There is a difference between music which was (and is) considered suitable
for performance during celebration of Mass and other music which may or may
not have ben performed in churches in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
The church never banned music per se.
Before the Council of Trent music performed liturgically was elaborate and
often based on secular models. The words were inaudible never mind being
in Latin. The Council of Trent sought to remedy this.
In the Middle Ages the naves of churches were quasi secular spaces used for
all sorts of purposes.
Monica
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 11:01 PM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Nazi rules for jazz performers
Thanks Gary
I tried to find information about what the church prohibited in
medieval and renaissance Europe( some of you here may have some useful
links) While searching for the Council of Trent I came across this
list, a summary of approved music
The Church's doctrine on liturgical music can be summarized in seven
points ....
1 Types of Music Appropriate for the Mass. The music of the Mass and
the Sacred Liturgy of the must be either Gregorian Chant, or must be
similar to Gregorian Chant. The primary example of music similar to
Gregorian Chant is Sacred Polyphony, exemplified by the compositions of
Palestrina.
2 Characteristics of Music Appropriate for the Mass. The music of the
Mass must have "grandeur yet simplicity; solemnity and majesty," and
must have "dignity," and "gravity," should be "exalted" and "sublime,"
should bring "splendor and devotion" to the liturgy, and must be
conducive to prayer and liturgical participation, rather than
distracting the listener from prayer. It must be music that befits the
profound nature of the Mass, which is the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As
Pope Paul VI put it: "The primary purpose of sacred music is to evoke
God's majesty and to honor it. But at the same time music is meant to
be a solemn affirmation of the most genuine nobility of the human
person, that of prayer."
3 Types of Musical Instruments Appropriate for the Mass. The instrument
that is most "directly" fitted for the Mass is the classical pipe
organ. Other instruments, however, can be adapted to the Mass,
including wind instruments, and smaller bowed instruments.
4 Types of Music Prohibited in the Mass. All secular and entertainment
styles of music are utterly prohibited in the Mass. The introduction of
inappropriate music into the liturgy is regarded as "deplorable
conduct."
5 Types of Instruments Prohibited in the Mass. All "noisy or frivolous"
instruments are prohibited for use in the Mass.The specific instruments
named by the Popes have included guitars, pianos, drums, cymbals, and
tambourines. "Bands" also are prohibited, as are all automated forms of
music (recordings, automatic instruments, etc).
6 Adapting Musical Traditions of Indigenous Cultures, and
"Universality." The musical traditions of particular cultures can and
should be incorporated into the Sacred Liturgy, but only in such a way
that they will be recognized as sacred ("good" in the words of Pope St.
Pius X) by people of all cultures. That is, all such music must have
the characteristic of "universality."
7 Preserving the Church's Musical Tradition. The treasury of the
Church's sacred music is to be carefully preserved, rather than
discarded
aEUR|written in 2002 ..... [1]http://www.matthewhoffman.net/music/
I guess compiled by a traditionalist - I know people who go to churches
in the UK and Latin America where these rules are vigorously flouted
And resumably the lute is a 'noisy' instrument associated with
thedreadful frivolities of pianos and guitars
Tony
---
--
References
1. http://www.matthewhoffman.net/music/
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