Dr. William Marht of Standford, current President of the Church Music Association of America, writes about "Modern" Sacred Music:
http://www.ccwatershed.org/pdfs/9044-dr-william-mahrt-foreword-kevin-allen-simplices/download/
Dr. Mahrt is also featured here:
http://www.ccwatershed.org/video/8941838/?return_url=/cmaa/
Dr. William Marht on Sacred Music
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AntoineDaniel
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Dr. William Marht on Sacred Music
St. Antoine Daniel, pray for us!
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NorthernTenor
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Re: Dr. William Marht on Sacred Music
I look forward to reading Dr. Mahrt's Musical Shape of the Liturgy, not the least for the title's apparent nod to Dom Gregory Dix's great work. I've been in the habit of reading Dr. Mahrt's pieces in Sacred Music for some time, and have been impressed by the evident depth of his thought, and the learning and experience in which it is grounded.
Ian Williams
Alium Music
Alium Music
Re: Dr. William Marht on Sacred Music
On an historical plane, here is another new book:
ed. Martin V. Clarke: Music and Theology in Nineteenth Century Britain (part of Ashgate's extensive series on Nineteenth Century British Music produced under the general aegis of Bennett Zon). As an academic book this is very expensive, so best to order this from a library (preferably a university one).
It includes a big article on Music and Solemn Mass between 1829-1903. This ought to set current controversies in context; not least because in its later stages it tries to explain the developing pressures that led to the big changes in the 1960s. There is also an article on the theology behind 'The Dream of Gerontius'. Unfortunately there are no overarching articles about music in the services of other denominations - a major omission with the Anglican liturgy especially; however there are several items on hymnody and Peter Horton's article on the changing character of texts used in Anthems is well worth looking at.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this sort of project is conceptual. It exposes the disjunction between theology, liturgy and music in people's thinking. For example as soon as you consider this sort of thing in a Catholic context you find that people don't think very theologically at all; the musical content is driven by liturgical perceptions that have a momentum and life of their own and are only loosely tied to theological ideas. Note in particular how the rate of change is different with theology, liturgy and music e.g. The late C16th Roman Missal remains a constant alongside considerable changes in the music written for its services.
ed. Martin V. Clarke: Music and Theology in Nineteenth Century Britain (part of Ashgate's extensive series on Nineteenth Century British Music produced under the general aegis of Bennett Zon). As an academic book this is very expensive, so best to order this from a library (preferably a university one).
It includes a big article on Music and Solemn Mass between 1829-1903. This ought to set current controversies in context; not least because in its later stages it tries to explain the developing pressures that led to the big changes in the 1960s. There is also an article on the theology behind 'The Dream of Gerontius'. Unfortunately there are no overarching articles about music in the services of other denominations - a major omission with the Anglican liturgy especially; however there are several items on hymnody and Peter Horton's article on the changing character of texts used in Anthems is well worth looking at.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this sort of project is conceptual. It exposes the disjunction between theology, liturgy and music in people's thinking. For example as soon as you consider this sort of thing in a Catholic context you find that people don't think very theologically at all; the musical content is driven by liturgical perceptions that have a momentum and life of their own and are only loosely tied to theological ideas. Note in particular how the rate of change is different with theology, liturgy and music e.g. The late C16th Roman Missal remains a constant alongside considerable changes in the music written for its services.
T.E.Muir