As we approach the holiest week in the church year, we will be hearing a lot of music to accompany the liturgies. Out of all the sounds you will be hearing, the most natural sound that creates the most beauty is the human voice. The
Sing to the Lord document states, “Of all the sounds of which human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, are capable, voice is the most privileged and fundamental. Musical instruments in the Liturgy are best understood as an extension of and support to the primary liturgical instrument, which is the human voice” (86)
One way that we have produced this natural sound of beauty in our assembly is by singing the English chant parts acapella during this Lenten season. Another is responding in unison to the responsorial psalm, and gospel acclamation and chanting the dialog between the celebrant and the assembly.
Sometimes we take for granted the space we are occupying. If we just take the time to listen to the beautiful sound that surrounds us, we can become wrapped in a spiritual trance that will take us on a journey into the heavenly realm. We can add beauty in two ways: The first and far most is by actively singing with the assembly as one voice being sensitive to the voices that surround us. The second is in recognition that we can function as “One Body” quite effectively by yielding to contrasting sections of the music. These contrasts are provided by those musicians leading the assembly whether they be choir members, instrumentalist or simply an organist and cantor. Throughout the liturgy, it is permitted to sing antiphonally, or allowing the choir, cantor or celebrant to sing and the assembly to respond.
What dulls this sense of beauty is the when the music created is mechanical or routine. For example, if all instruments and voices for instance play and sing on every hymn and every verse at the same dynamic level, or if all voices always sing in unison, the beauty is lost. It is like singing music with the car radio.
What we do at our liturgies is so important. We come broken and need healing. The healing happens through the sacraments celebrated. Let us make our music truly spiritual by being sensitive to these points.