During her introduction of retired St. Columba Cathedral music director Dr. Daniel Laginya at the November 2 First Friday Club luncheon at Avion on the River in Canfield, Barb Zorn, St. Columba Cathedral choir member and cantor, reminded the audience that the date was All Souls Day and to recall all the First Friday Club attendees who had passed away.
She also noted that November 22 would be the feast day of Saint Cecelia, the patron saint of musicians, composers, instrument-makers and poets.
“If you have attended a diocesan event or Mass at St. Columba Cathedral [between 1981 and 2022], you know Dr. Laginya. Maybe you didn’t see him, but you certainly heard his playing and, perhaps, his cantoring as well. It is so appropriate that Dr. Laginya is our speaker today,” she said.
Laginya discussed why music in our liturgy is so important and can be so transformative. “I will share with you some thoughts on music and worship, in general, and I will talk about ways in which music is integral to our Roman Catholic liturgy,” he said.
On display was the vast musical knowledge he acquired as a musician, published composer, organist, choir director, music director, private teacher and Youngstown State University professor.
Though he is talented in music, Laginya also showed how he can engage an audience and lead them to be more involved in the musical aspects of Mass as part of a community.
He talked about teaching music theory at Youngstown State University and how he would start his first class of the semester discussing the properties of musical sound, which helps us focus our voices as a community.
To demonstrate pitch and sound waves, he encouraged the audience to sing their favorite note or pitch. Laginya counted to three and everyone sang the note at the same time.
Then he played a note on the keyboard and had everyone match the pitch. He remarked how everyone was more focused as a community when they all sang the same pitch.
This portion of his talk continued with more audience participation—and audience which included numerous present and former pastoral musicians. He clapped a rhythm in 4/4 time and had them repeat it.
“Not only does pitch unite us—but how we use rhythm does, too,” said Laginya.
Next, he played a recording of Kansas City Royals baseball fans chanting “Let’s Go Royals,” and then clapping in rhythm. “If they can do it at a baseball game, we can do it in church,” said Laginya, noting that music unites people in various situations. “When we unite our voices together, we also unite our minds and our hearts.”
He continued, “In worship, when we come to church, music allows us to rid ourselves of our individual preferences and become the one body in Christ. It is a very powerful tool in allowing that to happen.”
“Music in worship is an expression and sharing of our faith. Music allows us to express our beliefs and give witness to the commitment that we all have.”
Laginya went on to demonstrate how moods of music reflect the liturgical year—from the sparseness and simplicity of Lenten music to Midnight Mass at Christmas where the music reflects the joy of the birth of our Savior. To do this, he played pieces on the piano, including Chopin’s Funeral March, and asked the audience how it made them feel.
“Music has the ability to interpret the meaning of the text more intensely than reading the words alone. It elevates text to a higher degree of understanding,” said Laginya.
Laginya discussed the different styles of songs in worship. He referred to faith-expressive songs, which are well-known and comfortable to sing. Typically, they are songs that are sung at a wedding or funeral so the congregation knows them.
He said it is good to balance this music with faith-formative music. These songs are perhaps more difficult to sing because they are new tunes that relate to specific Gospel readings.
The audience sang a piece written by Laginya, Share This Meal, Share Your Lives, published by GIA Publications, Inc. The piece was inspired by Matthew 25. The song was an example of a faith-formative piece, which he wrote for children making their First Holy Communion. “I wrote this piece to impress upon them that participating in the Eucharist doesn’t end right there in church. They have to take their lives and take it out to the world,” Laginya said.
He noted Mathew 25 is a parable on how to live as a Christian—not only for children, but for adults.
“I first sent this to GIA with just three verses. They said that they loved this, but since it is a Communion hymn, they would like to have seven verses,” said Laginya.
He discussed additional verses with Zorn. She is also a member of Holy Family Parish in Poland, and the song was written for the First Holy Communion Class there.
Laginya began his life’s work in liturgical music at a young age. “I started playing the organ in second grade, and in junior high I started to play organ at church at St. Pius the X Church in Warren [now St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish].”
He became assistant organist at St. Columba Cathedral and later became music director and head organist there. He was at the cathedral from 1981 to 2022. Upon his retirement, Ralph Holtzhauser was appointed to the new role of Diocesan Director of Music and Cathedral Musician.
Laginya felt that his work as a liturgical musician was a calling that he continues to fulfill today. He teaches privately and has been a substitute musician at various churches in the last year. He remarked that he played at his first Jewish service this year and is continuing to write music.
