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A Reexamination of Palestrinas Role in the Catholic Reformation

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A Reexamination of Palestrinas Role in the Catholic Reformation A Reexamination of Palestrinas Role in the Catholic Reformation by Edward Schaefer Meeting ofthe Council of Trent in Santa Maria Maggiore. Painted in 1633. The story of the 1565 meeting of Catholic church offi­ The first abuse of these singers arises from the fact that cials, during which Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli is alleged many of them do not even lmow one note from another, to have been heard and proclaimed to be the consummate as they say, and are in fact unskilled in any phase of music. example of an appropriate style of music for mass settings, is Therefore they teach through substitute assistants-a well documented. 1 Prior to this meeting, however, many course of action not without its derision and mockery discussions were held regarding the banning of polyphonic from the people. music from the Catholic church altogether. This article will The second abuse, coming from the first, is that they clarify the contributions of persons, in addition to Palestrina, do not care whether there are either corrected or un­ who might be credited for their part in having "saved church corrected musical books, even daring to use them (un­ music"2 and the polyphonic style. corrected books) in church. But since even one vowel, incorrectly written, is able to malce the sense of the words The State of Church Music and prayers perverse and heretical, ... those most during the Early Sixteenth Century important books which are accustomed to be used, which During the first half of the sixteenth century, the Catholic they call missals and breviaries, ought to be most carefully church struggled to correct rampant abuses-in areas ranging written and edited. from the selection and formation of clergy to preaching and The third abuse is that they do not care whether their other liturgical practices, including music-in virtually all parts efforts of singing may be a shout or a love-cry, so that of its domain. Perhaps one of the most revealing descriptions of they permit themselves rather to roar than to sing in the the musical abuses of the time is found in a report written by choir. Nor do they recognize the fact that all too often Fridericus Nausea Blancicampianus, Bishop ofVie nne, France.3 those things which are prescribed for the sacred services The bishop prepared this report in June 1543 for Pope Paul III are omitted or cut short for the salce of the harmonies of in preparation for the day when the Pope would call an ecu­ songs or organ music. These parts consist [of] the menical council to address the many unchecked abuses. The Prophecies, the Epistles, the Credo, the Preface, the need for musical reforms is mentioned four times in the report. actions of graces, the prayers, and other things of that The third reference, which discusses abuses committed by sort which are of great importance. cathedral canons while chanting the Divine Office, is most The fourth abuse of the singers is that they do not advert descriptive of the poor state of affairs: to the manner in which they read or sing in the choir, since the chant itself must be equal not precipitous but dear, detached, moderate, pious, and in a temperate manner Edward Schaefer is Director of Choral Activities at Gonzaga in all things, in order that the divine services may be University, Spokane, Washington, and serves as President of performed with reverence. Washington ACDA. The final abuse of the singers is that they sometimes permit in the churches songs and organ music which arouse AUGUST 1994 PAGE 19 wantonness rather than piety. They Nothing may be read or sung ecumenical council at Trent in 1543. Pre­ allow at times things to be sung in church unless it is tal<en from ceding the twenty-second session of this which not only are not taken from sacred scripture, or is at least in council (September 17, 1562), the session the sacred scriptures, but which are accord with it, or not in disa­ in which music was addressed, several pre­ entirely diverse from them, or greement with it. It must be serious liminary meetings were held in which con­ certainly less spiritual, especially in tone without exciting laughter, cerns about music were voiced. These since they are not in the customary in whatever tongue this is ac­ concerns both reiterated some of those language but are in the vernacular, customed to be read or sung.... mentioned in Blancicarnpianus's report and they allow these to be read. Let them tal<e care that they use and also stressed the need for music that This is contrary to the Catholic in choir only corrected books, and was intelligible to the congregation: usage and custom.4 let them not use any other chants than those which are taken from Proposal of the schema discussion Two of the other references to music scripture or at least are not contrary of August 8, 1562, concerning in this report reinforce Blancicarnpianus's to it. Moreover, let learned men cut abuses to be avoided at Mass last concern about the use of inappropri­ out those things which in their Therefore it must be discussed ate texts in liturgical music: order and time are not worthy and whether that type of music which fitting praise to God.5 , is now practiced in figured modu­ lations [a term used at Trent to Music for the small church choir describe any kind of part music, in From the descriptions in this report, the contrast to monophonic music] and bishop's concern is clear regarding not which delights the ears more than C6:'t~r~::: only the competency and accuracy of the mind and which is seen to excite 108 E. South St., Lamoni, Ia., 50140 musical performances in the liturgy, but the faithful to lascivious, rather than Phone: (515) 784-6836 also the textual and stylistic propriety of to religious, thoughts should be the music selected. tal<en away from the masses. For in Church officials also objected to the this type of music profane things Tak~ a. st~p .Up. th~s ~ear! practice of setting texts to music in an are often sung, as for example that ornate polyphonic style that rendered the of the hunt (caccia) and the battle Kapellmeister Choir Stools 6 Custom Designed & Built texts unintelligible. This concern is most (battaglia). clearly expressed in the proceedings of the Council of Trent, which was ulti­ Decree of the same meeting mately convened to address the many containing the compendium of abuses prevalent in the church at the time. abuses at Mass The type of music in divine The Council of Trent and services is reduced to the norm which the Mandate for Reforms Pope John XXII prescribed in his After several unsuccessful attempts, work De vita et honestate clericorum, Pope Paul III was finally able to call an and it should be sung so that the words are more intelligible than the modulations of the music.? C·S TRAVEL SERVICE.Nc. Canon eight, in the section concerning abuses at Mass, written "The Concert Tour Co.' ,TM by a committee in the general session of September 10, 1562 presents In the case of those masses which are celebrated with singing and with EUROPEAN CONCERT TOURS: organ, let nothing profane be inter­ mingled, but only hymns and divine - Qualitative Concerts! praises. If anything is to be sung with - Excellent arrangements! the organ from the sacred services while they are in progress, let it be - The finest tour at the best cost! recited in a simple, clear voice ---------------------------------- beforehand so that no one will miss Write or Call Today 10031 S. ROBERTS ROAD any part of the eternal reading of the C·S TRAVEL SERVICE, INC. PALOS HILLS, ILLINOIS 60465 sacred writings. The whole plan of 1·800·428· 7883 singing in musical modes should be PAGE 20 CHORAL JOURNAL constituted not to give empty pleasure whether by the organ or in the little curious given the specific nature of to the ear, but in such a way that the singing, contains things that are the concerns outlined by various indi­ words may be clearly understood by lascivious or impure, likewise all viduals prior to the council session in all, and thus the hearts of the listeners worldly conduct, vain and profane which it was adopted. Furthermore, since be drawn to the desires of heavenly conversations, wandering around, the issue of musical reform was brought harmonies, in the contemplation of noise and clamor, so that the house before the council again the following the joys of the blessed. Those things of God may be seen to be and may year, not all council members considered which are established for the cele­ be truly called a house of prayer.9 the matter adequately addressed by this bration of the masses should be decree. Perhaps one of the reasons for its observed in them and also in the other This decree, however, fell short of speci­ vagueness is what appears to have been a sacred services, so that those things fying what kind of music was "lascivious difference of opinions regarding exactly which are performed in a sacred or impure." In addition, it did not ad­ how church music should be reformed, manner may be understood with dress at all the concern about a style of especially with regard to the use of poly­ greater reverence, piety, and faith.s polyphony that would render the texts phonic music in the liturgy. intelligible to the congregation. The spe­ The formal decree, adopted in the cifics of this mandate-that is, deter­ Chant vs.
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