Dr Mahrt's analysis is perceptive and accurate. We should draw a clear distinction between music that is modern, as opposed to that which draws its inspiration from purely contemporary, 'popular' and commercially driven genres which, to use his charitable word, is almost without exception 'ephemeral'. Much is said about the role of publishers in the music that we are offered. One might expect that a church-affiliated publisher with the (undeserved and despoiled) name of Gregorian Institute of America would be one of the world's pre-eminent publishers of the finest church music being written in our time. Far, oh so far, from it! (Even the very little good music which they offer is the poorest of editions.) However, we do have other alternatives, though some may not be aware of them. Those who desire finely crafted music that is genuinely modern may find it not only from Americans such as our friend Kevin Allen. A perusal of the catalogues of Oxford, Novello, Boosey & Hawkes, and numerous others will reveal a generous offering of church music of our time that is the true heir of Tallis and Palestrina. There is much to choose from if one but is aware of and patronises the right publishers. Great is the quantity of very good Catholic sacred music in Latin and English being written today by both Anglican and Catholic composers. We should not be wasting our mental energy by berating publishers who don't deserve the attention and start applying them to the publishers who merit it. One does not reward a child by taking undue notice of bad behaviour.
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