Make a joyful noise

[callmemadam]

BBC TV's popular Songs of Praise programme has had a poll to pick the top ten favourite hymns. Looking at the list, I see at least three hymns which I really dislike. Radio 4's Sunday has had a much better idea: vote for your favourite but also your least favourite hymn.

It's really hard to choose a favourite hymn out of so many great ones. Most of mine tend to be Lenten hymns, like My Song is Love Unknown and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross or hymns set to tunes by Bach, Holst and other masters. In the end I plumped for Praise, my Soul, the King of Heaven because it's a happy one. For my hate I picked dreary Lord of the Dance because I think the rot set in when it was introduced. Not that I dislike everything modern: it's banality and poverty of language I object to.

You can vote here.

Comments

[sloopjonb.livejournal.com]

There's a down side to the Reformation, mind; all those churches and cathedrals are now exceedingly drab inside, thanks to those pesky Puritans.

I remember the Tridentine Mass (not strictly Latin, since bits of it were in Greek); in fact there's a church on North Quay in Dublin still does them. I can't say its passing is much regretted; sounded very awesome and sonorous when done properly, but ridiculous when done without feeling in a nasal Ulster accent. And what is the point of a liturgy no-one understands?

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I have been to a funeral where the Tridentine mass was used and I have to say it was ghastly. Private business between the priest, the deceased and God, which I do understand, but grim for the rest of us, who didn't even have books to follow.

The great advantage of the Latin though was surely its universality? You could follow the service anywhere in the world.

[sloopjonb.livejournal.com]

I've never understood this argument; the liturgy follows the same pattern in whatever language, and the only bit you need to follow is the Communion, which ought be fairly obvious. Friends-and-relations of mine have had no problem with Masses in Polish and Catalan (although obviously they kept schtum for the hymns).

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I've never understood this argument

I bow to your inside knowledge.