Yes, it's germane to a discussion of "church music."
"Schlock, at its finest, is where bad taste becomes great art. Schlock is music that subjugates all other values to brute emotional impact; it aims to overwhelm, to body-slam the senses, to deliver catharsis like a linebacker delivers a clothesline tackle. The qualities traditionally prized by music critics and other listeners of discerning taste — sophistication, subtlety, wit, irony, originality, “experimentation” — have no place in schlock. Schlock is extravagant, grandiose, sentimental, with an unshakable faith in the crudest melodrama, the biggest statements, the most timeworn tropes and most overwrought gestures. Put another way: Schlock is Rodgers and Hammerstein, not Rodgers and Hart. It’s “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” not “Manhattan” and “My Funny Valentine.”"
..."The etymology is revealing. Schlock comes from the Yiddish shlak, meaning secondhand, or damaged, goods; it describes something both inexpensive and of dubious value, something cheap, junky, tacky. In the 1920s, schlock was a slang term among criminals for stolen merchandise, for booty that you fenced in bulk — and critics often invoke the term schlock when describing music that has the whiff of shoddy illegitimacy about it, music that is the result of industrial-pop production and is by implication formulaic, relying on pilfered materials, borrowed ideas, clichés. A secondary meaning of shlak is apoplectic stroke, which may resonate with connoisseurs of musical schlock — with anyone, for instance, who’s experienced the Richter-scale-rattling spectacle of Céline Dion singing “All by Myself” live in concert.
Schlock has a close relative in another Yiddishism, schmaltz — a label often given to music that is swamped by goopy sentimentality, as a roast chicken is swamped by rendered fat. Much schlock music qualifies as schmaltz, or is at least very schmaltzy. But schlock is a broader category than schmaltz; it makes room for songs that are grandiose but less reliant on lachrymose sounds and sentiments."
Hmmmm. The author brings home the vital importance of St Pius X's dictum that "sacred music raises the MIND and the heart to God." The conjunction is vital. (And yes, I know that "sacred" music is a subset of "church" music. But "church" music includes hymnody, ain'a?
Anyone who has ever played in a pit-band for a Musical is familiar with the musical indication "molto Schmalzando" - usually at the ends of the Overture, Entracte, and Bow & Exit music, when the 'big tune' comes in.
Chuck, I think we should listen to our Dad, even tho' I think (as you've noted) he overstates his case. I'm not big on musicals or opera, but his take on the differences between Rodgers/Hammerstein v. R/Hart is subverted by his choices. There's subtext to "Climb" that must be realized by the audience in the story of Mother singing that to Maria when she comes back to the abbey that informs the deeper implications of what seems a schlock obviousness. And R/Hammerstein also cranked out "You have to be carefully taught," "Poor Jud is dead" and other gems of insight into the human condition that just don't rely upon the poignancy of the texts. As to hymns, I don't hear Dad giving them "generally" the Viking funeral. It's all about context.
Out of hand we can wave "B'bye" to "On this day, O beautiful Mother," but not realize that in certain situations "And did those feet" (JERUSALEM) can be absolutely slaughtered by either/or rendition by a less than attentive choir or congregation. Maybe "Mine eyes have seen" is an American equivilent to that paradox.
I was practically raised in the pit, still people schmaltz thru schlocky music at church like they invented it. You should hear our local daily mass. It's like they have caps lock stuck on, and read everything like quarter notes. Sundays are just schmaltzy versions of that drivel.
Yes, there is something to be said of the removal of artistry from church music, at least where I am from: the sentiment is that it shouldn't be "expressive," but just be there. (oh, and you can't ever forget to do someone's favorite hymn!) YMMV.
It's not very hard to find Broadway influence in most of the above. Sine Nomine, or Stralsund, or Loben des Herren--not. And before I'm attacked by someone else, I am NOT INCLUDING Gregorian hymnody, thankyouverymuch.
But I will continue to maintain that--as much as circumstances permit--the second-most-important job of the church musician is education. Sad to say, that education often has to be given to the parish priest AND the laity.
Anent that: we do not attend CMAA conferences for the boozing and chow. We attend them to be educated. We certainly didn't stop educating ourselves about other matters philosophical, theological, and literary; why should be assume that the laity and clergy is already sufficiently-educated regarding music for worship? Hmmmm?
we do not attend CMAA conferences for the boozing and chow!
WE DON'T ?!? Why else would we choose Indiana, Gary, Indiana! in the SUMMER for otherwise, Dad? Are you kwazy? I been dere already once, got skin cancer and heat stroke just from walking one of those building tubey things between skyscrapers! Yeah, I'm thinking a nice meritage and lotsa AC. YMMV.
Gary, Indiana, Gary, Indiana Gary, Indiana, let me say it once again Gary, Indiana, Gary, Indiana Gary, Indiana, that's the town that knew me when
If you'd like to have a logical explanation How I happened on this elegant syncopation I will say without a moment of hesitation There is just one place that can light my face
Gary, Indiana, Gary, Indiana Not Louisiana, Paris, France, New York or Rome But Gary, Indiana, Gary, Indiana Gary, Indiana, my home sweet home
So the choir director issues a new piece of music tonight. The singers in front of me were laughing at it (and at him.) First time I've ever SEEN cowboy-Isaiah. The stuff is so bad that it doesn't even rise to the level of schlock. It does, however, make some Haugen seem near-JSBach in comparison.
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