In the old Catholic Church, there was not a "just go with what you've
got" attitude:
Dearie me! I am not saying that there was a "just go with what you've got"
attitude.
Most of the things in your list (I have never heard of Susan Carroll-Clark)
are very basic and have nothing to do with music - which is what I thought
we were discussing. Expectations may have been high but who is to say that
they were always fullfilled.
I never suggested elaborate settings, in fact, I argued against it.
It is not a question of elaborate settings - plainchant is plainchant - the
same yesterday, today and for ever and most of it is far from simple.
Tropes are by definition very elaborate.
Undoubtedly, many items were also sung to improvised psalm tones.
But how do you know that?
I would be very hesitant to base the musical competency of ancient
clergy members on the lack of facility of priests today! In olden
times, I believe that some minimal musical training may have been
part of studying for the priesthood.
It is today and our choirmaster does his best with the vicar but it,s a
losing battle. I don't think there is any evidence that people were more
musical in the past than they are today.
Those in the monastic orders at
least all gathered to sing the hours in plainchant many times daily
(and nightly!)
I was not talking about monastic orders - they were the professionals. I
was talking about peasants in small rural communities.
To put it in modern terms, one might say that just because it is
illegal to drive the wrong way down a one way street doesn't mean
everyone regularly obeys the law.
Not really - its more like contraception is banned but everyone uses it.
Priests are celebate but have families on the side.
This is why churches employed professional artists to illustrate
biblical stories through paintings, frescos, statues and stained glass.
But not as far as we know professional musicians.
> The clergy would often
> have been separated from the "congregation" by the screen.
[CW]
...and entirely audible.
Have you ever been to a service in a medieval church? Nowadays we either
get rid of the screen or move the altar into the nave. Even if it was
audible the peasants would not have understood it. A lot of it was said
"in secreto". It was not meant to be heard by the unwashed.
The whole of this is a bit off topic...it has little to do with music and
nothing to do with the lutes. And seems to be generating more heat than
light.
Have you ever read Chaucer - or the Arcipreste of Hita? They provide a
more realistic view of things I think.
Monica
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