WOMEN SOLOISTS BANNED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 14

WOMEN SOLOISTS BANNED

EDICT OF CATHOLIC CHURCH ARCHBISHOP'S PASTORAL MESSAGE Tire banning of women’s solos in Melbourne Roman Catholic churches may result in a similar ban being imposed in Sydney, says the Sun. Archbishop Mannix’s pastoral letter has not yet been received at St. Mary’s Cathedral. A statement issued from the Cathedral set out that church music should be in accordance with the devotional spirit of the religious ceremonies, subordinate to them, and employed as a help towards reverence and prayer. Profane music, drawing the mind towards worldly thoughts, is

avoided. Unnecessary repetitions of phrases, omissions of the text, and the mere display of vocal power, distracting the attention of the congregation from what is going on at the altar, are out of harmony with Catholic Ideals of church music. Gregorian chant is the supreme model for church music, it was stated. Classical polyphony, especially that of Palestrina, is in agreement with the Catholic ideal. Compositions based on profane operas are forbidden, and noisy instruments, such as drums, cannot be introduced into a Catholic church. “The excessive use of any instruments should be checked,” the statement concluded, “and the first place given to the human voice for the praise of God.”