What aim did the Counter-Reformation musical efforts strive to achieve?

The Counter-Reformation aimed primarily to recapture loyalty to the Catholic Church, and one strategy was to make music more accessible to the general populace. This was significant during a time when the Protestant Reformation had prompted many to challenge the practices of the Catholic Church, including its use of complex music that some believed obscured the clarity of the lyrics and the message. By promoting simpler, more easily understood forms of music, the Church intended to ensure that congregants could engage meaningfully with the sacred texts and foster a greater sense of community and devotion during worship. This strategy helped bolster the church's influence and appeal amidst growing competition from Protestant traditions.

In this context, the other choices represent approaches that were not prioritized or representative of the Counter-Reformation's musical goals. The complexity of vocal lines, the outright removal of polyphony, or discouraging congregational singing would not align with the intention to engage and spiritually uplift the congregants.