CHAPTER 35:THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC LITURGICAL MUSIC COMPOSITION: THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL PERSPECTIVES

Loretta Nkechinyere Okoro, Rev Sr. Prof. Cordis Mariae Achikeh

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.


Full Text:

PDF

References


Achikeh, C. M. (1999). The place of music in the Church's liturgical celebration. Unpublished

paper presented at the first mission exhibition and fourth Christian religious art fair, at

Shanahan hall, Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha.

Banjo, M. A. (2017).The use of music in the sacred liturgy (Expanded ed). Iperu-Remo, Ogun:

The Ambassador Publication.

Costello, H. J; & Flannery, A. (Eds.). (1982). Second Vatican Council Conciliar and post

conciliar documents, 2. Northport, New York, U.S.A: Costello Publishing Company.

Gomes, R. (2019). Pope Francis meeting members of the Italian association of saint Cecilia.

Retrieved May 17, 2020, from

Hayburn, R. F. (1979). Papal legislation on sacred music. Collegeville, Minnesota, United State:

The Order of St. Benedict.

th Hornby, A. S. (2001). Oxford Advanced learner dictionary of current English. (6 ed.) London:

Oxford University Press.

Iyara, E. M. (2019). Let us sing our faith. Unpublished paper presented at the national Catholic

th liturgical music council of Nigeria (NACALIMCON), on the occasion of her 10

conference, at Holy Rosary College Gboko.

John Paul II (2001). Address to the participants in the international congress of sacred music.

Retrieved April 15, 2020, from https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en

John Paul II (2003). Chirograph of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II for the centenary of the

motuproprioTra le sollecitudini on sacred music.Retrieved April 15, 2020, from

Pius XII (1955). Musicaesacrae: Encyclical of Pius XII on Sacred Music. Retrieved April 15,

, from

Rajinth, M. C. (2014). The sacred liturgy, source and summit of the life and mission of the church.

In A. Reid (Ed.). Sacred Liturgy, the Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the

Church (pp. 1-39). San Francisco, America: Ignatius press.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (n. d).The Structure of the Mass, its Elements, and

its parts. Retrieved September 18, 2021, from www.liturgyoffice.org.uk


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright © 2023. The PROFESSOR AGATHA IJEOMA ONWUEKWE FESHCRIFT TEAM. 


Powered by Myrasoft Systems Ltd.(http://www.myrasoft.ng)