Conversation: Michael Jiear, liturgical music consultant

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
30 May 2004

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Conversation: Michael Jiear, liturgical music consultant - In tune with a ministry of music

HARMONY: Music ‘is there to enhance the liturgy’, says Michael Jiear

By Chris Lindsay

Michael Jiear wants to fill the churches of the Sydney archdiocese with music – but the right kind of music. He certainly doesn’t want to turn the Mass into an audition for Australian Idol.

Michael is the new music consultant at the Liturgy Office where his job is to assist parishes to “enhance liturgical celebrations through the ministry of music”. He began in the position in February and believes he is the first music consultant in any archdiocese in Australia.

He sees his new role as primarily the education of the people so that they understand that “the music is a service to the liturgical action”.

“Music is not meant to dominate the liturgy, music is meant to accompany the ritual action of the liturgy,” Michael says. “So I see my job as guiding people into understanding this, and then providing them with resources and ideas, to enable them to go out and seek

appropriate repertoire so that the music they are making is serving the liturgical action itself.”

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