A man once wrote: "I despise all superficial, frivolous music...The object of music is to strengthen and ennoble the soul. If it does else, save honor God...it entirely misses its aim."
The author is Cristofano Morales of Spain, born in the early 1500's. Besides writing many beautful musical pieces, he was also admitted as a singer to the Sistine Chapel by Pope Paul III (these were the days when the Sistine Chapel functioned as a chapel and not a museum). His comment here reminds us of the long forgotten purpose of music - and when we say purpose, as Catholics, we always mean something touching the Divine plan for things. Why did God create music? And why did he put it into our soul? Morales echos the Greeks who echoed the Hebrews who might have heard God say it: music makes the soul better.
The state of music in our age is lacking - not so much a lack of great singers or amazing musicians. The lack is in our theology. The modern culture has consigned our greatest theological ideas to a superstitious past. It has lost a connection to the fundamental truths of our humanness which give our lives meaning and - here we go again - purpose. We have lost the very necessary idea, for instance, of the soul. For sure, we have plenty of pseudo-spiritual activities and rituals that get us in touch with our "inner self". We have countless spirtual healing excercises and therapies which claim to revitalize your spiritual being. But most of these superficial theologies concerning our invisible selves is never connected to any actual truth. It is always "However you want to pray" or "Be whoever you want to be" or the very common "Find yourself" (Anybody have directions to myself?).
This is not the theology of our Catholic heritage. A Catholic knows himself - not so much because he has searched his mind and found his true being there - but quite the opposite. The Catholic knows himself not for having searched his own mind but for having searched God's. The Catholic comes to know who he is by reaching outside of himself - transcending himself - and searching the mind of God. It is then that we find our true identity as humans - with all the individual nobility and sacredeness of a God-breathed, unrepeatable, non-animal, intellectually endowed soul. The saints and the Church are ever reminding us of this great idea - but again - the concept is lost in today's culture.
And so if God intended this wonderful thing which exists - inaudibly until we make it - that is, music - if God intended music to ennoble our souls then a world which doesn't pay attention to the soul will surely "miss the aim," as Morales puts it, of music.
This is why the music of our culture does so much to please the ear but so little to ennoble the soul. This is why American Idol can attract its millions while a composer like Cristofano Morales is unheard of. Our modern culture has produced plenty of music and more and more individuals have the means to publish musical content in our world of itunes and mp3s. Unfortunately, the driving force behind much of the musical output is monetary profit and fame - not the ennobling of the soul. Because this is often the end, or the reason for producing a piece of music, what is produced is often short, very catchy, and void of deeper meaning. They are often emotional ballads sung by emotional wrecks. They tickle the ear and the singers catch the eye - but the songs of the modern world rarely move the soul. Singers and producers make millions but the people who listen are left needing more and more. Who will be the next great pop star? What will be the number one song this week? Who will I idolize this year?
GK Chesterton said of literature that a good story tells the truth about the hero, but a bad story tells the truth about the author. If we translate that into the musical world, it may mean that a good song reveals truths about God and humanity, but a bad song reveals the truth about the artist. In other words, is it all about me or is it all about truth? Do I make music to sell myself or do I make music to communicate something true?
Modern songwriters seem to be limited to their senses and often miss the deeper spiritual realities that are present in every day things and everyday experiences. Their songs, therefore, are full of emotional content, but void of truth. Their music is ear-candy, and never the feast of the soul. Music has lost its aim and becomes frivolous. It becomes mere entertainment - a luxury. Morales knew this would be the case if music ever lost its true end in ennobling the soul. He says again, "...should one pretend to say that all music is a frivolous luxury, he may rest assured that the frivolity, and other defects besides, are to be looked for in himself, and not in the nature of music."
It is not in the nature of music to be without aim. Nor is it in the nature of man to be without a soul. We would do well to remember both these points which our Catholic heritage will teach us. If we remembered them, we may again make music that will lift our souls to the throne of Heaven.
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