Yes, and you may also say it out loud. It's a high class example of what we usually see in the installation of Bishops in secular convention centers across the US. I think we invented it and it spread to Rome.
Reeks. This is what you get when you are unaware that you cannot fix things that are not broken.
I'll have to show my cantors so they can email our priest and let him know that since arm waving is allowed at the Vatican.... He must rethink his no gesture policy...
Don't lay this flotsam on USA Catholicism, FNJ. This is endemic and Italianate, not unlike the 20th century attitude of young Roman bucks believing it their duty, not privilege, to physically pinch portions of an attractive female's person whenever it strikes their fancy. Did you ever read about this "masculine singing" musical troping occuring here in Tom Day's book? Cdl. Bartolucci, thanks....(sigh)
Oh, come on, you buncha-somber-spoilsports! Sure, it's goopy and gushy, but it's not bad at all. I'd rather see a gilded lily than a gilded dog turd any day. There are better ways to sing a Sanctus---for example, simply as it is written---but this one doesn't go down as a strike in my book. More like a BB.
Think about this, when you gild a lily, the lily dies.
This is really, really bad music. Many composers have successfully incorporated chant in their works. This arrangement obliterated it. Bad taste, especially in front of a Pope who loves Mozart.
Y'know, if you'd just click through to read the YouTube description for the video, you can find out that the "arm-waving cantors" are conducting the choirs seated in the nave: the event was connected with a congress of Pueri Cantores.
Also, the composer is the Cathedral Cantor at Essen, so I don't think we can blame it all on Italian musical preferences.
Considering that the Pope's last big visit to Germany subjected him to smooth jazz during Mass, this is an improvement!
Having played (miserably) in a Hamburg Jazz club, [Denny's Swing Club and, no, there were no tips in my tip jar] I know that the Germans take jazz religiously. Obviously, too religiously.
Sad as it is, this is not surprising, is it? What is truly sad is that wouldn't we all be quite surprised, astounded, if we heard superbly done music of high repute coming from the Vatican?!
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