o
sic, perforce, if sung at all, must be rem
dered by the female voice! But the rem
:edy is Simple-nOthing more than follow
ing out Pope Plus commands to eradi-
cate such undesirable music from the
church service. Another abuse which is
more or less Of a trial to priest and peo-
pie is the rendition by choruses Sunday
after Sunday of lengthy selections in
which the words must be repeated time
and time again to fill out the proper must
cal phrases. OF course, where there is
proper harmony between priest and must
cal director, this objection would not be
raised. On the high festivals Of the
church rather elaborate musical setting
is expected, but it, is rather desired that
on ordinary Sundays the musical program
conform as much as possible to the order
and significance of the service.
At Holy Rosary we come as near as
possible to conforming with the edict re-
ferred to, inasmuch as the responses of
the mass are sung by a vested choir Of
boys stationed in the sanctuary, which
is an unique feature in the west. The
music sung by the chorus is made to
agree with the services Of the mass in
every possible way, SO that the music
may form an integral part Of the ritual,
as it should be. On the other hand, fes-
tival services are rendered from time to
time, but the music is drawn from sources
such that it may be considered churchly
and dignifed.u s{~.
If the other local churches make the
same effort to conform their music to the
further effect than TO-, remove from the
service great deal Of sicklY, sentimental
trash which is being produced and sung
now under the guise Of music.