Sing Like a Catholic

by Jeffrey Tucker

Sing Like a Catholic, by Jeffrey Tucker, chronicles how we are moving from a world in which "Catholics can’t sing" to one in which singing like a Catholic is a glorious thing, the fulfillment of a brilliant heritage that began in the Apostolic age with chant, continued through the middle ages and the Renaissance with soaring heights of the polyphonic era, and all the way through the later centuries with orchestral and organ Masses.In order to continue this trend, we need a paradigm shift: the Roman Gradual for the choir, the Kyriale for the people, and the Missal for the celebrant. The music most appropriate to liturgy, the author argues, is either that music or an elaboration on that music.Liturgical music is a special sort that lifts our hearts and minds ever upwards to the Heavens. The push is not so much for “restoration” but rather for an ideal, which is what Catholic musicians lack and desperately need.

Genres: Music

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Jeffrey A. Tucker is Editorial Director for the American Institute for Economic Research. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Austrian Economics Center in Vienna, Austria, Honorary Fellow of Mises Brazil, founder and Chief Liberty Officer of Liberty.me, an adviser to blockchain application companies, past editorial director of the Foundation for Economic Education and Laissez Faire Books, founder of the CryptoCurrency Conference, and author of many thousands of articles in the scholarly and popular press and eight books in 5 languages. He speaks widely on topics of economics, technology, social philosophy, and culture.

Reviews

[Wendy Wong Schirmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A "What is to be Done?" for anyone involved in music ministry who cares about the Catholic Church's musical tradition of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony-- and who wants to implement a music program that includes both in the parish. Tucker discusses the status quo in many a parish and what any Church musician is up against.

[Joe Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

At its best, this collection of essays and reviews can be clever and insightful, diagnosing commonplace issues in the world of Catholic liturgical music and parish life and sharing some unique ideas and suggestions. However, it also exhibits several major shortcomings, two of which are worth noting. First, the essays seem to have been complied rather haphazardly. One tires of hearing the same basic mantras repeated ad nauseam across essays (even when they are true!). And second, the target audience is unclear. It appears that the book is designed as essentially a "preaching to the choir" work, to be read by those who already largely agree with the author. Given that sources are not cited in support of many objective claims, subjective assertions, and generalizations made (especially about the state of liturgical music since the 1960s), one can't imagine this book would be compelling to one ideologically opposed to the author.

[Abbey Dupuy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a great deal from this book, and there are many important ideas here. I worry a little that the author is preaching to the choir, perhaps literally- I’m not sure that the often sardonic tone is going to win anyone over to the idea that a return to Gregorian Chant could fix all that ails our liturgical music today (even though I definitely believe it could). Also, there are some editing issues with this text. Still, four stars, because he is right...and he makes the case clearly and passionately at a time when it desperately needs to be made.