Musical jewel in our crown

by Letters Editor · February 3, 2011

From Barry Smith, Cape Town

I have read with interest the correspondence that has appeared as a result of Fr Townsend�s article about the questionable quality of church music performed in Catholic churches in South Africa these days. As a former Anglican cathedral organist now playing for a Catholic Mass each Sunday, I feel bold enough to add a few words.

One beautiful summer�s evening a few years ago whilst on holiday in France, I was drawn by tolling bells to an impressive looking church overlooking the little harbour at the Quai Cassini in Nice. Longing for some spiritual and musical sustenance, I entered and saw what appeared to be a setting-up of instruments and the testing of an amplification system promising a musical fare more redolent of a rock concert than a church service.

Disappointed, I made a hasty retreat and wandered instead under the unfamiliar stars of the northern hemisphere, pondering instead on the state of church music in the Church today.

As I wandered I remembered how as a young choirboy I was completely transported by the music I sang, both Latin and English�music in a great unbroken tradition stretching from Palestrina and Byrd up to the finest music of the present day.

It was by being exposed to this music at a tender age that I came to realise what an unsurpassed musical heritage there is in the Catholic Church and what a responsibility we have to preserve it.

On the same trip, together with countless tourists, I wandered through the churches and art galleries of Rome and Florence admiring the artistic treasure bequeathed to us. But art and architecture are lasting treasures�frozen music in a way�but living music is a fragile art, mere dots on paper, relying on people like you and me to bring it to life and love and to pass that on to future generations.

These great pieces of church music are not mere museum pieces�they were created to the greater glory of God by some of the most famous musicians the Western world has ever known�Palestrina, Byrd, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Gounod, Stravinsky�the list is endless.

But what is the answer to the various complaints and the questions posed in the letters in these columns? First of all we need to reclaim the music of the Catholic Church�to rejoice that it is the finest music ever written for any Christian church�and encourage those with musical gifts to offer themselves either as singers or organists. There is such a dire shortage of both commodities.

My great hope is that, inspired by Pope Benedict�s love of music and this correspondence, the archbishops may consider calling together a group of enthusiastic priests and laypeople to address the sad and slow demise of one the finest jewels in the crown of the Catholic Church�its music.

One last word�may I remind those who value this rich musical heritage that the choir of St Michael�s in Rondebosch is always happy to welcome committed and competent singers to its ranks. Sunday by Sunday at our 9am Mass we try to keep this tradition alive.