Enya's "May It Be"

[Gnarwhal]

I'm sure more or less all of us already know this song that Enya wrote for Fellowship of the Ring, it's a beautiful classic.

I came across this group Voces8 on YouTube and I've been obsessed with their music, a lot of it sacred music but not all. They did an a cappella arrangement of May It Be, and I don't know if it was because of that or something else, but it had me thinking: it sings like a benediction of sorts. Is that something that would be kosher for a recessional hymn after Mass? Seems like if a choir was good enough it would be a powerful send off for parishioners. I know Tolkien himself didn't write it, but he was the inspiration for it all the same. Given his devotion to the faith maybe it would work?

 

[Michie]

Well I know what I will be nodding off to tonight. Thanks!

I'm sure more or less all of us already know this song that Enya wrote for Fellowship of the Ring, it's a beautiful classic.

I came across this group Voces8 on YouTube and I've been obsessed with their music, a lot of it sacred music but not all. They did an a cappella arrangement of May It Be, and I don't know if it was because of that or something else, but it had me thinking: it sings like a benediction of sorts. Is that something that would be kosher for a recessional hymn after Mass? Seems like if a choir was good enough it would be a powerful send off for parishioners. I know Tolkien himself didn't write it, but he was the inspiration for it all the same. Given his devotion to the faith maybe it would work?

 

[jamiec]

If a song is not a hymn and intended for liturgical use, it has no place in the Liturgy, even as a recessional. The Liturgy is for the worship of God - it is not an expression of enthusiasm for much-admired authors.

Besides, the sacred character of the Liturgy excludes secular songs - which is why the melody of My Little Pony should never have been used as a setting for the Gloria:
Missa “My Little Pony” by Dan Schutte • Its Pedigree

&

Dan Schutte's “Missa My Little Pony” (2nd Part)

 

[Wolseley]

I love Enya's music. I have all of her albums except for the very last one; I'll acquire it eventually, though.

If a song is not a hymn and intended for liturgical use, it has no place in the Liturgy, even as a recessional. The Liturgy is for the worship of God - it is not an expression of enthusiasm for much-admired authors.

I remember hearing a story once about a young man named Cooper, a student at Oxford University, who was the organist for his particular section in the college. One Sunday morning, he discovered that he had completely forgotten to select anything to play for the voluntary (what we Americans would call the "entrance").

As luck would have it, he was a tremendous improvisor, so he started playing a music-hall song that was popular at the time, "Today I Feel So Happy", which was the only thing he could think of. He gave it a lot of solemn flourishes and deep chords, and actually made it sound quite reverent. Unfortunately, somebody in the congregation recognized the tune, and reported poor Cooper to the dean of the college.

The dean was utterly tone deaf and couldn't tell one thing from another, but nevertheless Cooper was called into the dean's office and given a blistering reprimand for playing this frivolous music-hall song as the voluntary, and it was made crystal clear that he was never to do such a thing again.

This made Cooper so angry that he went out an obtained the sheet music for Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor", and practiced it all week long. The next Sunday, he started right in with it---ta-da-da!...toddly-da-da!", and went on with this very dramatic piece. What he didn't know was, the dean was in the church, checking up on him. Remember, as I mentioned, the dean was completely tone deaf. After the service, Cooper was coming down from the organ loft, and who should he find waiting for him but the dean, foot tapping and arms crossed, who fixed him with a baleful glare and said, "Hmmmpf! Cooper! Up to your old tricks again, I hear!"

Besides, the sacred character of the Liturgy excludes secular songs - which is why the melody of My Little Pony should never have been used as a setting for the Gloria:
Missa “My Little Pony” by Dan Schutte • Its Pedigree

&

Dan Schutte's “Missa My Little Pony” (2nd Part)

Dan Schutte. Gag me with a spoon.

 

[Wolseley]

Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - YouTube

 

[Sword of the Lord]

How cool! I listen to LOTR and Titanic soundtracks on Spotify all the time for peace, especially when fishing. Enya is one of my favorites. Shoot, I fished for a few hours this morning and listened to this, Only Time (Enya), and Hymn to the Sea, a lot.