‘Gij die het sprakeloze bidden hoort’. Over de kwaliteiten van liturgische zang zonder woorden

Abstract

In this contribution, called Gij die het sprakeloze bidden hoort (Thou, Who hearest our speechless prayers) the quality of liturgical singing without words is discussed. It focuses on the verbal qualities of non-verbal music in liturgy, as well as on the pure non-verbalism of many liturgical and ritual songs. Departing from Document II (2002) of the international study group Universa Laus, according to which, in liturgy, man is answering to the Word with his entire body, the language (in a wider sense) of music is discussed. It touches upon the ideas of the American philosopher Susanne Langer (1895-1985) that human thoughts are expressed in language, while feelings are expressed in music. As far as liturgical praxis is concerned, attention is paid to the ideas of well-known liturgists and musicians such as Bernard Huijbers and Jean-Claude Menoud.