PANEL decisions

[johnquinn39]

'...it is for Episcopal Conferences to approve suitable melodies ... '

-To paraphrase a very bad and very old joke: 'I know it was a good melody, because it was approved'.

[NorthernTenor]

Perhaps the most useful corrective would be to hear detailed first-hand reports of successful and unsuccessful submissions from the composers themselves - at least until the Panel's terms of reference have been revised and clarified (after which we must hope that a 'case law' approach will no longer be necessary).

And there’s the rub. This happy outcome will only be possible if the process is limited to the requirement it was supposed to meet: fidelity to the text. Even that is difficult enough round the edges – in particular, when dealing with the issue of repetition – but a presumption in favour where texts are faithful to the original, coupled with a willingness to issue permission subject to minor change, will make the process more predictable and less time-consuming for all concerned. If, on the other hand, the Liturgy Office continues to confuse matters with reference to other issues and the Guide, uncertainty will continue, and the Panel, publishers and composers will have to cast the runes of the Guide, ‘case law’ and anecdote. To look on the bright side, though, it will keep the Liturgy Office busy, and who knows – it might make good business for canon and civil lawyers.

[presbyter]

The USA Bishops have spoken on the use of musical instruments:

393. Bearing in mind the important place that singing has in a celebration as a necessary or integral part of the Liturgy,[152] all musical settings of the texts for the people’s responses and acclamations in the Order of Mass and for special rites that occur in the course of the liturgical year must be submitted to the Secretariat for the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for review and approval prior to publication.

While the organ is to be accorded pride of place, other wind, stringed, or percussion instruments may be used in liturgical services in the dioceses of the United States of America, according to longstanding local usage, provided they are truly apt for sacred use or can be rendered apt.

Longstanding local usage - thirty years? (Canonical custom)

[Calum Cille]

Very interesting dream.

Yes, it tells you a lot about the dreamer!

I recently got an e-mail from a certain composer of liturgical music in which (the e-mail, of course) he stated that his work would be scrutinised very shortly by 'the Scottish panel', unquote. This is the probable cause of the dream. However, judging from past experience, I don't expect certain musical factors to be set forward as obligatory in Scotland as they are declared to be in England and Wales, even though the following webpage provides a reference link to the Guide for Composers.

http://www.rcagliturgy.org.uk/preparing ... ation.html

The Music of the New Missal

The Ogilvie Centre, St Aloysius, Garnethill
Saturday 27th August 10.00 for 10.30

10.00: tea and registration
10.30: Morning Prayer
10.45: A reflection on opportunities presented by the New Missal: Rev David Wallace
11.00: singing the Mass: the Missal chants
11.45: singing the Mass: some of our present repertoire re-set to the new missal texts
12.00: singing the Mass - new settings (1)

12.30: lunch and bookshop

1.15: planning archdiocesan rehearsals: dates and venues
1.30: singing the Mass – new settings (2)
2.00: the role of the priest in the music of the Mass
2.30: Technology giving support – CDs, the web, podcasts.. . . . . . AOCB

http://stmungomusic.org.uk/the-music-of ... s-glasgow/

[Nick Baty]

I recently got an e-mail from a certain composer of liturgical music in which (the e-mail, of course) he stated that his work would be scrutinised very shortly by 'the Scottish panel', unquote.

Interesting that the Scots are pointing towards the same Guide for Composers. So it would be good to hear your correspondent's feedback (if he will allow you to post it here) to see how it is applied up there!

[NorthernTenor]

It will be interesting to see whether the Guide is suggested as just that, or whether the Scots attempt to use it as a hard-and-fast rule-book. As they had no hand in its production, the latter would be odd, quite apart from the object lesson in what a bad idea that is from south of the border.

[presbyter]

Liturgy Commission
President: Bishop Joseph Toal
Secretary: Rev. Andrew McKenzie
Contact: St. Mary's, 89 Abercromby Street, Glasgow G40 2SA
Tel 0141 554 6936 Fax 0141 554 8560
Email: amckenzie@pfs.org.uk

Secretary of the Committee for Church Music
Rt Rev Mgr Patrick G Fitzpatrick
St. Leo's, 5 Beech Avenue, Glasgow G41 5BY
Tel. 0141 427 0293

This appears to be the official structure across the border.Perhaps we should ask Fr McKenzie about Scottish practice.

[Eastern Promise]

Fr McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there.
What does he care?

All the lonely people
Where do you all come from?

[NorthernTenor]

Fr McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there.
What does he care?

All the lonely people
Where do you all come from?

If the Liturgy Office has its way, that isn't likely to change.

ps amusing and pointed as some of your comments are, you've probably reached the point at which the joke's a bit old. Timing is all.

[Nick Baty]

All the lonely people
Where do you all come from?

This would be a definite "Withheld" as you've changed one of the words!

[NorthernTenor]

All the lonely people
Where do you all come from?

This would be a definite "Withheld" as you've changed one of the words!

Definitely a textual problem, but minor, so granted on condition it's fixed.

[johnquinn39]

Word is written, that no one will hear the ineffable words of Fr McKenzie
No one is added.
Itself each time, darning his socks preveniently in the night no one there he is.
What cares for?

All the lonely men
Where do you issue from?


(ICEL)

[NorthernTenor]

The staff of the Liturgy Office, writing the words of a sermon no-one will hear.
No-one comes near.
Look at them working, changing the rules of the game when nobody’s there.
They’ll make them care.

All the protesting people:
Where did they all come from?

[Nick Baty]

Cry of amazement !!! The first England and Wales panel-approved collection of new Music for the Mass is printed and available to buy from Decani Music.

And very nice it looks too! (Good quality paper!)
Spent last evening playing through my copy.
Well done Messrs Jones and Smith.

[presbyter]

If, like me, you see some ambiguity between GIRM 53; CTM 148; Guide for Composers 51 & 52..... I have it on good authority that composers can submit purely choral settings of the Glory to God to panel. Note also sections 19 through 21 of the Guide.

I am not considering this form of composition myself but someone might.