KTO shows Mass from Notre Dame on Sundays at 18:30 local time, a replay of the Mass usually celebrated by the Archbishop. Vespers is aired at 17:45.

I'm a big fan of the processional candles.

Given that this isn't a traditional Mass, is this nearly the entire French church?

You seriously underestimate French Catholicism.

I find it extremely refreshing to see top-notch organ improv melding with a congregational antiphon and cantor verses. To me, much more interesting musically than an entrance hymn (and, though I have no French and can't speak to this particular piece, presumably this format is more conducive to singing propers). It may be Deiss, but it's far, far better than most of what passes for liturgical music over here.

The only thing, having watched a lot of Notre Dame liturgy, is that there is often such a disconnect between the musical style/language of the sung piece and the organ fanfares preceding it.

Call me stupid but I really don't like French organists because they seem to think that tutti for the entire processional improvisation. I would like to hear a bit more variety

Maybe they are playing for the older folks whose hearing has declined. The French seem attracted to a bit of grandeur despite themselves. However, if I had a Cavaillé-Coll, I would play the h*ll out of it, too. But that is the charm of the French - they don't care what anyone else thinks. They have always done as they pleased.

You are merely from a totally different musical tradition. The French tradition brought us all the wonderful toccatas and what you are hearing there today.

You are assuming that the loudness of the organ is filling the church...which it really is not.

In huge churches like this you are indeed moving a lot of air, but there is a humongous amount of air in the building. The only people that get the effect you are mentioning are up at the console and way in the back of the church. You'll be surprised how soft that sound is when it reaches the altar.

In case anyone did not recognize the Deiss song, the English counterpart has this refrain:

"The Spirit of God rests upon me,
The Spirit of God consecrates me,
The Spirit of God bids me go forth to proclaim his peace, his joy."

It was commonly sung in America in the '80s.

It was commonly sung in America in the '80s.

I think it is more accurate to say "in the '70s" than "in the '80s."

I remember Deiss compositions being in vogue in the 70s. In our part of the world they had fallen into disuse by the 80s. I still have some of that music in my filing cabinets but it hasn't been used in a long time - yes, I know I never throw anything away. LOL.

We sang Diess at St Ambrose, Houston, in the late 60's.
I thought it was folksy, clutzy, and insipid then, and I still do.
(Oh! I left out 'maudlin'.)
It is not ecclesiastical music fit for liturgy and ritual.
It is not fitting for any solemnity, such as that featured on this thread - in one of Christendom's most exalted churches, yet.

(This really is an innocent and genuine question: is there the equivalent anywhere in France of Westminster Cathedral, the London Oratory, or, um, Walsingham? Surely there must be.... somewhere? You'd think that if there were, it would be Notre Dame de Paris. But is there, anywhere? And if there is, why don't we hear about it?)

And, echoing what Charles said above, one might throw in that the French are not the only ones who 'do as they please'. Americans, I think, get the highest (or, should one say 'the lowest') marks for that.

But, when the French do as they please they frequently set a benchmark for impeccable, if daring, taste, to wit: who else would have put a modernist glass pyramid smack dab in front of... the Louvre! (just for one example). Yes, when the French are moderne, they are daringly tasteful about it. Not so our people over here (no imagination).

On the other hand, when the French do clutz (as in Diess) their clutz is better than anyone else's.

I am no expert on French Catholicism, I can only repeat what I have read. But, it seems that musicians like Messiaen were very upset when, after the Council, the chant came to be replaced by the folksy cantiques religieuses. I somehow have the feeling that if the Entree were followed by the Gregorian Introit, the disconnect might not have been so strongly felt, since the the french tradition of improvisation developed in a chant-infused environ. For me it's not so much the organ that is out of place as the Deiss.

On the other hand, the French, like everyone else, have also had their fair share of terrible music for centuries: For every Franck, Faure', or Widor there were at least 30 popular but terrible composers. Deiss is really just following in the footsteps of his predecessors.

Their hymns are true folk tunes.

So are their Noels. I play a number of works based on them every year and they tend to be based on French carols. They have a native folk music.

The Noels appreciate your comment.

Some suffer from that when they hear music by said composer.

Where I come from (Northeastern Wisconsin), Lucien Deiss's star had faded by the mid-'70s, replaced by The St. Louis Jesuits and the others in the original Glory & Praise book. A few of the Deiss pieces ("Grant to us, O Lord," "Priestly People," "The Spirit of God," survived in the more conservative parishes that used either the Paluch Missalette or WLP's The People's Mass Book, but that was it.

I'm sure Jean Langlais and Olivier Messiaen did lament the advent of this kind of popular liturgical music, but in hindsight and in comparison to what has become de rigeur in some publishing houses, the liturgical music of Deiss might warrant a second look if not a revival. Taken together the published Deiss oeuvre is indeed biblical and liturgical, the melodies are often modal, rhythmically flexible, and there is consistently good voice-leading. No one would claim it is "great" music on its own, but I would say that if one takes great offense at its use, one should get out more. :-)

Kevin Vogt

(All due respect to MJO, with whom I tend agree on most things.)

Just came across this version of the Stabat Mater, which further shows that they have been enjoying grandiose music in France for a long time...with this, probably even during Lent.

The original version was also available for organ and orchestra - all at imslp.

Guilmant Stabat Mater

This all ties into my usual rant that people sing and enjoying hearing music with tunes that are familiar to them.

Just found this [another version by Guilmant] which sounds as if it's a good example of the Italian Voce Umana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBnXPwQFBVM