THE SONG LITURGICAL HYMN AND THE WAYS OF DEVELOPING THE GENRE IN THE MODERN PRACTICE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Abstract

The Second Vatican Council (1962—1965) formulated the principles of parishioners’ active participation in the liturgical and pastoral life of the Church. The introduction of congregational singing into the Catholic Church service led to a significant rethinking of the cult repertoire. The hymns of Proprium, which have not yet received a unified name in the Russian liturgical practice, became one of the leading genres of collective performance in the mass. In connection with the significant changes in hymnography that took place in the twentieth century, the concept of “song liturgical hymn” is introduced. It refers to the liturgical chanting in the national language for communal performance in the procession sections of the reformed mass. The article analyzes the hymns of the modern composers G. Gsel “You Are My Good Shepherd” and P. Bebenek “Glory to You, Lord”, deeply rooted in activities of the Russian Catholic parishes. In the song liturgical hymn the traditional signs of Church chants are supplemented by attributes of secular culture. The indissoluble connection with the Church environment and the subordination to the liturgical tasks bring the new hymn-creating closer to the temple practice. The modern hymns are stylistically distanced from household music, but at the same time absorb some attributes of song. It is emphasized that the genre dominant of Church chants is constant; it has not changed for centuries. In the song liturgical hymn, the new conditions of performance influence the reintonation of the genre heritage. The Second Vatican Council marked the beginning of the integration movement and gave impetus to the expansion of the musical vocabulary of the service. The official permission of national idioms in the Church practice played a significant role in changing today’s repertoire. The definition of “song liturgical hymn” reflects the new position of the Holy See regarding the direct participation of parishioners in the mass.