"Haas and Haugen's music is a diabolic threat to Sacred Liturgy."

[Rabrrrrrr]

:rofl:

Society for a Moratorium on the Music of Marty Haugen and David Haas

http://www.mgilleland.com/music/moratorium.htm

I'm tempted to join!

[Critters2]

1. I'm experiencing deja vu....nt

[regnaD kciN]

2. Not funny at all...

I know Marty Haugen from a liturgy conference we both attended. One of the nicest guys I've ever met, and as devoted a liberal Christian as you can find. I also like a lot of his music, as opposed to the drivel produced by contemporaries like Carey Landry, not to mention the horror that is "Contemporary Christian Music."

I chose "All are welcome" as one of the hymns at my ordination, alongside some plainchant pieces, and they worked together very well. I think that hymn would be a not inappropriate anthem for progressive Christianity as a whole.

Of course, he is currently persona non grata with Rome, both on the part of those traditionalists like Thomas Day that also find modern-language liturgy and the priest facing the people during Mass as heretical, and on the part of Ratzinger's Vatican, which discourages music from "non-Catholic" composers. (Haugen is Lutheran.)

BTW, I couldn't help but notice George E. Albrecht as one of the first members listed on that site -- I remember George from a long-ago Anglican mailing list, where he was one of the loudest-mouthed conservatives on the list; in particular, always ready to sing hosannas whenever the Church took another gay-bashing position. (Many on the list were gay, and his unconcealed joy at their pain in being kicked in the teeth once again was one of the ugliest things I've seen on an Internet group. I must admit that I once had to publicly "apologize" to him after one of his outbursts -- for suggesting he do something that was anatomically impossible. I hope my "apology" came across as insincere as it was intended to be.)

[RevCheesehead]

3. David Haas' hymn, "You Are Mine" is my new favorite hymn.

It's absolutely beautiful, and moves me to tears.

I will come to you in the silence,
I will lift you from all your fear.
Your will hear my voice,
I claim you as my choice,
be still and know I am here.

I am hope for all who are hopeless,
I am eyes for all who long to see.
In the shadows of the night,
I will be your light,
come and rest in me.

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me, I will bring you home;
I love you and you are mine.

I am strength for all the despairing;
healing for the ones who dwell in shame.
All the blind will see,
the lame will all run free,
and all will know my name.

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me, I will bring you home;
I love you and you are mine.

I am the Word that leads to all freedom,
I am the peace the world cannot give.
I will call your name,
embracing all your pain,
stand up, now walk, and live!

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me, I will bring you home;
I love you and you are mine.

His setting of the Beatitudes, Blest Are They is also one of my favorites.

Of course, a steady diet of only one kind of music would get old, very very fast. That's why I like to mix things up.

I've often felt disdain for certain overly-prolific composers. Bill Gaither comes to mind immediately. But also Hal Hopson (who I studied with, briefly), Natalie Sleeth, and John Ylvisaker. They're not awful musicians - they've just found a formula that works for them and their followers. If it makes them happy, and it helps praise the Lord, then who am I to say that kind of music doesn't belong?

[Critters2]

4. My choir loves Sleeth.

I know there are purists who don't care for her stuff, but I have no objection. But then, my hs choir director loved her, too, so her music brings back good memories for me. We're doing Gaudeamus Hodie on Easter. I first preformed that in a high school trio, with two of my bet friends. So, I'm not really objective.