What's not suitable where?

[Gedackt flute]

Do we have a sort of Parallel Magisterium in RC liturgical affairs?

The official teaching of what's suitable and where -- the Acclamations, RP, Propers (or substitutes) -- scriptural songs in a stlye that enables the congregation to 'enter into' the texts of the Mass.

Then the unofficial teaching (the Parallel Magisterium) -- the above to be recited, omitted or paraphrased -- and if music is allowed at all -- only Marian, Benedection, P&W, and other devotional items.

Have SSG bloggers over the years encountered what I call the 'Henry Ford Mass'?

This is:

You can have any stlye, as long as it's folk / CCM. (and isn't plainsong and / or polyphony)

You can use any instrument, as long as it isn't the organ.

You can use music from any period in Church history, as long as it's after 1970.

You can sing any text, as long as it is not scripture.

You can sing anywhere during Mass, except at the official parts designed to be sung.

[VML]

And if you presume to criticise, or suggest following GIRM, someone says, 'It's not about YOU!!'

[Nick Baty]

You can have any style, as long as it's folk / CCM. (and isn't plainsong and / or polyphony)
You can use any instrument, as long as it isn't the organ.
You can use music from any period in Church history, as long as it's after 1970.
You can sing any text, as long as it is not scripture.
You can sing anywhere during Mass, except at the official parts designed to be sung.

And each of these has a converse argument somewhere too. People argue for the choir to sing a polyphonic Sanctus because it's from the same setting as the Gloria; that only music written before 1970 is suitable; for the choir to sing the people's parts etc etc.

And yet the real rules are fairly simple, and summarised in the bishops' 1997 document, Singing the Mass (attached below). If we kept to these, so many of the above arguments would disappear and the debate over styles and genres would be relatively insignificant.

Has anyone ever tried the model laid out in column 1 in this document? The only music is the Gospel Greeting and the Eucharistic Acclamations – all sung by the assembly. That's roughly what we do at weekday Masses – occasionally there might be a gathering or post-communion song but, otherwise, that's it.

[alan29]

Don't discussions about suitability have to take account of the resources available in any one place?
If there is no keyboard player (let alone competent organist) choices will be coloured or limited. Likewise if there are no competent guitarists.

[Nick Baty]

Yes, good point. And should choices also take into account parishes which have more than one set of musicians: guitar at one Mass, organ and choir at another. Here, surely, it's important to choose a certain amount of repertoire which can be led by either group, otherwise what do the two assemblies sing when they come together on Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday and at the Easter Vigil etc?

[alan29]

Yes, good point. And should choices also take into account parishes which have more than one set of musicians: guitar at one Mass, organ and choir at another. Here, surely, it's important to choose a certain amount of repertoire which can be led by either group, otherwise what do the two assemblies sing when they come together on Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday and at the Easter Vigil etc?

We are a newly amalgamated parish, and are tip-toeing through that process at the moment. Those responsible have far greater diplomatic skills than mine.