More on Sacred Music

Richard Morris is one of a very small number of organists to have appeared as soloist in Carnegie Hall. Other prestigious New York concert halls which have hosted his phenomenal performances include Town Hall and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. He has also appeared three times on NBC’s Today Show, and has performed on four occasions at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. He has commented frequently on the sad state of affairs with Catholic liturgical music. "All you hear Catholics turning out these days are pop versions of the old Protestant anthems."And this speaks to the larger problem that no one wants to talk about: the restoration of the Roman rite is a precondition for a long-term fix for the problem.""For two thousand years, the Church has guided the development of music, carefully legislating to fuse artistic talent and aesthetic beauty with the demands of the Faith""Even Catholic parishes today are not wanting for talent. But no serious singer or organist will get anywhere near the typical music program, at least if he wants to retain his self-respect.""Catholic liturgical music, it would seem, is everywhere but in the Catholic Church itself."

In an interview given back in 1999 (an it is quite evident that nothing has changed) Morris sums up his thoughts: What are your thoughts on what passes for sacred music in most Catholic parishes today?

Morris: There's nothing sacred about it. The tunes, rhythms, and messages are drawn mainly from secular culture. When it isn't aesthetically repugnant and downright offensive to the Faith, it is utterly forgettable.

Ironically, we live in times that are awash in authentic sacred music. We hear it in concert halls, on our CD players at home, in our cars, in movies, on television, in shopping centers and even in Protestant churches.

Never have so many recordings of the great Masses and motets been in wider circulation. Record stores have whole sections devoted to the chant. Groups such as the Anonymous Four, the Tallis Scholars and the Monteverdi Choir perform Catholic music to sold-out audiences wherever they go.

I just heard a young honors chorus from Georgia, which consisted of a gaggle of Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian kids. They gathered together for a secular concert, under a world-famous conductor, and what do they do? A Haydn Mass, the Mozart "Salve Regina" and a Padre Martini motet-an all-Catholic program!

Catholic liturgical music, it would seem, is everywhere but in the Catholic Church itself. Only the Catholic Church seems blind to its power. This is one of the greatest travesties of the post-Conciliar period. We've abandoned the sacred treasury and replaced it with drivel.

A good number of Catholics have been raised on this bad music and when they hear that sing sing junk they can only be left with the impression that the Mass is just another event in their lives except that it is full of sing sing songs. I am confident that the younger future priests will restore the sacredness of the Mass before I die.