Top "Catholic" Songs in the Liturgy

[cmotherofpirl]

'On Eagle's Wings' tops all songs in online liturgical music survey

By Mark Pattison
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "On Eagle's Wings," the musical reworking of the 91st Psalm by Father Michael Joncas, topped all other songs in an online poll asking which liturgical song most fostered and nourished the respondent's life.

Two songs made popular by the St. Louis Jesuits -- "Here I Am, Lord" and "Be Not Afraid" -- came in second and third, followed by "You Are Mine," by David Haas.

The online poll was sponsored by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. The poll was featured last year in an issue of its membership magazine, Pastoral Music, and announcements about the poll were distributed to diocesan newspapers in an effort to get the input of "rank-and-file Catholics," said J. Michael McMahon, the association's president.

In the poll, respondents could vote for only one song. No songs were listed on the Web site to give them suggestions. About 3,000 people took part in the poll.

Of the 25 liturgical music songs mentioned most, songs written after the Second Vatican Council took not only the top four positions, but six of the top nine, and 12 of the top 25. The fourth-ranked song, "You Are Mine," received 138 votes, 81 percent more votes than the fifth-ranked song, "How Great Thou Art," which got 76.

McMahon, in a telephone interview with Catholic News Service, cautioned against the notion that post-Vatican II music has dominance over all other liturgical music. "We got 670 different songs mentioned," he said. "Even the top choice is only 8 percent of the total," or 242 votes.

The poll results didn't surprise McMahon. "It panned out pretty much like the way I expected," he said, adding that The Tablet, a British Catholic newspaper, conducted a similar survey, which found "Here I Am, Lord" to be the top choice of its readers.

Rounding out the pastoral musicians association's top 10 was, in sixth place, the traditional Catholic hymn "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," whose lyrics are ascribed to Ignaz Franz, followed by John Newton's "Amazing Grace," Marty Haugen's "All Are Welcome," Sebastian Temple's "Prayer of St. Francis," and "Ave Maria."

Those who voted for "Ave Maria" and "Panis Angelicus," which finished 15th, probably meant the versions by Franz Schubert and Cesar Franck, respectively, "but we don't know for sure," McMahon said. "Since many of them (voters) were not professionals, they probably didn't realize there was more than one version."

Currently filling in as a parish choir director, McMahon said, "I'm always surprised how many young people ask for 'Ave Maria' or 'Panis Angelicus' at weddings and funerals."

One Spanish-language song, "Pescador de Hombres," made the list, finishing 17th. Many hymnals print English-language companion lyrics, calling the song "Lord, When You Came to the Seashore." In his current interim job, McMahon said, he asked "who had heard this song, and only one did, and she came from Latin America."

McMahon said this points to "the divergence of American Catholic churches," including "the hymnals they use," since songs published by one copyright holder don't always find their way into the hymnals of their competitors.

Other contemporary Catholic songs in the top 25 were "We Are Called," 11th place; "I Am the Bread of Life," 13th; "The Summons," 14th; "Shepherd Me, O God," 19th; "One Bread, One Body," 22nd, and "Hosea," which tied for 24th place with the traditional Catholic hymn "Pange Lingua."

Other traditional Catholic hymns on the list were "Ave Verum Corpus," 20th, and "Tantum Ergo," 23rd.

Songs on the list with roots in Protestant or evangelical hymnody included Richard Gillard's "The Servant Song," 16th place, and Donna Marie McCargill's "Servant Song," 18th.

Also making the list were "Let There Be Peace on Earth," in 12th place, and "Lord of the Dance," in 21st. "Both found their way into liturgical use, but came from outside the (liturgical music) culture," McMahon said.

[toledo_jesus]

those songs smell of elderberries.

We hates them. Nasties.

[Era Might]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' date='Jan 26 2006, 06:00 PM']those songs smell of elderberries. 

We hates them.  Nasties.
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I voted for "Immaculate Mary".

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Jan 26 2006, 06:01 PM']I voted for "Immaculate Mary".
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well, I'm talking about Eagle's Wings and that sort of teeth-rotting sugarpop garbage. where's the barf smiley?


Has anyone ever read "Why Catholics Can't Sing" by Thomas Day?

[missionseeker]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' date='Jan 26 2006, 05:00 PM']those songs smell of elderberries. 

We hates them.  Nasties.
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dittto

Poor Pange Lingua....

