Ironically fitting for this thread, the domination of Gregorian Chant over other forms of chant came through the use of extremely draconian methods...
"Gregorian chant appeared in a remarkably uniform state across Europe within a short time. Charlemagne, once elevated to Holy Roman Emperor, aggressively spread Gregorian chant throughout his empire to consolidate religious and secular power, requiring the clergy to use the new repertory on pain of death." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_chant Mark On Mar 14, 2012, at 12:01 AM, Tony wrote: > > Thanks Gary > I tried to find information about what the church prohibited in > medieval and renaissance Europe( some of you here may have some useful > links) While searching for the Council of Trent I came across this > list, a summary of approved music > > The Church's doctrine on liturgical music can be summarized in seven > points .... > > 1 Types of Music Appropriate for the Mass. The music of the Mass and > the Sacred Liturgy of the must be either Gregorian Chant, or must be > similar to Gregorian Chant. The primary example of music similar to > Gregorian Chant is Sacred Polyphony, exemplified by the compositions of > Palestrina. > > 2 Characteristics of Music Appropriate for the Mass. The music of the > Mass must have "grandeur yet simplicity; solemnity and majesty," and > must have "dignity," and "gravity," should be "exalted" and "sublime," > should bring "splendor and devotion" to the liturgy, and must be > conducive to prayer and liturgical participation, rather than > distracting the listener from prayer. It must be music that befits the > profound nature of the Mass, which is the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As > Pope Paul VI put it: "The primary purpose of sacred music is to evoke > God's majesty and to honor it. But at the same time music is meant to > be a solemn affirmation of the most genuine nobility of the human > person, that of prayer." > > 3 Types of Musical Instruments Appropriate for the Mass. The instrument > that is most "directly" fitted for the Mass is the classical pipe > organ. Other instruments, however, can be adapted to the Mass, > including wind instruments, and smaller bowed instruments. > > 4 Types of Music Prohibited in the Mass. All secular and entertainment > styles of music are utterly prohibited in the Mass. The introduction of > inappropriate music into the liturgy is regarded as "deplorable > conduct." > > 5 Types of Instruments Prohibited in the Mass. All "noisy or frivolous" > instruments are prohibited for use in the Mass.The specific instruments > named by the Popes have included guitars, pianos, drums, cymbals, and > tambourines. "Bands" also are prohibited, as are all automated forms of > music (recordings, automatic instruments, etc). > > 6 Adapting Musical Traditions of Indigenous Cultures, and > "Universality." The musical traditions of particular cultures can and > should be incorporated into the Sacred Liturgy, but only in such a way > that they will be recognized as sacred ("good" in the words of Pope St. > Pius X) by people of all cultures. That is, all such music must have > the characteristic of "universality." > > 7 Preserving the Church's Musical Tradition. The treasury of the > Church's sacred music is to be carefully preserved, rather than > discarded > > aEUR|written in 2002 ..... [1]http://www.matthewhoffman.net/music/ > > I guess compiled by a traditionalist - I know people who go to churches > in the UK and Latin America where these rules are vigorously flouted > > And resumably the lute is a 'noisy' instrument associated with > thedreadful frivolities of pianos and guitars > Tony > > --- > > -- > > References > > 1. http://www.matthewhoffman.net/music/ > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --
