Church music as re-interpreted and re-defined during the 20th century

Abstract

At the beginning of the 20th century, music in liturgy underwent fundamental and far-reaching changes in the interpretation and definition of Church music. Most of the changes stemmed from and were put in motion by the Motu Proprio Tra Le Sollecitudini of Pope Pius X in 1903, which caused a great upheaval in church music that at the time had reduced itself to mediocrity and profanity. Chapter I of this dissertation is mainly devoted to what liturgical music embraces - sacred and liturgical music, instrumental music and the duties of composers. This Chapter lays great emphasis on the dignity and importance of sacred music in liturgy, on sacred music in general and especially on the pipe organ in the liturgical music. It also expresses the view of some Fathers of the Church on the use of instrumental music. Chapter II deals with the development of Church music, laying stress on the doxological and communal character of the liturgy as expressed in the use of the vernacular, in hymns, by the choir and by the full participation of the people in the liturgy as particularly emphasised in the documents of Vatican Council II. This Chapter deals also with the place of silence liturgy - when it should be observed during liturgical celebrations. Chapter III expresses the dialogical character of the Church. Great stress is laid on the importance of psalms and responsorial singing, as well as on the use of Latin, Gregorian chant and polyphony in the liturgy. A section of this chapter deals with liturgical music in mission lands and in places where the congregation is made up of people of different cultures. Another section is devoted to the place of recorded musicin the Church. Chapter IV gives a broad picture of the effect that liturgical music has had on liturgy locally and how it is being practised in our churches. Music is of the utmost importance as a sign used by the Church to express its faith, for sacred song united to the words forms an integral part of liturgy. However, the role of music is ministerial; it must serve and not dominate the relative text.