Gregorian Chant

Its time for another book report!

I have just finished Gregorian Chant, A guide to the History and Liturgy by Daniel Sulnier. More a historical overview, so here is just a taste of what I found interesting:

1) You may be aware that Gregorian chant was originally closely associated with  elevated speech. It is thus used for the two types of elevated speech that we encounter: God's word and our word directed towards God found mainly in Scripture and prayer. You've no doubt heard that the beginning of Genesis seems to be in a poem-like narrative which begs the question, did man's speech originate as closer to song than the speech of our day or is that merely evidence of musical association for the purpose of memory and transmission over generations of God-proclaiming-story-tellers. Ultimately, little is known about the first Gregorian chant. It seems that it may have been much more elaborate than historians once realized. We have some idea of notation, but we also have writings that indicate it was virtually impossible to learn except by hearing and repeating. This leads us to believe that the remaining notation may be severely unhelpful for true repetition of what was once done.

2) Vatican II placed an emphasis and goal-setting-outlook on the reintegration of Gregorian chant into liturgical celebrations. Presumably this stems from the idea that what was done in the early centuries is more correct. Side by side with Gregorian chant is the retranslation of the mass which has taken effect in RC churches all over the English speaking world. The retranslation was not done for the purpose of correcting any deviation from Scripture, but to more accurately translate the original Latin translation. Interesting for one who is trying to decide if seminary is necessary for Bible translation. Is it right to go and literally translate the word of God, or should one take an extra four years of education with the goal of more accurately discerning the theological issues that will be sure to arise on the linguistic table?