Well, it is true... polyphony is not chant... and it IS sacred music... certain organ music is sacred, and it is beautiful... but then again, the HEART of SACRED MUSIC IS THE CHANT, and nothing will ever change that, not looking back, not looking forward and not looking at one's feet.
And actually, Jeffrey, if all the bombs in the world went off, and all the instruments were smashed into toothpicks, and we had nothing else but ourselves, we may be deprived of all other kinds of music, but we would not be limited by chant, as it is boundless, perfect and timeless. You see, we ARE the chant: for nothing is added and nothing is taken away.
The chant is like a beachball which its opponents are spending their energy to hold underwater. They try to use decoys, floating little rubber duckies and squeezing them to make noise. Even babies become bored quickly. Eventually they (opponents) will tire, and no longer able to hold it under the water, the beachball will naturally shoot out into the open where everyone can see and enjoy it. They will either have to sit in the baby pool and play with their simple little duckies by themselves or join in the real game of keeping the ball wafting through the air.
To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.