3.2 music in the liturgy

• what is the liturgy?

  the practices and rituals that happen during the communal worship of God
• how does music support the liturgy?

  music helps to enliven the liturgy and make people feel more involved in it
• what are the types of music used in liturgy?

  • psalms
  • plainchant
  • traditional hymns
  • contemporary worship songs
  • mass settings
• what are psalms?

  • pieces of poetry from the book of psalms in the old testament
  • an important part of the divine office
  • used during mass
• what is the divine office?

  a collection of psalms and readings that every priest, monk and nun has to recite or sing at least four times of day
• why are psalms used in the liturgy?

  • centred around the praise of God
  • joy of praising God through song
  • cover a wide range of human experiences and emotions
  • recognises that everything comes from God and that without him people are nothing
• what is the plainchant?

  • ancient form of music
  • used in monasteries to sing the divine office in latin
• why are plainchants used in the liturgy?

  • ideal to use in the mass as it is ' specially suited to the roman liturgy ' ( sacrosanctum Concilium 116 )
• what are traditional hymns ?

  • religious songs that praise God
  • used by generations of believers
  • written to be accompanied by organs
  • sung in church by the whole congregation
• why are traditional hymns used in the liturgy?

  • help people feel involved in worship
  • stood the test of time as it helped people praised God over many years
• what are contemporary worship songs

  • religious songs written recently to use in worship
  • accompanied by modern instruments
  • sounds more upbeat than traditional hymns
  • sung in church by the whole congregation
• why are contemporary worship songs used in the liturgy?

  • help people feel involved in worship
  • some think this type of music is disrespectful as it can distract people rather than help them focus on God
  • others say it is more accessible and appealing than traditional hymns
• what are mass settings?

  • parts of the mass that are sung rather than said
  • before 1960s music was quite complex and sung by a choir
  • since 1960s music became more simpler and sung by whole congregation
• why are mass settings used in the liturgy?

  • help people feel more involved in worship
  • mass appeals to the whole congregation