[photosynthesis]

ugh.. "All are welcome?" "Lord of the Dance?" Where's the barf bucket when you need it?

if I were voting in this poll I'd pick:

"Holy God We Praise Thy Name"
"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"
"Jesus My Lord, My GOd, My All"
"Immaculate Mary"
"Faith of Our Fathers"
"All Creatures of Our God And King"

[the_rev]

[quote]In Other Sacred Music News

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "On Eagle's Wings," the musical reworking of the 91st Psalm by Father Michael Joncas, topped all other songs in an online poll asking which liturgical song most fostered and nourished the respondent's life.

Two songs made popular by the St. Louis Jesuits -- "Here I Am, Lord" and "Be Not Afraid" -- came in second and third, followed by "You Are Mine," by David Haas.

The online poll was sponsored by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. The poll was featured last year in an issue of its membership magazine, Pastoral Music, and announcements about the poll were distributed to diocesan newspapers in an effort to get the input of "rank-and-file Catholics," said J. Michael McMahon, the association's president.


Of the 25 liturgical music songs mentioned most, songs written after the Second Vatican Council took not only the top four positions, but six of the top nine, and 12 of the top 25. The fourth-ranked song, "You Are Mine," received 138 votes, 81 percent more votes than the fifth-ranked song, "How Great Thou Art," which got 76.

Rounding out the pastoral musicians association's top 10 was, in sixth place, the traditional Catholic hymn "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," whose lyrics are ascribed to Ignaz Franz, followed by John Newton's "Amazing Grace," Marty Haugen's "All Are Welcome," Sebastian Temple's "Prayer of St. Francis," and "Ave Maria."

Other contemporary Catholic songs in the top 25 were "We Are Called," 11th place; "I Am the Bread of Life," 13th; "The Summons," 14th; "Shepherd Me, O God," 19th; "One Bread, One Body," 22nd, and "Hosea," which tied for 24th place with the traditional Catholic hymn "Pange Lingua."

Also making the list were "Let There Be Peace on Earth," in 12th place, and "Lord of the Dance."

[/quote]

Accoring to the Praire Priest at [url="http://priesthood.motime.com"]http://priesthood.motime.com[/url] he states, Could it possible be that the reason more traditional hymns didn't make the list because the have effectively been rooted out from the minds and hearts of the average parishioner? I think that sadly, that is the case. I don't understand how anyone who is familiar with such beautiful and moving hymns such as "Soul of My Savior" or "Jesus, my Lord, My God, My All" could even compare them to musical and theological disasters such as "All are Welcome" or "Lord of the Dance."

[Guest Rick777]

"You are mine"? wow...how sad.

[the_rev]

However I can say that at all the masses I have attended with the Bishop there are no non-traditional songs, they consis of Sweet Sacrament Most Holy, I am the Bread of Life, and many other traditional songs of the faith. Sometimes even Latin songs. I love my bishop!

[the_rev]

One of the songs I do not like is for sure Amazing Grace and How Great thou Art.

[Lil Red]

merged

[the_rev]

I didn't realize there was another thread. Probably since I was gone and just read it on the net today....

[avemaria40]

I like Amazing Grace but my favorite Catholic songs are "Immaculate Mary", "Ave Maria", "Pange Lingua", "Veni Sancti Spiritus", "Pie Jesu", "Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above", and "Lord When You Came To the Sea Shore". sadly, we don't sing those very often

[cmotherofpirl]

I love [i]On Eagles Wings[/i]

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Jan 26 2006, 04:31 PM']Currently filling in as a parish choir director, McMahon said, "I'm always surprised how many young people ask for 'Ave Maria' or 'Panis Angelicus' at weddings and funerals."
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We had both of these at our wedding. We found two wonderful singers for our wedding. The piano player we got we wouldn't go with again. First off, when we first met with her, we told her we liked more traditional music and that I can't stand the variation for Lamb of God (Bread of Life, Prince of Peace, King of Beers, etc.). She ends up asking us if Mass of Creation is okay, and since we had no clue what it was at the time and assumed it would be good, we said sure. Talk about not listening to your clients. She also advised us that we shouldn't do 'Panis Angelicus' at communion because "The communion hymn should be something people can sing along to while they're walking up the aisle." We ended up putting PA for the offertory hymn. She wanted us to do "I am the Bread of Life" for communion, but I don't like the songs that go directly into first person of God. Anyways, we wish we had a better piano player because she didn't really do the music justice compared to the singers we had. Not to mention she was charging more than the other pianists we approached first who happen to play at mass at our parish and do a fine job. I will end my rant now.