New-York tribune., 1904-05-30
MUSICAL COM MENT.
The Pope and His Efforts to Reform
Liturgical Music.

r7rr~s.
of the Roman Catholic Church. and matters are ;.
they were when the reforms were first broachas
Archbishops bishops. priests. organists and choir
masters have taken counsel together officially a,s
unofieialy. there has been discussion the Churr5
and secular journals the most OF it in a tone ALL
to CONSERVATION, but practically nothing has bes
done even TO prepare for the radical changes IN +h
musical organizations and services OF the churcba
contemplated by the Papal pronunciamento Or
reason OF this is that there is yet clear unds-
standing the part of those highest IN author,tv
of the full meaning OF the Popes words. Anothsr
is that the radical change which seems to be CON
templated has appeared bound up with insupe-abI
difficulties in the United States. The restoration
OF the Gregorian chant and artistic music IN IN.
style OF Palestrna. together with the abolition =.
mixed choirs, seems a task impossible IN narv
parishes difficult and costly in all and only 10 ~
performed In the most favorable cases after Iopy
period of careful and systematic preparation
committee OF priests. with which a lay musicia,
will be associated. has been appointed to draw un
plan for the Diocese OF New-York. but 1t Is under.
stood that the committee will not begin its session,
until the fall of the year; meanwhile. doubtless h,
members and ell concerned will continue to reach
out for larger knowledge of the Pope's wishes "a
well as OF the ways and means necessary to the,-
fuflnent. It has been determined believe "a
make the first experiment In the way OF choir re.
organization and musical revision at the Cathelrs
at which the most elaborate musical organization
in the archdiocese is maintained Father Young
who has been at the head OF the music at the
Church of St. Francis Xavier for nearly quarter
OF a century, will visit Rome this summer and win
doubtless bring back explicit understanding OF
the Pcpe's commands. as well as practical sugges-
tions touching methods Of operation.
Father Young Is not a strict Gregorian. as all
will remember who recall what was said OF
him and his principles IN the series OF church muso
studies which appeared In 'The Tribune last sum-
mer. but he is in cordial sympathy with the views
OF the Holy Father. and enthusiastic worker
IN the field OF ecclesiastical music that 1t is easy
to believe that the Church Of st. Francis Xavier
will be among the first churches In the country 10
apply the principles laid down IN the Motu Pro-
prio of last November. One church In the city will
have little else to do in order TO conform TO the
regulations than change its should the Pope
may be possible, insist making obligatory
the employment OF the OF the Benedictines
OF Solemnes. who the foremost champions Of
the Gregorian chant. handed down in their
teachings and traditions This forward church is
that OF ST. Paul the Apostle. which for thirty
years has cultivated GregOrian music and maln-
tanned such a choir es the Pope desires TO see in
all the churches OF Catholic Christendom. Its
use however Is that Of Montreal. which is mod-
fcation OF that of Paris. AS a rule the Gradual
used in the churches throughout the country IS
that OF Ratisbon which differs greatly from that
of Soemnes. the melodies being both shorter and
simpler. In fact. the general introduction OF the
Solernnes use will cause wide enbarrassment-and,
the part of the priesthood than assaults the ears
OF the uscaIIy susceptible to-day; for the Schemes
chant Is extremely forid But this is a branch Of
the subject the discussion Of which may be post
poned till the Popes commands have been more
explicitly stated. The general subject now COM
mands attention
To understand the difficulties that stand in tho
way Of general adoption Of the Popes regula-
tions Il will be well marshal them in order
and make a few explanatory comments. His
starting point Is practically as old as the Church
itself Ever since there has been a service which
employed music. there have been efforts to reform
that music so as to prevent what Is merely SEN
suous and artistic however edifyng and helpful i
may confessed 70 BED from usurping the place thae
belongs to the ceremonies and Hturgca texts OF tes
Church. That was the purpose of the reformer"--
from whose iconocIastic zeal artistic music accord
ing TO a much misunderstood story. was saved SF
Palestrina In a sense the Pope does no more th1n
urge against music and In favor of the ceremonial
and its accompanying text. what Wagner urged
against music and In favor OF the drama when 10
began his labors OF reform The success OF Was-
ner's principles has not harmed dramatic music
neither would the triumph OF the Pope's plans
inturiously affect the church music in the long
run though II would for a time at least, nluIni-
nate the dominant characteristic Of ecclesiastical
composition compel o reversiOn 10 old Hetnods anu
eubarrass the choirmasters Wagner asserted thas
the crying evil in the opera was that music whica
should
end. had become that end: Pope Plus y asserts
that the province OF sacred music Is TO enhance tho
dignity and splendor OF the ecclesiastical cereno-
nies This was done when the venerable torns
established by the Councils OF the Church ana ply
scribed bv Congregations OF Rights and Pontns
were followed. But the tendency OF church music
today Is ayav from those forms and a reform is
necessary In order TO preserve the sancuty OF tne
Church itself Music II II ia TO enhance the dignity
and splendor OF the religious ceremonials. mast %
truly sacred. First 1t must partake OF the ehar-
acter OF universally; if national elements a9s
admitted they should vet be of a nature accept
able TO all peoples. The proper and official music
OF the Church is the Gresorian chant and 'h'
nearer music approaches to this chant the mof'
Goes IL deserve to be called sacred Gregorian melO-
dies therefore, are to be largely restored IN tn'
religious ceremonies especially those in which 'ns
congregations take part that there may De an
active participation in worship by the people as
the oIden time. But the GregOrian melodies @'
not TO be used exclusively; classic polyphohy -,
be restored and modern music admitted. prosiOsA
IL does not contain anything prOfane. These ulea-
arces seem 10 have caused much misunders'anu
ing Practically they amount to reafhrmaaoh
OF the position taken by the Holy See, Win !e.
erence to the Ceecilian movement in 1SIO- "nn'
n return to the music of the Palestrina pefiou .
desirable music composed in the style OF Iha1
D,usI, and I'm obedience to the principles laid down
bv the Council of Trent is admissible. no ma'le'
how modern II is or by whom it Is composed heI'
the difficulty is tine practical one OF perfornahS
There has been a change In the Church hlus -
apparatus-a greater change. indeed. than sVS"
many musical historians aware o1-and 'N'
Pope in a later paragraph ot his Motu FrOpi",
banishes women from the ehoirs and cOmmano..
that when voices like theirs are necessary Ior tn0
performance OF the music. they be replaced ~
bows. II ornate music is to be allowed IN 'hs
mass and canticles where are choirs capable OK
singing IL to come from until after long period
OF preparation? and what is 70 happen TO the ser