The music in New York and at Vespers in Washington at the Shrine is forward looking and impressive. It seems impossible that at the Pope's April 17th Mass in Wasington, D.C., that anyone could possibly schedule The Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen,: the Sanctus, the "Great Amen," and Agnus Dei. Composed in 1984 (I think), with obvious Broadway influence and overdone melodrama, it has been an unrelenting presence in parishes all over the country. In fact, it is legendarily over used, in every season, again and again and again, so much so that these parts of the Mass sometimes seems like the movie Groundhog Day.
In all honesty, I can't bring myself to get worked up about this.
Although it might scandalize some St. Blog's hangers-on, I actually don't mind some of Marty Haugen's music—including "Mass of Creation".
There. I said it.
One thing I will say, though, is that this reference prompted me to recall my favorite "Mass of Creation" anecdote:
My college choir director once told me about a wedding he attended, the music for which included "Mass of Creation" — only in the program it was rendered "Massive Creation by Marty Haugen".
Apparently they had only hitherto heard "Mass of Creation" spoken and never seen it in print.
Now, whenever I hear or see the words "Mass of Creation", I can't help but chuckle.
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