Quote Originally Posted by saxandpipes View Post
What was his reasoning, if you don't mind my asking?
Well, the Church frowns upon the use of "secular" instruments in her liturgies. Organs yes, pipes no. That would be the number one reason.

I'm sure a bit of my father's thinking was based on the old "instrument of war" aspect of the pipes, as well. He would laugh and use that reason with prospective brides and such, but really the main reason was that the Church frowns upon instruments that are purely secular. Whilst my father was an Anglican, he was an Anglo-Catholic, and would have been familiar with the Motu Proprio "Tra le Sollecitudini
" promulgated by Pope St. Pius X in 1903, which stated:

VI. Organ and instruments
15. Although the music proper to the Church is purely vocal music, music with the accompaniment of the organ is also permitted. In some special cases, within due limits and with proper safeguards, other instruments may be allowed, but never without the special permission of the Ordinary, according to prescriptions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum.

16. As the singing should always have the principal place, the organ or other instruments should merely sustain and never oppress it.

17. It is not permitted to have the chant preceded by long preludes or to interrupt it with intermezzo pieces.

18. The sound of the organ as an accompaniment to the chant in preludes, interludes, and the like must be not only governed by the special nature of the instrument, but must participate in all the qualities proper to sacred music as above enumerated.

19. The employment of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of noisy or frivolous instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and the like.

20. It is strictly forbidden to have bands play in church, and only in special cases with the consent of the Ordinary will it be permissible to admit wind instruments, limited in number, judiciously used, and proportioned to the size of the placeprovided the composition and accompaniment be written in grave and suitable style, and conform in all respects to that proper to the organ.


I hope that answers your question.