Favorite Hymn of John Paul II
Feb
24
Posted by Anthony Ruff, OSB in Music: Hymns |
The Summer 2008 issue of The Hymn, citing the Polish American Journal, reports that John Paul II loved the hymn (in Polish translation) “Barka,” which you and I know as something else. OK, everyone, no wisecracks about infallibility and good taste.
Tags: John Paul II, The Hymn
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#1 by Chuck Terbille on February 24, 2010 - 7:49 pm
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I have two stories about this song. 1. The sister of our former music director requested it for the 25th anniversary of her religious profession. She was taken by the fact that in the song Jesus is calling her. I think she also worked with Hispanics. 2. I play in a “contemporary” music ensemble and I hesitate every time we play and sing it. It tends to become a parody of Mariachi. I think there is a lot to be said for learning from and borrowing “features” of a foreign ethnic style. But that’s not the same thing as parody which feels inauthentic and unassimilated.
#2 by Adam Wood on February 24, 2010 - 11:16 pm
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Love that song.
Check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hjhSmUiPTE
Chuck: The song isn’t Mariachi. The composer was Spanish, not Mexican. Of course, you can do a Mariachi arrangement (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5xJDOZbhA), but that’s not a natural style for the piece.
#3 by Jeffrey Herbert on February 25, 2010 - 11:53 am
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OK…you can say that the song “isn’t Mariachi”, but when played, particularly if there are any brass instruments, it comes out that way. What exactly is the “natural style” for the piece? I have to admit that it can way too easily sound like a charicature of ethnic style rather than an integration of it. This I also find true of many “Gospel Style” works in the repertoire which, to me, seem to incorporate every cliche and stereotype in an effort to seem “authentic”. When compared with genuine examples of that style, such as the excellent compositions of Leon Roberts or Andre Crouch, they come across more like Tin Pan Alley songs than anything that should be used in worship. Not that either of those two composers are necessarily more appropriate for Catrholic liturgy, but at least they are actual Gospel Music.
#4 by Ralph Harris on March 4, 2010 - 2:59 pm
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A nice song, but definitely NOT a hymn.