NLM: How to Plan Music for Mass: Step One
Jeffrey Tucker of The New Liturgical Movement has a thoughtful and probing article on the music chosen for Mass . It is well worth reading ! Here is a snippet: People simply did not know or care that the Roman Rite comes with its own music that is part of the structure of the liturgy. The New Mass was rushed out as a text alone, rather than an entire liturgical package that included music as part of the structure, as much as the readings themselves. Vatican II said that that the chants of the Mass are to assume the primary role, but, in practice, this instruction became a dead letter. And, yes, I am aware that the problem predates 1970, but the complete loss of consciousness took place within the last decades. Many are working right now to repair the damage and recapture what has been lost, using the Graduale Romanum as the guide. But bad habits are hard to break. Musicians just aren't accustomed to considering which Mass they are instructed to do. For example, let's say t...