Whither Papal Singing?
  • fcbfcb
    Posts: 364
    John Paul II and Benedict XVI frequently sang the dialogues, orations, and prefaces at public Masses. Francis did not (some blame this on a lung issue, but I never really bought that; I think he was just one of those "I can't sing" guys). Pope Leo can obviously sing--we've heard him lead the Regina Coeli and intone the Gloria--but as far as I've noticed he doesn't sing the preface etc. Maybe this is simply a holdover from those who planned liturgies for Francis and this will change with time. But maybe the precedent set by Francis has removed any expectation that popes sing their parts of the Mass. If so, that will be a pity. Thoughts?
    Thanked by 4trentonjconn tomjaw LauraKaz Heath
  • PaxTecum
    Posts: 335
    I don't know what to think yet. I guess time will tell.
    Thanked by 1Roborgelmeister
  • trentonjconn
    Posts: 725
    It's par for the course, in my experience. Clerics rarely sing their parts in a consistent manner in the OF. It's treated in a very ad libitum fashion. I'll sing this collect, but maybe not the post communion. Or maybe I'll sing the super oblata but not the preface dialogues. Or maybe the preface dialogues but not the preface itself. It drives me absolutely bonkers, especially when the priest in question obviously can sing. I think it's a result of ignorance or a lack of grounding in historical liturgy. But yes, it's a pity when Mass is otherwise high in every way yet the priest doesn't sing all/any of his parts. Like wearing flip flops with a tuxedo.
    Thanked by 12fcb PaxTecum CHGiffen Roborgelmeister MatthewRoth Chant_Supremacist LauraKaz irishtenor M. Jackson Osborn hilluminar OMagnumMysterium cmb
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,859
    We will soon know as it should appear here, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgKUI7HXZ-gMCEGRXJ8pL-iM_b7f-yG-A
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,820
    I hope that it returns. If Benedict, as relatively feeble as he was, could manage, then everyone else can. And yeah that included Francis. The half a lung thing wasn’t even that true.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • francis
    Posts: 11,054
    Like wearing flip flops with a tuxedo.
    I’ve said this before, as you all know… the nature of the Novus Ordo is to provide options to everybody to do as they please. Personally, I don’t think that will ever change.
  • PLTT
    Posts: 166
    I wonder if he has ever sung the Collect and Preface tones? The things he has sung so far have all been things that one would hear (and thus absorb) from just being at a Papal Mass (or religious community, in the case of the Regina Caeli). But perhaps he is not so familiar with the presidential tones, and it might be too much to try and do it in an infrequently used language.

    It appears from Youtube, that he probably did not sing in Italian Masses (when he was bishop/Cardinal) nor in Spanish (when in Peru).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F107Pl8Hdg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDxQKUEENLo
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 398
    Knowing the time period in which he was formed, I would say, its likely that he is unfamiliar with the tones.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
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