The Recovering Choir Director

Amy Welborn revisits the topic of excessive organ volume levels, relating the moment she began to question them:

It was Holy Thursday two years ago. Some of you might know that after the Gloria on Holy Thursday, there is not supposed to be any more musical accompaniment in Mass until Easter Vigil. A Capella is the word.

In our parish we have a gorgeous organ and an extremely talented organist. Perfection. But that evening, after the Gloria - I believe it happened during the Responsorial Psalm - when the church filled with…just the voices of the people present, something I had never heard in that building before except as just the slightest, scattered points of sound underneath the organ - I was deeply moved in a way that I had never been before.

I say that with hasty and sincere appreciation for all accompanists out there (appropriate following a post on piano recitals) - but I do wonder…in terms of worship and sacred music..what is the proper balance?

See also my May 2003 post on this exact topic.

(Via Mary Jane Ballou)