Richard Morris Quotes

Catholic liturgical music, it would seem, is everywhere but in the Catholic Church itself.

Music had always been the handmaid of the Roman liturgy.

When the truth is that there would be no great Western music, and certainly no decent choral repertoire, without the Catholic faith.

Thus the slogan should be reversed: Catholics taught the world what music is supposed to sound like, and, more importantly, what it is supposed to mean.

And whether you're drawn to gospel music or church music or honky-tonk music, it informs your character and it informs your talent.

I actually grew up playing the piano in the church and was deeply involved in music ministry.

For four years, my mum allowed only church music in the house.

I know at my church a lot of the times we sung from hymn books and as we got older we started to change with time. I can honestly say that I was never influenced to write for the church.

As for sacred polyphony, there is no reason to be afraid of it.

I'm a big fan of gospel music, and you cannot be a fan of rock and roll, you cannot be a fan of country western music, and you can't really be a fan of jazz without listening to a lot of music that's religious.

Participation is easily obtained with Latin chant.

But nowadays hymns are the norm, because people don't have much else to sing.

Once the Mass is restored to its rightful place, we will again see choirs being developed.

The pastor of a parish will typically have no education in the chant or in music, and he will hire the first music director who walks through the door.

Even Catholic parishes today are not wanting for talent. But no serious singer or organist will get anywhere near the typical music program, at least if he wants to retain his self-respect.

I find most 'sacred music' pretty dismal.

I come from the performance world, but the idea of a worship song is different. It's useful music.

There is no dogma that the organ or harmonium can be used in church, but not the drum.

I listen to Bach a great deal. In general I like to listen to hymns and liturgical music.

The idea of music coming from the Church is not new.

I had experiences or exposure to music in church. I went to a church, it was very unique. It was a predominantly African American Catholic church. So they would have - one mass would be traditional church music, and then the other mass would be gospel music.

A lot of church music really inspired me. A lot of ancient music that's made for God. If you get really into the history of music, inevitably you're going to have to get into sacred religious music.

I'm fortunate in that I've grown up in a worshipping tradition which is quite rich musically (and music is very important to me) and has a wonderful resource of hymns from all sorts of different parts of the Church... and to go to church and be able to sing that stuff and listen to a Bach motet or indeed some charismatic choruses.

As some to Church repair, not for the doctrine, but the music there.

I think it's funny how people get confused when they think about church music, because a lot of times there is a soloist who stands out, but my church wasn't like that at all.