I am not quite sure what is up logo for the next convention of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
Now at first look you might think that this is a labyrinth which is currently so popular among progressive retreat houses. Now I know labyrinths have been used in Catholic meditation for a long time such as the one Cathedral of Chartres completed in the year 1200. Though I can’t think of this there use ever being recommended by any saints or blesseds of the Church.
Regardless what is displayed in the logo is not a labyrinth. More properly it is a maze. As noted in Wikepedia "A labyrinth has an unambiguous through-route to the center and back and is not designed to be difficult to navigate." The logo above has paths that do no reach the center and that you would have to backtrack to reach the center.
Since it is a maze I think it is an apt metaphor for NLM. Going the wrong way, getting lost, and confusion are quite apt to a maze and at times the efforts of NPM. Though you do wonder why the heck this symbol was selected for a group of musicians in the first place? What exactly does it have to do with the scripture from the high priestly prayer of Jesus in the Book of John?
I love this little blurb from the last conference held earlier this year.
"Liturgical documents can be our friends. Befriend the materials we need to know, especially newer elements for our consideration."
For me this really illustrates what I see as the attitude of some liturgical musicians when it comes to liturgical documents. For our consideration instead of being followed and being guided by. Maybe I read too much into a simple sentence but why in the world should you have to tell their member that Liturgical documents can be our friend, unless the general attitude is otherwise?
And of course there 2004 Pastoral Musician of the Year David Haas was on hand to teach. Though to be fair they also had also had classes on Chant. It is rather hard to remember sometimes that music publisher GIA does stand for Gregorian Institute of America.
Though some session raise my hackles a bit.
Explore how the use of Orff instruments can invite creative response and enrich music formation.
What the Church really needs are wooden xylophones for Mass.
The Singing Guitarist: Leading from the Guitar
The Organ: A Multicultural Instrument
PETER KURDZIEL
You’ll be surprised at how you can make the organ sound!
Ah but would you be pleasantly surprised or hair-raising surprised?
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I am sure the convention guide is just filled with Gregorian Chant workshops, right? [/heavy sarcasm]
RS, you’d be surprised. I just attended the NPM Northeast regional convention in June, and I attended the most wonderful of chant workshops there! It was directed by Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, who sits on the Bishops’ Subcommittee on Music in the Liturgy. However, most of the other workshops were garbage, except for a couple of unique organ registration ones.
I think that NPM is an organization that almost directly parallels teachers’ unions in the schools. If you want to be a professional, you have to belong, but they provide almost nothing and are often a detriment to the church/school.
In the dictionary, a labyrinth is a synonym for “maze” and is indeed difficult to solve – just ask Theseus. Why would Christians want such a thing, when they know the Way? [Jn 14:6]
Also, the symbol shown here has no openings to the outside at all – and even the cross is torn apart.
Perhaps the symbol speaks louder than songs. Percussion is good in its place, but didn’t St. Paul say something about lack of harmony being a broken symbol? [cf 1Cor13:1] Hee hee.
I am more worried with the Swaztika-ness of the cross in the logo
You say: “Since it is a maze, I think it is an apt metaphor for NLM.” Don’t you mean, National Pastoral Musicians (NPM), not NLM?
There is another blog site, New Liturgical Movement (NLM) that has a rather different point of view than NPM.
For $55 less per year, one can join the CMAA instead of the NPM, and be a part of an organization that at least supports SACRED music.
BMP
It was at the last national NPM convention that I learned to read square-note chant notation!
A possible caption for the Logo….
Get Lost!
Brain: “I am more worried with the Swaztika-ness of the cross in the logo”
If you look at the logo carefully enough, you will notice that is the same image as the “Iron Cross,” which also happened to be a symbol by the Nazis. Intriguing swervers around those edges, indeed.
Just a few thoughts on that logo in general. Personally, I would not nor do not ascribe to this interpretation (at least as a good meaning to the madness there), in that this logo could very well be trying to mean, as in the old labryinths of old (used in medieval times) that it is one’s goal to reach the center, the Cross. Iconically speaking, the Cross is Christ.
Furthermore, notice that each corner is purposely separted into four quadrants, but all leading to the cross (which is opened slightly). By entering the open sides of the each quadrant, one reaches the very center of the labyrinth/maze. So, apparently the goal is to bring everyone together, in Christ, even if they come from different origins.
So the only way to come together is through Christ.
Will that “explaination” do? A little too heavy for me, but that’s best I can make of it. Personally, I think they could have found a different logo, but overall it isn’t that bad of one either. I think if they are of the progressive/liberal persuasion then their putting the Cross in is a step that many won’t take.
I guess we should be thankful for the blessings, no matter how minute!
FYI, while the cross looks a bit swastika-ish, (and disturbingly so), the “iron cross” was stolen by the Nazis via Prussia from the very Catholic Teutonic Knights. It’s perfectly harmless most of the time, except in the one rather specialized form (black and white) used by the Nazis, and even then, like I said, they weren’t the first to use it. The present-day Teutonic Order (now of priests and nuns) still wear it on their white cloaks, I am told.
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