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Question Title Posted By Question Date
guitar music maryjean Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Question:

Thanks for the reply, it was really helpful.
I was quite shocked having been brought up with the Novus Ordo rite, and schooled by nuns to learn that guitars were considered profane instruments. (I admired the sisters who were musically gifted and primarily played guitar for Masses in our school chapel.)
I fully understand how the actual affect of the sound of music can be reverent and raise peoples hearts to God, or take them elswhere.
I could not see the Guitar specifically mentioned in the Papal references you gave.
Before I play the guitar at my church I pray to Saint Celcilia, and spend some time before the Blessed Sacrament. I thought my contribution was valid, as few people would make the effort to sing before I provided an accompaniment.
O Bread of heaven if played classically is still very beautiful.
(No organ players in our congregation.)
In trying to re-assess where my contribution stands, or if I should no longer assist at Mass at all. If I am in disobedience then I would rather not contribute.
So please can I ask how the church regards the hymn Silent Night - first hymn written for guitar between 1816 - 18 and how all of the hymns since written for guitar should be regarded?
This is a genuine question because most of the churches in my area have hymnals which contain at least 50 -75% guitar - based hymns, which I thought implied the guitar was o.k.
Thankyou


Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Mary Jean,

Good questions.  I had not even realized that Silent Night was written for the guitar.  One of the legends is that it was written for the guitar because the pipe organ was not functioning.  :-)

Anyway that doesn't really matter, nor does it matter that the carol was originally written for the guitar.  Although I was not present in Austria in the early 1800's, I think I can safely say that guitar music of that period was not as profane and secular as it is today in the USA.  It isn't even the same guitar. (classical guitar vs. folk or electric guitar)

The point of Musicam Sacram is that instruments that are suitable for secular use only are not acceptable for worship in Catholic Liturgy, according to "common opinion and use" (n.63)

I don't think that this opinion can be applied to "Silent Night", which, although was probably originally composed as a guitar piece, today is generally played in church on the organ with the choir and the people singing.  The organ is an instrument generally associated with sacred use.  So are the choir and the congregation.  "Silent Night" is generally considered a sacred piece...  therefore there are no problems with using it, played in a sacred style, at a catholic Mass (at the appropriate times)

Even though Silent Night has been borrowed by hundreds (I would guess) of secular bands and has been arranged in every possible style you can imagine, including rock, it STILL is considered as belonging to sacred use and worship of the incarnate word.

Mr. Slavek
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