Approved musical instruments

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Can you please tell me what are approved musical instruments for Mass and whaich ones are not? I know the organ is approved, what about guitar, drums, trumpets, violins, etc...

Thanks, Joe

-- Joseph Carl Biltz (jcbiltz@canoemail.com), January 15, 2003

Answers

Response to Aproved musical instruments

I'm pretty sure we can rule out the Kazoo and the slide whistle. ;-)

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), January 15, 2003.

Response to Aproved musical instruments

There is no official list of approved or disapproved instruments for liturgical use. There is also no list, per se, of approved or disapproved categories of music. But there are some guidelines.

First, "Texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed, they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources." (CCC 1158) This is a pretty broad guide, since: (1) "conformity" does not mean it has to contain Catholic doctrinal matter - only that it may not contradict doctrine; (2) it calls for music "chiefly" from certain sources, not exclusively; and (3) "liturgical sources" is a broad and rather vague category - presumably companies that sell liturgical music would qualify?

The Catechism further states (CCC 1191) "The criteria for their [song and music] proper use are: beauty expressive of prayer; unanimous participation of the assembly; and the sacred character of the celebration." These guidelines too are pretty flexible, simply by virtue of the largely subjective nature of some terms, especially "beauty". Certainly some abuses occur - but how many abuses, and how severe, depend almost entirely on whom you ask, and their subjective interpretations.

Personally, I like guitars - but not all guitar music - and not all organ music either. We don't use drums at our english masses, but a lot of percussion instruments are used at our Spanish masses - its their music.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), January 15, 2003.


Response to Aproved musical instruments

"Besides the organ, other instruments can be called upon to give great help in attaining the lofty purpose of sacred music, so long as they play nothing profane nothing clamorous or strident and nothing at variance with the sacred services or the dignity of the place. Among these the violin and other musical instruments that use the bow are outstanding because, when they are played by themselves or with other stringed instruments or with the organ, they express the joyous and sad sentiments of the soul with an indescribable power. Moreover, in the encyclical Mediator Dei, We Ourselves gave detailed and clear regulations concerning the musical modes that are to be admitted into the worship of the Catholic religion." 60. "For, if they are not profane or unbecoming to the sacredness of the place and function and do not spring from a desire to achieve extraordinary and unusual effects, then our churches must admit them, since they can contribute in no small way to the splendor of the sacred ceremonies, can lift the mind to higher things, and can foster true devotion of the soul."[24] 61. It should hardly be necessary to add the warning that, when the means and talent available are unequal to the task, it is better to forego such attempts than to do something which would be unworthy of divine worship and sacred gatherings." Pope Pius XII
Encyclical On Sacred Music (Prot. 0)
Musicae Sacrae Disciplina
December 25, 1955

-- jake (
jake1@pngusa.net), January 16, 2003.

Response to Aproved musical instruments

one of these days, I'm going to take a course in html.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), January 16, 2003.

Response to Aproved musical instruments

We had a (an?) harmonica player at one Mass I attended. Good player, too. I think it depends more upon the skill and reverence of the player, than on the instrument itself.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 17, 2003.


Response to Aproved musical instruments

Yes, that sounds about right, the reverence and skills within a music ministry has much to do with its fruit. When the heart of a musician is full of love for Jesus, and much more when the hearts of a group of musicians are full of love for Jesus and each other, that love comes right through the music into the hearts of the congregation. It pleases the Lord.

I've heard pretty shabby organists, and I've heard totally anointed guitarists, the attitude and disposition of the minister is crucial. The ministry is to serve the Lord, not to perform, that's tops.

-- Theresa Huether (RodnTee4Jesus@aol.com), January 17, 2003.


Response to Aproved musical instruments

Did you know that the very first time the Christmas carol "Silent Night" ("Stille Nacht") was performed in church, it was accompanied by the guitar? :-)

-- Christine L :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), January 17, 2003.

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