Musicae sacrae disciplina

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The encyclical Musicae sacrae disciplina of Pope Pius XII. was published on December 25, 1955 and is subtitled "On Church Music ". With this circular the Pope intended to express the importance of church music, especially in the liturgy . It was directed primarily against the music of the Romantic era and popular mass settings. So did the music , as Pius XII. says, has a close and high meaning to the liturgy, since it comes closer to the act of cult than most other liberal arts .

“Church music must to the highest degree possess the special qualities of the liturgy, namely the holiness and the goodness of form; from this a further characteristic grows automatically, the generality. These properties can be found to the greatest extent in Gregorian chant, and classical polyphony also possesses an excellent degree . A church composition is all the more sacred and liturgical the closer it approaches Gregorian melody in its course, inspiration and taste; and it is all the less worthy of the house of God as it departs from this highest example. "

As an introduction, reference is made to the statements made by Pope Pius X , which he wrote down in his Motu proprio Tra le sollecitudini , which he called the legal book of church music . Pius XII. reminds us that the Council of Trent also frowned upon those pieces of music in which something unrestrained or unclean is mixed with organ playing or singing. His predecessor Benedict XIV had already warned the bishops in 1749 that excessive abuses that had penetrated church music against all custom should be averted by all means. Once again the criteria of Pius X are reminded. In addition, Gregorian chant - according to the encyclical - is suitable for experiencing the unity of the Church in itself with deep consolation.

Pius XII. also emphasized that the " Musica sacra " had a music pedagogical mandate and required that the young people learn at least the easier and more common pieces of Gregorian chant and also know how to use them in liturgical celebrations. A closer assessment of the encyclical results in clear instructions for church music and the order to maintain appropriate discipline in music design .

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