Arlene Oost-Zinner berichtet über den Terminus "Pastoralmusiker" (oder "pastoraler Musiker"), der in einer Publikation anstelle des Wortes "Kirchenmusiker" verwendet wird.The New Liturgical Movement hat geschrieben: The language of church musicians
posted by Arlene Oost-Zinner
I just happened upon a liturgy planning guide put out by a well known publisher of contemporary Catholic music. Instead of referring to musicians as church musicians, the term that is used again and again throughout the publication is "pastoral" musician. Yes, I know there is a national association of people who refer to themselves as pastoral musicians, but I had never spent time thinking about the term as such, and the effect this kind of language has on the way a musician views his role in the liturgy.
Not able to shake the question, I looked up some directives in the 2003 GIRM:
103. Among the faithful, the schola cantorum or choir exercises its own liturgical function, ensuring that the parts proper to it, in keeping with the different types of chants, are properly carried out and fostering the active participation of the faithful through the singing.87 What is said about the choir also applies, in accordance with the relevant norms, to other musicians, especially the organist.
And,
104. It is fitting that there be a cantor or a choir director to lead and sustain the people's singing. When in fact there is no choir, it is up to the cantor to lead the different chants, with the people taking part.
Then, to beg the question, I looked up a definition of pastoral, in case I was missing something. Here's what the Wikipedia says:
Pastoral, as an adjective, refers to the lifestyle of shepherds and pastoralists, moving livestock around larger areas of land according to seasons and availability of water and feed.
Now if I read the GIRM correctly, it seems the role of a musician is to serve the liturgy - to make sure that correct music is in place. Oh yes, and lead the singing. Seems clear enough. But add to that the term pastoral (I understand that the above needs to understood metaphorically) and I'm left wondering how the serious parish musician with sound training and dedication to the music and traditions of the Church, and with focus on the quality and beauty of the music he provides for the Mass, should suddenly be required to consciously provide for the vital needs of the many souls crying out for salvation at the same time.
Isn't that why we have pastors? Shouldn't pastors be the ones providing proper guidance to musicians (especially if we're seen as part of the faithful, as per the GIRM)and parishioners alike? Bottom line - isn't what happens at liturgy ultimately the responsibility of the pastor?
Zunächst nimmt sie sich die Anweisungen aus der Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani 2002 (in den USA vermutlich erst 2003 übersetzt?) vor, und dann mit der etymologischen Herkunft des Begriffes "pastoral" - unter diesem Stichwort findet man in der englischsprachigen Wikipedia einen anderen Artikel als in der deutschen.
Nach O.-Z.'s Meinung stellt die IGMR fest, dass der Kirchenmusiker in erster Linie Diener der Liturgie und für die korrekte Ausführung der musikalischen Dienste im Gottesdienst verantwortlich ist. Darüber sollte wohl Einigkeit bestehen.
Nun wirft O.-Z. die Frage auf, wie der "serious" (seriös, ernsthaft, ernstzunehmende?!) Kirchenmusiker bewusst und wissentlich ("consciously") den vielen Seelen, die nach Erlösung schrien, Unterstützung bieten kann. Sind für diese Aufgabe nicht die Geistlichen (pastor = Hirte) bestellt?
Es kann m. E. keine Frage sein, dass die Geistlichen zunächst und hauptsächlich für das Heil der Seelen innerhalb ihres Wirkungsbereichs zuständig sind. Aber ist es einem Kirchenmusiker tatsächlich nicht möglich, durch seine Tätigkeit die Geistlichen bei dieser Aufgabe zu unterstützen? Könnte man daher Kirchenmusiker auch mit Recht als "pastoral musicians" bezeichnen, wie in jener Publikation geschehen?
Da ich selber Kirchenmusiker bin, und zu diesem Thema natürlich viel sagen könnte, würden mich zunächst einmal eure Meinungen interessieren!