Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-29
CATHOLIC RULES ON MUSIC
System Drawn by Special Committee at
Command Of Pope Effective Tuesday,
NOT CONFINED TO GREGORlAN CHANT
Canto Fermo VIII BE Most Common,
However, hut Leaders Anticipate
No Radical Changes in
Services.

Next Tuesday new rules will so into effect
regulating music IN the Catholic churches
Of the city and the diocese the tendency
OF which will be to place the Gregorian
chant in preponderance over other music.
The rules were published by Bishop Scan
nell in letter to the clergy Of the diocese
dated February 10, and they were drawn
by specially appointed committee of
clergymen, in accordance with the CONF
mands Of the pope.
The Guide to Catholic Church Music"
which is adopted as the official catalogue,
does not confne itself to the Gregorian
chant, although this form of music is much
more common than any other In addition
the use is allowed Of church music pub
lshed in the official organs Of the approved
societies for the cultivation Of church mu-
sic. Members Of the clergy say the adop-
ton Of the rules will have little effect on
the music of the churches of the city. for
the choirs have been preparing themselves
in anticipation, and the use of the Gregor-
ian chant, which was never absent, has
lately become more common. They say the
rules will cause no trouble in any of the
choirs of the city.
Two radical changes are made in the
rules, however, which have attracted con-
siderable attention. One is the prohibition
Of vocal or instrumental solos. organ ex-
cepted, the ostensible reason for the exis-
tence of the regulation being to make the
musical part Of the worship less operauo
and more in keeping with the solemnty Of
the sacred occasion of worship.
Another rule provides that at funerals
and marriages no vocal or instrumental mu-
sic shall, be allowed, except that which is
officially approved. AS the only officially
approved vocal music for such occasions is
in the Latin tongue it follows that here
after at Catholic weddings and funerals
only the tongue of the ancient Roman
forum win be used in the singing.
Text of the Rules.
The other regulations, say the clergy,
make practically no changes in the system
already in use. The rules follow
!. The Guide to Catholic Church Music, 8"
P Yi6i otis its snPPement published BY
Wis, is adopted as the official catalogue
Of church music, vocal and instrumental,
choir is to be provided with this catalogue
at the expense of the congregation.
2. Church music published In the Of
fetal organs of approved societies for the
cultivation of genuine church music Is al
lowed Such organs are: The Cecilia
! (English and GERMANY, and the Review
| gende Blaetter (German) and the Muslca
/ Sacra (Qerman) of RatisbOn: the Cecilia
| (German) Of Strasburg; the s. Gregorius
Blad Dutch of HARLEM. Holland; the
| Cyril bohemian of Prague; the Musica
/ Sacra 0talian), Turin Italy; the Musica
! Sacra CFrench of Malines Belgium, and
! Church Music Philadelphia,
3. Church music, vocal or instrumental
/ not contained in any Of the above organs
| may not be used in any church of this
| diocese until It has been approved by the
| official committee
! 4. Conversational singing, for both child
! dren and adults is especially recommended
! 5. Pastors are recommended to intro
! duce the teaching of vocal music, includ
| ing the NGregoran chant, into the regular
| school curriculum.
g. The Vatican edition of the Gregoriar
chant will be introduced as soon as possible
T. Vocal or instrumental solos, organ ex'
| cepted are prohibited.
g. At funerals and marriages no vocal OF
! instrumental music Is allowed except thai
| which Is officially approved
g. The organ must not accompany the
| celebrant while he sings the orations
| preface and pater noster.
1c The organ is to be silent during 8
requiem mass except when it accompanies
| the choir