Saturday, January 22, 2011

Cardinal, ex-Sistine choir director discusses crisis in Church music

Describing Pope Benedict’s decision to name him a cardinal as “a sign of love of the Pope for sacred music,” Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci discussed the crisis in Church music in a recent interview.

The cardinal, who served as director of the Sistine Chapel Choir from 1956 until his ouster in 1997, paid tribute to the love for sacred music shown by Ven. Pius XII and Blessed John XXIII. 

“Benedict XVI loves Gregorian chant and polyphony very much and wants to recover the use of Latin,” he added. 

“He understands that without Latin the repertory of the past is destined to be filed away.”

“It is necessary to return to a liturgy that makes room for music, with a taste for the beautiful, and also to return to true sacred art,” the cardinal said.

SIC: CC/INT'L