Sveta glazba: glazbena baština Rimske Crkve – gregorijanski koral
Sacred music: musical heritage of the Roman Church – Gregorian chant

Summary/Abstract: In the Roman Church the Gregorian chant has an important place and an important function. Especially in the liturgy. Although it is often forgotten in today’s liturgical-musical practice, the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Instruction Musicam Sacram, provides an occasion to once again think about the value of this musical type in liturgical celebrations. In the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution Sacrosantum concilium sacred music is regarded to be the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action. Only such music can be rightly called liturgical, or sacred music. Thus, liturgical music is the sacred music that can be specifically incorporated in divine worship. Aware of the function music has in the liturgy, the Church has not (and must not!) renounce the treasure of sacred music (Gregorian chant) even after the introduction of the national (popular) language in the liturgy. The Second Vatican Council recognized Gregorian chant as particularly suited for the Roman liturgy and that it should be preserved, while not excluding other types of music, provided that this music agrees with the spirit of the liturgical action (SC, No. 117). It is clear that we don’t need to strive for Gregorian Renaissance today, but we can (and must) strive for a cultural revival of the Gregorian chant, which even today calls to creative fidelity

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