approved musical instruments
            QUESTION from tom on December 1, 2003

I take it you have never heard Handels "Messiah" in a church? Not only do they have (Scandalus-Drums as well as Tympanies{sp})
Why would you want to limit the expression of Praise and Thanksgiving during the mass. As long as the music is appropreate and leads the congregation into a deeper sence of prayer and union with our Lord.

Well at least you are right to point out that there are no lists of approved or unapproved instruments that can and are used in the context of the Liturgy. I suppose there are some who complain about the instruments used. I wonder however if in fact they are really questioning the skill of the musician or even the choice of Liturgical music.

Believe me I have heard the organ played so baddly during the Mass that drove many parishioners to distraction. To tell the truth give me a well played guitar, electric or otherwise over a badly played organ any day.

Thanks for your web site, and the encouragement and moments of grace it has given for me. Your little brother in Christ Jesus


Pax

Tom

             ANSWER by Mr. Jacob Slavek on December 7, 2003

Dear Tom,

I think you may have missed the point of my answer. I was trying to say that instruments that are inappropriate are those which are so closely related with secular music that they CANNOT be separated. We cannot hear an electric guitar and not think, "rock music".

When was the last time you saw tympanis at a rock concert? It is not normal, anyway, and I see no problem with having them at Mass. (presuming they are used to play sacred music) The use of the tympani came from a culture that was religious, and has a long tradition in Catholic Sacred Music. (think Mozart's Requiem, one of the better known masses composed for many instruments) People did not use works like his Requiem as profane entertainment; they were sacred, even though today I suppose we tend to treat them more as entertainment.

By the way, the "Messiah" is not used at church, at least not for the Liturgy, since its text is not liturgical.. it was never meant to be, even though it is from scripture.

About those musicians who play so badly that the music is distracting: the answer then is to have no music at all rather than provide rock music.

Thanks for writing,

Mr. Slavek

Back to Index Page