Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
PrOfane Church Music

chants-invocation against all sorts of
Ills, from Nightmares to ghosts. An old
Cornish charm runs:
From Ghoulies and Ghoosties
Lang-leggety Bcasties.
And things that go Bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver u.s."
The dedicatory verse to Coverdale's
"Ghoostly psalmes and Spiritual Songs"
published between 1880 and 1910, runs:
BE not ashamed, warrande thee,
Though thou be rude in song and
ryme
Thou shalt to youth some occasion be
In godly sports to pass theyr TYNE"
CAN early singing, however" remarks
Mr. Andrews, was by no means 'godly
sport Desperate efforts were made to
create body of serious music for the
church" In day when the Presby-
terians and Baptists prosecuted music
as one of the engines of hell and Satan,
we find Wesley beseeching his Method
list brethren mot to hand all the good
tunes to the devil
The oxford movement in the Angli-
can Church and the Motu Proprio of
| the two great mainSprings of progress
In choral worship in the last 100 years.
The oxford movement, launched in
1888. has as an important feature the
Plainsong, when many people became
aware that much of value had been
lost in the atmosphere of prevailing in
difference. Ut is interesting to note
that st. Patrick's Church in Washing
ton is said to be the first in Eastern
States to have inaugurated, last year,
the custom of having the congregation
QIfaTnnfn nta~iv SxHe So
Plain Chant Credo at mass, a custom
generally practiced in Europe.) The
Oxford movement had perhaps a wider
effect, and on more denominations.
than the Motu Proprio which affected
essentially the Catholic churches.
This encyclical of Plus x specified
that church music must have the quail
ties of holiness, beauty and uni
versatility. 1t must be sung, he indi-
Gated. without affectation and In the
proper surroundings; secular music.
such as that of the dance, the opera,
the march, music Of a military nature,
being untitled for sacred use. The
Gregorian Chant and the sacred polyph-
ony OF the Roman school were ap-
proved; modern music was not barred,
but 1t was suspect and rigidly censored
for theatricalism.
This clear and intelligent document
was sharp and direct attack upon the
practices which had formerly prevailed.
as in the aforementioned use of
opera. 1t was felt in some quarters
that Plus sought to confine the music
OF the church to the "doleful" Gregorian
Cnant. Such. evidently, was not the
purpose OF the document. 1t had to
COMBAT what had become crucial
state Of affairs, and it did so in prac-
ticaHy the only manner possible.
the Society of st. Gregory in
America has for a long time conducted
campaign for adherence to the ideals
OF the Motu Proprio for the eradication
OF musical evils Astounding in the
church. 1t has sought to inculcate a
love for the ancient and classic form
OF Gregorian Chant and the polyphonic
music OF the Palestrina. Vittorio, Lassus
and others. The society has recently
Issued document which lists, piece by
piece, all the music which may properly
pc used In the church. This White
LIST also includes a roster of Dis
approved Music, In which, strangely
enough to the layman, appear the
names OF some of the greatest COM
posers; 1t is made apparent, however.
that the musical value of these works
does not enter the question the excep-
ton being simply to their liturgical
fitness according to the principles of
the Motu Proprio. Sacred songs in
English, using such melodies as THE
End OF Perfect Day" and 20, Promise
Me" are also definitely excluded.
| IL is certainly very easy to under
stand the resentment of church music
lovers OF the intrusion Of the popular
note, especially in the form of Jazz
bands, cornet and trombone soloists.
trap drummers and vocalists currently
appearing in the music halls. It may
DE easy, too, to understand Of not
wholly to sympathize With the efforts
OF those ministers who have in these
hectic times found 1t necessary to COM
pete with Sunday golf. tennis, SWIM
ming, dancing and motoring, and who
have in the effort fesorted to a level
sufficiently low to match the public
taste--unhsppy commentary as that
may seem. 1t may even be surprising
that church music has not altered
more, in keeping with the philosophical
unrest which has swept some branches
of religion. To combat the problem of
empty pews it is scarcely to be Won
dered at that ministers and deacons
and boards of church governors might
entertain an attitude Of some liberality
toward music which they knew their
congregations would like 1t is safe to
say that its music is one of the gravest
concerns of any church today, as 1t has
always been.
It is difficult to set up standards as
to what should be allowed" and what
should be barred" from the music in
church services which do not make the
exacting liturgical demands set forth
for the Catholic faith by the White
List" One is inclined to say offhand
that any music of an esthetically in
spirational quality, as we'll as that of
to be included in a church service. Does
the matter not resolve itself for most
| people to the question, ''Is 1t good
music? Is it In good taste?" Jazz
bands are not In good taste; they are
obviously out Of place In any formal