Liturgical Music Today: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

Catholic World Report interviews Joseph P. Swain, author of Sacred Treasure: Understanding Catholic Liturgical Music.

At no time in history has the Church had to hand, in print music and recordings, such a wealth of liturgical music of amazing variety and of the highest quality. At no time have such numbers of highly trained church musicians been available to sing and play that music. At no time has there been such a pitch of interest in liturgy and its music on the part of everyday, churchgoing Catholics. These are the best of times. At the same time, only a tiny fraction of the liturgical music thought by Catholics and non-Catholics alike to be among the most beautiful ever conceived is ever heard by everyday Catholics at mass. 

2 Replies to “Liturgical Music Today: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times”

  1. There are a lot of hard truths in this article. I say hard truths because those facts are going to offend a lot of people (mostly who are probably not on this site, but still…)

    He uses several great analogies: Making a car fly by driving faster, turning away master craftsmen and architects in favor of unskilled volunteers, etc.

    However, like anyone with an addiction, the problem has to be recognized. There are many parishes bingeing on musical fast food and remaining fat, dumb, and happy. Not a good thing.

  2. Interesting: "Much of the solution, always a partial solution, to this conflict depends upon a proper understanding of what the Council meant by participatio actuosa. 'Sacred Treasure' analyzes this term at length."

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