Composer to review liturgical music

Rev. Michael Joncas, the liturgical music composer famous for penning "On Eagle's Wings," will present a two-day workshop at Christ the King Church in Westmere on Nov. 17-18. In an email interview, he spoke about Church music in general and his plans for the presentations.

Q. The U.S. bishops will be discussing and voting on doctrinally correct liturgical music at their meeting next week in Baltimore (see page 5). Is your talk going to reflect their concern?

A. We have to make a distinction between the correctness of the texts we sing and the appropriateness of the music. The bishops' concern seems to be [making sure] that the texts are biblically based, that they do not mislead the faithful and that, if they are translations of underlying Latin-language texts, they translate these correctly.

The issue of traditional style is separate. If we mean unaccompanied Gregorian chant and Roman school polyphony (e.g., Palestrina), it seems unlikely that there will be a mandated return to these styles exclusively.

Q. Are you writing more traditional music these days?

A. I have always supported the maintenance of some parts of the Gregorian chant repertoire, not as museum pieces, but as the sung prayer of a living community. Particular settings of the "Kyrie Eleison" and the "Agnus Dei" beautifully fit into the post-Vatican II liturgy.

I and other composers will continue to write liturgical music in English in a variety of styles. I have always worked in a broad range of styles.

Q. What kind of music do you think takes away from the liturgy, and what kind enhances it?

A. Any music that serves both the liturgical texts and ritual settings enhances liturgy. Conversely, any music that distorts or mocks the liturgical texts or impedes the liturgical actions takes away from the liturgy.

Q. Has your message changed over the years as the Church has changed?

A. Both as priest and composer, I try to communicate the message of Jesus, sometimes by proclaiming the Good News to non-believers, sometimes by deepening the understanding of the Good News by believers and other times by connecting the Good News to works of charity and justice.

Q. What will you talk about during the workshop?

A. I want to talk about the sung portions of the Roman Rite of the Mass, especially as celebrated by parishes on the Lord's Day. We will consider the Liturgy of the Hours, especially morning and evening prayer, as they might be celebrated in parishes. I will illustrate the liturgical principles with appropriate music.

Q. Your father recently passed away. Did you choose or perform any music for his funeral?

A. Since I was the priest celebrant for my father's funeral rites, I only performed the chants appropriate to my office. We sang evening prayer for him on Sunday; celebrated a full, sung funeral Eucharist on Monday; and sang part of the graveside service on Wednesday.

"On Eagle's Wings" was sung during the preparation of the gifts at the funeral Eucharist.

(Father Joncas will meet with music ministers and leaders at the Best Western Sovereign Hotel on Western Ave. in Albany on Nov. 17 for dinner. He will give a talk on "Liturgy and Spirituality." Registration is required by Nov. 10. On Nov. 18, he will present a teaching workshop on the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist at Christ the King Church, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For details, call the Albany diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship at 453-6645 by Nov. 10.)

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