Eccles has now reached number 14 in the Bad Hymns series. This time he has an interview (it is a spoof) with the author of "Go, the Mass is ended." If you were born after the glorious seventies and missed this gem, fear not, the internet is here and you can savour its profound contribution to the alius cantus school of liturgical music in the video above. The practical importance of the hymn is outlined by the composer:
Of course some traddy priests will insist on saying "Ite, Missa est," which nobody can understand. So the congregation just hangs around wondering what to do next.Music minsters need to be aware of the danger in the hymn's specificity. If you are used to choosing hymns more or less at random from a diocesan Music Planner, you might make the mistake of scheduling this one for the offertory. By the second or third repetition of the command, people will be voting with their feet.
At the foot of Eccles' post there are links to the appraisal of other classics. If votes are allowed, I'd really like to see a post on "I watch the Sunrise." This is an important song which has, in the words of the author's official website:
featured on radio and television, in concerts and churches all around the world, including the score of an Australian film, an album of Daniel O'Donnell, "Faith and Inspiration", a 2004 episode of "Coronation Street" [Britain's longest running TV soap opera] and the BBC Three 2005 documentary, "Gypsy Wars".Interestingly, rivalling Mozart, the song has been featured in a concert in a Church (scroll down the News Page to "Packed house at Walsingham") and earned an encore. Unlike Mozart's Vesperae solennes de Confessore, however, it is hard to think of a liturgical service for which "I watch the sunrise" would be suitable.
I expect it featured at the recent Great Wakering Memorial Hall Concert for C.A.M.E., ("the pseudonym for the four churches who frequently work together in Great Wakering.") According to the News report,
The meal was a four course with a wide and varied selection to chose from, washed down by a endless supply of fruit juices, and finally followed by coffee and tea.Just as well - "I watch the sunrise" is heady enough without adding any mood-altering substances to the mix.
14 comments:
Oh the thrill of it all!
I'll refrain in charity from saying any more than - why, when I read such things as John Glynn's writings, do I just want to laugh out loud and make fun of them. I know it's not the Christian's way but I really can't help myself. Sorry.
When you read his entry under Just A Thought (written for Ascension Sunday) it's no wonder he resigned his living.
Why do progressive priests always title their thoughts as 'Just a Thought"...... Another fruit juice....if you please!
Thanks, Father. Indeed, "I watch the sunrise" is high on the list for future analysis. One of my problems is that I always confuse it with "What a wonderful world."
Is this serious? I nearly spilled my milk!
I thought the words were 'Go, the mass is ended, in 1963'!
I’m reminded of the Jongleur de Notre Dame who had no gift to offer but the ability to juggle well.
Or the rough and tumble of the Mystery Plays with some very down to earth dialogue. They weren’t Shakespeare in their honest desire to raise the heart and mind to God.
Sr Marie Lydia and John Glynn’s hymns are not great poetry. And their music isn’t the most sublime.
Their hymns don’t mean much to me either. But they’re a start. So I feel rather sorry for the man in your video with his gentle Irish tenor. He looks a nice man.
Sorry, Fr Tim and Eccles, but poking fun at his innocent sincerity doesn’t raise standards. I hope he won’t be hurt if he stumbles across your posting.
To put it another way, if you both want such high standards and wish to use wit to make your point, you’ve got to be a lot funnier – and kinder - in your satire.
You might also like to look at:
Colours of Day and
Bind us together Lord.
I always think that the latter lapses into the tune of "two lovely black eyes".
Colours of Day has been done but I agree that "Bind us Together" should be on the list. (Is it an advert for Imodium.)
At the weekday Masses at my local church the hymns for each Mass seem to be chose by a select group of ladies. I regularly have to put up with ‘Go the Mass is ended’. Is there, by any chance, an indulgence attached to hearing this ‘hymn’? But I’m pleased to say that we never have the pleasure of any of the other hymns on Eccles little list – they never would be missed.
But Solent Rambler, why should we allow the better hymns to be pushed out by the worse ones?
We still get "On Eagle's Wings" in our parish, it's usually sung by a soloist after Holy Communion.
With the endless supply of fruit juices, coffee and tea, I should think they'd be watching the sunrise because they were (how can I put this politely?) waking rather frequently during the night.
@Hamish Redux
It wasn’t my intention to suggest that “better hymns be pushed out by worse hymns”. As I said above, I agree that Sr Marie Lydia and John Glynn’s hymns are not great poetry. Nor is their music the most sublime.
Rather I was saddened that Richard Carney’s innocent video seem to be laughed at. I don’t know him, but he looks a lovely man. So I wouldn’t want him hurt. Fair play to a man who makes a Youtube video called “Prayer for Vocations to the Catholic Priesthood”. Or a “Prayer for the loss of a Love One through suicide”. They’re sentimental if you will. But, oh, how kind.
While I’m at it, I’d question if everything in the Westminster Hymnal could be classed as timeless music and words for all ages.
I’m also suggesting that if satire is used to demand high standards, then the lampoon really has to be good.
I’m all for Catholic jokes. But to me at least, Eccles doesn’t touch Chesterton or Knox for wit. Who both could also write hymns.
Errm yep. The flaw in this protest is that Eccles did not take the mickey out of the chap in the video. It was nothing to do with him. I posted it simply as an illustration so that people could hear the hymn, not to take make fun of the nice chap singing it.
But anyway, carry on if you wish.
Agreed, I am not a rival to Chesterton or Knox. Except in good looks :-)
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