The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-04-18
CHURCH MUSIC REFORM.
Magnificent Criticism of Archbishop
slenk's Pastoral Letter on Church
Music in the Noted American Re-
view, Church Music of Philadel-
pbis

VIEW SONlSI w NSiS OF FflliaQei-
phis.
Church Music. one Of the most
noted Catholic Magazines and ecclesi-
astical reviews of the country. entirely
devoted TO this most important part OF
church service, Gregorian Chant, pub
fishes in the March number Archbishop
BIenks beautiful pastoral letter on
church Music More than this. the
magazine under the caption. Two
Arch1ishops on Church Music Re-
form. editoriaily refers to the pas
ual letters of the archbishop of Bos p
- and our own dear archbishop of
NT Orleans. i'm the following COM
mandatory manner:
The long and carefully phrased ut
trance of the archbishop of New or
laRs. a part of which appears in this
number of Church Music. is o. much
more than merely local interest. Like
that notable one Of the archbishop of
Boston, which was published in the
January issue. it discusses the broad
question of the real meaning of music
% the church services. of the minister
Wetation Of that meaning which lC-
came common throughout the Chris
nan world, and of the sufficiently scan
laous and anomalous results which
ensued.
Tins Is not an OveTstatement Of The
SIMPLE fact Thus Archbishop O'Con-
nell felt himself able to say-not in
casual uttcrance, but in his official ca
pacity and in most formal way:
No one now doubts that i'm the mar
~. ol ecclesiastical music the graVeSt
solSeS existed, when at last Plus Y
spoke. Again and again those
NJ over the church TO guard its sacred
ceremonies have raised their voices
against growing abuses. But
aG wave has grown to such proper
u'AS that nearly the whole world of
composers and directors had been en-
Sliea Almost the memory of the
s'Val masters Of ecclesiastical music
.sl passed A few loyal souls. whom
~ raise atmosphere could not Dervert.
hept the sacred fire.
Nearly all had succumbed TO what
1r Dope calls the fatal influence of
Nyldne music in the church.
a. ~ different phrase. but TO the same
'~7-I Archbishop Blenk says:
At abuse when allowed to exist for
lehgth Of time hardens into a Gus
s."- 50 that finally the very principle
->ed becomes obscured in our minds.
-"S is What has taken place in regard
70 sacred music. Every Catholic real
- uai me church is the house of
and applies this principle at
mass or during his private devo-
r, o.l at high mass or as vespers
,t "'' nave become so accustomed to
s,.,I prevalent abuses as no longer to
.tH lhe true principle: he is inclined
90 =! laeSe services expecting to be
- .'.. Ia ..leG-at least to a large extent
,,.- .l instead Of praying he listens,
,5 ,,'''iis ms attention from the altar to
~ NiI9II which latter has been re-
fs AS though in demonstration of
Ina. sf1 NOCation-from the sane
o5r-S T. gallery just over the
~ We venture to think that any
,.,- Nao had taken up such a posi-
s,,l III our pages, and enforced il with
W.. W.. language as that used in the two
}e,g ~ quoted above, would have
~. ~ 0ee. AIRED, by those whose indiffer-
l. 20 me papai mandate in this mat |
p, "ts become notorious. to be an
r.Sl.,-'s.' partisan who forgets the |
i.Ti,,, " language. "Exaggera-
rs "ast Was the result of this debase-
N I, y church music? The archbish- |
III VI Boston tells US:
h. N-.3IlMaster-Or better. with us |
ar ny, ~. Ea .llsj-ruIed supreme in a mat /
10 bi-- really was no more subject |
rbe , ny. man the candles on the altar. |
ba o r.iesl at one end, i'm the chancel, |
lies saLIlst a the other, in the choir, |
lesds .No separated if not divided |
,oryo5 ~ what should have been pre-
,epsr- aS sacred unit. went each his |
,y ,,. "ay-the music and the litur-
hor, ~ rent i'm twain, and between
.hin gT r'g solemn dignity of Gods wor-
n WI all but persisted.
siin VI, solemn dignity Of Gods wor-
liter out persisted. It is not the
Been 1.ge of musical fanatic who has
and III s,5oered desperate by the jeers
place. !, ~ those i'm the market
IF the Va .s ne carefully weighed word
limss,e olIlclal head of a great diocese,
ituder, Vas is his supreme pontiff) a
More - ana lover of music. but even
lsg NJ student an da lover of the lit
u the church.
Tue same love for the liturgy,