The Recovering Choir Director

My goodness! “Spoken, English” is a popular hymn at that church.

The 1970’s called.. They’d like their music back.

Isn’t the most important thing, far and away, that the people were singing robustly? People, get off your high horses and see the forest for the trees. I’ve been a music minister for over 30 years, and I am quite ‘traditional’ in my musical tastes (whatever that means). However, the one thing I’ve learned about music in liturgy that surpasses everything is that it be pastoral. Introduce new music, of course, but learn to love the sound of your congregation singing, whether you like the song or not! The 70’s may seem “old-fashioned” to you, but what might they think about “Hymn To Joy” that exceeds 200 years? Shame on any of us for criticizing a singing congregation.

David and Todd, people may be singing robustly, but what’s the use if they are singing texts which are theologically wrong or liturgically inappropriate? We serve the liturgy *first* and then comes pastoral needs.

That’s almost the exact Mass plan used at the church I visited last Sunday (except they sang “Be Not Afraid” for Communion), and there was likewise a lot of singing. I’m with David here; just because *you* don’t like the style doesn’t mean this church was bad or anything. And Norman, I agree that liturgical inappropriateness trumps other concerns, but all the objections here on this note have been strictly stylistic.

Some of us grew up in the 70s and 80s; this *is* traditional church music. I like hymns and (some) chant too, but I don’t ever want to entirely lose “City of God” et al from liturgical use.

“While I’m sure its a great thing that everyone is singing at Mass, why do we have to get the congregation to sing everything anyway?”

First, it’s clear that the congregation didn’t sing everything that was possible to sing. But song is called for in the 1970 Rite at many times, and the presumption is that the people will sing at those times, plus others that are pastorally suitable (after the final blessing, for example).

Second, I echo David again: two of these songs are scripturally based, and all are sound expressions of Catholic worship. They may not be in alignment with my tastes, but criticism of these songs is largely a matter of personal taste.

Todd wrote:

“criticism of these songs is largely a matter of personal taste.”

Todd, you haven’t yet learned your lesson. It is NOT “taste.”

However, as an empiricist, I note here one of the few situations where contemporary music, accompanied by guitars, results in considerable participation by the assembled congregation: A small church that did not use artificial amplification.

So, while I think this parish may be capable of doing better quality music — as measured by such things as regularity of rhythm, stepwise motion, a harmonic rhythm that moves, et al. — that the people respond here is a much better situation than in many places, where the people are largely mute.

We would do well to heed Pope John Paul II on this matter. not all forms of music can be considered suitable for liturgical celebrations.

Hello, friends!

Since this is a discussion (and, happily, a friendly discussion!) may I please say:

I take issue with this comment:

—– Comments such as, “Guitar music and “sing-along” flavor songs may be wonderful in certain settings, but I don’t think Mass is one of them.” are indeed matters of personal opinion and taste. That’s not a bad thing, mind you, just not as high up on a musician’s list as other considerations. —–

For myself, I would say that keeping out inappropriate music should be very high on a musician’s list. At this moment, I can’t think of anything more important, except “making sure that all involved in the choir are of high Christian morals” (as Pius X says in his 1903 motu proprio).

In Our Savior,

JMO

“I.e., sometimes inferior music is the most appropriate means by which to praise God?”

That wouldn’t be the essence of what I said. Lots of people think Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus is unsurpassed. You can’t do it every week, so are the weeks you take it off the menu inferior by definition? Say your college parish takes off for Christmas, but the remnants can pull off a fair version of AVC, but only know Christmas carols. I suppose I could see doing the piece at Christmas, but strong arguments could be made for other choices of “inferior” music. See what I mean?

Aside from the demands of liturgy, you might also have a choir less capable of putting its best into some styles of music. Do you program music they can do well over and above music that would be a stretch? As a director, I don’t set up my people to fail. I do challenge their sensibilities, but there are limits to what some groups can accomplish.

“It’s more important that people be happy than that they offer the very best they can do?”

No. If you’re talking people in the pew, it’s more important they offer their best by singing what they know when it’s their time to sing. I’ve no doubt I could program three hymns and a psalm this weekend better than what’s on the menu already. But it would accomplish little to call a special practice for cantors to teach them what the people don’t know and won’t sing on spot.

A good music director knows the people who sing in the pews and those who lead them. I’d presume the process takes years, if not a generation, to move a parish toward a good expression of a higher musical ideal. And frankly, some people in my position don’t bother. Others are fighting the battle in other areas: teaching in schools, getting decent instruments for the church, recruiting, or doing the other liturgy pieces of the parish equation.

So please be considerate, if you will, and not misconstrue priorities for ill motives.

And when we really believe that, we will waste much less time venting over hymn choices.

In my limited experience, such a group might well want to sing the Psalm but need encouragement to try (maybe to overcome being intimidated by the Word, or botch it once to learn that lightning won’t strike). Strumming/picking and then chanting a chord might be a serviceable start. (Monterverdi lute comes later.) The designated very-most-important acclamations were sung, and there was no recessional hymn, good signs they’re ready for another step.