You saw a conga line!!!!??? REALLY!?

Ok, THAT does scandalize me.

I'm not even out of basic training in this musician's army

Me neither. I make up for the fact that my opinions are very ill-informed with my natural ability to make them sound profound and clear. I'm a much better writer than musician, and I'm just glad that I get to write churchy essays instead of advertising copy.

(Although I'm pretty sure I could make a compelling theological case for many of the more interesting Sky Mall product lines.)

If this helps, I've never seen a conga line dance weave through a congregation at a colloquium or chant intensive Mass. I HAVE seen that at an NPM concluding Mass. (Las Vegas, 2000)

Hey, Charles, whatever happened to "what plays in Vegas stays in Vegas"? IOW, some things are better not mentioned.

I missed that convention. In fact, I miss most NPM conventions. I was quite active, however, in the early days (Scranton, Detroit, Chicago). I even organized the seven choirs which sang at the Chicago McCormick Place convention where you played bass for the SLJ's!

Oh yeah, that conga line. Was that Vegas convention held in one of the casino hotels? If so, are you sure the conga line wasn't another group of conventioneers who happened to show up at the wrong ballroom?

@PGA. This is true.

I know I've related this anecdotal report before, but it bears repeating now because of Fr. Krisman's interest, and how it also bears relevence to some things that have been debated over at PTB (by Adam, thankfully) as to the issue of what constitutes real abuse of the rites.
Yes, the convention was held at the Luxor. Some earlier services and concerts were held in the newer cathedral across Las Vegas Blvd. But the concluding Mass was indeed held at a parish somewhere west of LVBlvd. Typical SW pueblo architectural theme.
The music ministry literally was a Praise Team in the Prot absolute meaning of the term. A full combo, guitars, basses, synths, pianos, drum kit, horns was music ministry. Each singer of the Praise Team was afforded their own microphone which presumed the efforts of a "Minister of Sound." Ahem.
The interior was a fan out, Music had its own platform stage I'd say at 24 inch elevation.
I can't remember any of the music.
But upon the gospel acclamation, a group of brightly colored, semi sari'd women, middle to senior of age started up the center aisle in a virtual conga line which then snaked around the aisles of the whole nave for what obviously had to be an "alleluia" of considerable length. Wendy and I just stood stoic.
Here's the punchline, and I attest to this being true under pain of death.
During the "Peace" which also had a song of long duration, Wendy and I turned to an elderly gentleman behind us. He was nattily attired Vegas retiree style in a light blue poly suit, white belt, socks and shoes. His accent was apparently Brooklyn. He could've even been ethnically Jewish (I say this due to dialect.) Since everyone else was yakking, Wendy asked the man if he was a parishioner. He replied, (this is more or less verbatim) "Nah. But I come here every Sunday. They have a different SHOW here every week, and it's free!" Wendy and I looked at each other, agape. I can't recall if we made it through the rest of the Mass. Mind you, I had accompanied Janet Sullivan Whitaker at both 99 NPM Pitt., and 2000 LV on my guitar synth rig, and didn't even know the existence of CMAA. But I had encountered J. Michael Thompson and corresponded with him live/net for years.
They have a different show here every week and it's free. From the mouth of elderly "babes."
All the experts over at PTB who say, "Well I never saw a clown Mass in MY parish," well good on you. But I was at the cathedral in Oakland circa 70-73 and there were shenanagins. Part and parcel of the era.
But at the heart, the account I tell again here was approved by TPTB of local NPM Western Division shot callers in 2000. So, it wasn't just some little local anomoly.
So swear me.

Oh, no damage done really Father. Like I said, I've been on the other side for a long duration of my worship life, but I don't think of my circumstances of faith and worship as if deciding to change from Dem to GOP, or some other anthropological equivilent to where one's age is along the Piaget Curve. I would worship at a TLM every day were one afforded me. Alas. However, I don't let that stark reality obscure my responsibilities to insure fidelity to the liturgy and the quest for "universal, sacred and beautiful" in the music that serves it.
I am a different "Charles," a true Child of God who revels in the abundant bosom of the Church no more than when I worship with a finely done TLM. Again, that doesn't mean I hold the OF in lesser regard whatsoever.

Wendi,

I'm all out of wet fish, so this will have to do: what is it that you so much prefer in the Ordinary form?

Second question: why did you think advocates for the extraordinary form would want to mistreat you so?

I have only attended one NPM rally and will never do it again. There were some good things there however. Some of the breakout sessions were fun. But the showy atmosphere at the Mass was more than I could take. I did like getting a bunch of free music and I did use some of it.
CMAA is where I would rather spend my money.

I would have to say familiarity. I understand what's going on in an OF Mass. For me personally it's easier to follow the liturgical action if the priest is audible. Although I freely admit, the fact that the OF is in English helps with my understanding as well.

And not to worry...I don't REALLY think I'll get fish-slapped by anyone. The children were watching Veggietales Jonah this afternoon. My sense of humor is odd sometimes.

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The concepts are related, but: not so fast about the hint of an etymological link:

To authorize is to give formal approval; it comes from author -- the auctor, the one who makes a thing grow and increase.

Then there is the authentic, which comes Greek sources: authentikos, from authentes (one acting on one's own authority), from autos (self) hentes (doer).

So there's really not a connection between the words' origin, and not between the meanings, either - oh no, the authentic is not always identical to what is authorized. We are not legal positivists.

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Like the Great Santini, "I like being an enigma."
Thanks, but no.

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Oh Dearest I'm VERY happy to read that. Of course we will pray. Since Himself and I are engaged in the very same battle of the bulge, return prayers would be appreciated.

I've not joined WW or any other of the diet or weight loss plans, but I have become very self conscious about health and weight issues in the past few years, with remarkable success. It's a matter of discipline.

discipline? I think I've heard of that. Not terribly familiar with it though.

I believe it would be best if individual CMAA and NPM members respected and supported their leadership's efforts to find common ground between the two organizations. Jeffrey Tucker says that there "is no war and should not be a war," and that the goal is the "advancement of ideals from whatever source." I thought I remembered reading that Fr. Jim Chepponis was in charge of the Mass at NPM last year, and Fr. Chepponis is a regular contributor to this forum. The information about the 2012 NPM Mass shows a clear desire to work towards the advancement of ideals and to introduce the idea of singing the Mass (the Mass included an proper introit). I am not aware of any evidence that last year's NPM Mass contained any of the crazy questionable stuff that occurred in previous NPM Masses.

If two people who are influential in each organization are reaching out and fostering dialogue, and thereby are not promoting the idea of a "conflict" between the two organizations, I do not believe that individual members should perpetuate the concept of NPM and CMAA being diametrically opposed to each other.

Perhaps I am foolishly naïve or unreasonably optimistic, but I believe that both organizations would find common ground in the idea that liturgical musicians should seek to serve God and others through music while being obedient to pastoral authority and to the documents handed down to us by the hierarchy.

hahahaha :-Þ