CHAPTER 35:THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC LITURGICAL MUSIC COMPOSITION: THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL PERSPECTIVES
Abstract
The nature of Catholic liturgical music is such that one cannot just compose or sing what one likes because it belongs to a class of its own. Critical analysis of liturgical songs used in some Catholic churches particularly as observed in some of our local Churches lack qualities which belong to liturgical rites. The study seeks to discover the cause of the lack. It based its theory on the fundamental principles of liturgical music composition as spelt out in the Second Vatican documents, Sacrosanctum Concilium and Musicam Sacram. The research employed a qualitative action research design using a secondary method for data collection and review of related literature. It discovered that there is a need to emphasize deeper knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles laid down by the Church if our Catholic liturgical music composition must retain its qualities. In conclusion, the research suggests among other things, that modern liturgical music composers imitate the examples left by great composers of old who modelled their works to good compositions of their contemporary musicians. Hence, three original compositions by the researcher will be presented as an appendix in this work.
Keywords: Music composition, Fundamental principles, Catholic liturgical music and Second Vatican Council.
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