Musical Chairs

Have you ever wondered what goes into planning a papal Mass outside of Vatican City?

Well, the inclusion of a few pieces of music has caused a furor among the liturgical music "purists" in the U.S. Mass of Creation, a series of Mass parts (the Sanctus, the memorial acclamation, the Amen and the Lamb of God) written by Marty Haugen, will be included in the music for the Washington, D.C. papal Mass. As a church musician myself, I have played these Mass parts thousands of times. Are there Mass parts I like better? Yes. Are there Mass parts that I like less? Yes. Do I feel that Mass of Creation is appropriate for a papal Mass? Yes. People in the U.S. will know it. Musically, there are many ways to present it with different instrumental and choral arrangments.

To get an idea of how some of the "purists" feel on the inclusion of Mass of Creation in the papal Mass, go to:

http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2008/03/sanctus-for-popes-mass-haugens-mass-of.html

To see Haugen's response (it is pretty amusing, but pay attention to Haugen's response - not the editorial comments of the "purist"), go to:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1996167/posts

All of this reminds me of a well-known joke that is often shared by those involved in church music: What is the difference between a church musician and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist.