tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post8512050898566294336..comments2023-10-18T14:53:28.622+01:00Comments on Forest Murmurs: Scottish Academy of Sacred MusicFr Michael Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320336535138538635noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-58363117494299755792013-12-02T22:08:47.488+00:002013-12-02T22:08:47.488+00:00While the Academy can only be a good thing, I am n...While the Academy can only be a good thing, I am not alone in being irritated by James Macmillan's constant lectures about the state of Catholic music in Scotland: despite his wonderful orchestral and choral works, Macmillan's own settings of the Ordinary of the Mass are at least as bad as the rest - one of his Sanctus settings is a dreary "Pride of Erin". Tom Bladesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-69572717545982393962013-01-23T14:51:32.870+00:002013-01-23T14:51:32.870+00:00Thanks for taking time to comment Lorna.If the foc...Thanks for taking time to comment Lorna.If the focus of the Academy is sacred music I still hope it will have the effect of raising the standards in Catholic as well as other churches. Fr Michael Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320336535138538635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-4466802632220815892013-01-23T00:25:26.879+00:002013-01-23T00:25:26.879+00:00I am actually a member of the Academy of Sacred Mu...I am actually a member of the Academy of Sacred Music, and would like to firstly point out that the article in the Herald misquoted Joan Dillon, and is inaccurate as to her views, and the focus of the Academy. For one, I myself am not a Catholic, I am Church Of Scotland. The Academy is there for young people who have a passion for music and who want to make a difference in the world - many of our proceeds go to charity. I believe the positive impact we can make on the perception of sacred music among young people is tremendous, and personally, I am more than happy to sing anything, so long as I can sing. Lornanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-27458880049129920992012-12-02T00:57:55.932+00:002012-12-02T00:57:55.932+00:00Father Michael,
After reading your comment about t...Father Michael,<br />After reading your comment about the Mass in Consett I looked out my papers and found that it took place on 29th September 1995. I had forgotten how long ago it was. I also arranged a traditional Mass in Our Lady of the Rosary, Shotley Bridge, on Wednesday 18th September 2002 as part of the parish celebrations for its Golden Jubilee. It was a re-creation of the opening Mass which took place on 8th September 1952 and was celebrated by Canon Francis Kearney, a former parishioner. The attendance was the largest for all the various services and the singing - Missa de Angelis and various Latin hymns - nearly lifted the roof. A number commented that it was the most impressive of the various services - including the concelebrated Mass with Bishop Ambrose Geriffiths. <br />What was done in the past can be done in the future. It will not be easy but if the bishops and senior clergy implemented the decrees of the Liturgy Consitution of Vatican II, and respected the clear directives of Popes Blessed John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, then the present sorry state of Church music could be rectified.Leo Darrochnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-92111237621949264702012-11-30T17:45:58.004+00:002012-11-30T17:45:58.004+00:00Anonymous, I thought the point of the OF is the sa...Anonymous, I thought the point of the OF is the same as the EF: the glory of God. However I agree that participation in singing the ordainary of the Mass is not always that great at the OF. Many of the congregation make no attempt even to sing the hymns let alone the ordinary. The most rousing singing of the ordinary of the Mass I have ever heard was in a packed St Patrick`s church in Consett in the 90`s when we had an EF Mass and the Missa de Angelis.Fr Michael Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320336535138538635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-32361801183347514212012-11-27T21:26:03.698+00:002012-11-27T21:26:03.698+00:00Many of the hymns sound dishearteningly cheap inde...Many of the hymns sound dishearteningly cheap indeed. But at least hymns are not actually part of the Mass and you can always choose to pray instead. It is much more painful when similar music is pushed for the Gloria (and other parts of the Mass), music so random and difficult that even the choir struggles with it week on week. Gloria <i>is</i> part of the Mass and such attempts deprive people of the level of participation which is the very point of the OF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-84383988885364379832012-11-26T06:24:28.108+00:002012-11-26T06:24:28.108+00:00I like the story of the person who went to Confess...I like the story of the person who went to Confession and said she had been laughing during Mass.<br />"What were you laughing at?" asked the priest. <br />"At the singing of the priest last Sunday at 11.00am Mass. He hadn't a note in his head".<br /><br />"I was the priest on the 11.00 am Mass last Sunday",<br /><br />"Yes, I know Father."<br /><br />"Tell me" said the priest "how much did you put in the collection?"<br /><br />"One pound, Father."<br /><br />And what did you expect for a pound? The Hallelujah Chorus?"<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com