The Spirit of Gregorian Chant - Church Music Association of America

INTRODUCTION
It must be holy — it must he true art — but
it must at the same time be universal.
Pius X, Motu Proprio.
It is difficult to formulate a theory of simple facts: one does
not propose to prove the self-evident. We shall therefore present
our subject matter with no attempt at proving anything, merely
revealing.
On entering upon a course of teaching, we try to impress upon
our class the thought that the memorizing of a series of facts is, in
itself, as abstract an operation as that of a man who, in seeking the
cause of his being, spends all of his time looking at a skeleton,
stopping right there. What ultimately interests him, or should, is
the moving, vital force which made possible this framework of facts
as the residue of life. The idea is but the beginning: we must go in
quest of the nature of this idea.
We are impelled to share with many others the riches which
have meant so much in our own life. We feel encouraged in this,
since, during the now many years which it has pleased God that we
should labor in the field of Gregorian Chant, we have yet to meet
our first associate among the various peoples of different countries,
among those of varying creeds and diverse walks of life, among those
of differing ages from eight to eighty—yes, we repeat—we have yet
to associate with any student or personal pupil of this subject who,
having entered upon his course of study with an open mind and
persevered with active cooperation, has not been captivated, some
more, some less, not alone by the beauty of this supreme musical art,
but even more by the spirit of truth which penetrates the very sub"
stance of the elements which go to make up this sung prayer of the
Church.
Nothing less than normal good will can long remain
impervious to the beauty which carries with it the stamp of the
Divine.