Bad Choir Singing

[aetratus]

As my dearest says, “If God gave you a good voice, sing loudly in church to thank him for it. If he gave you a bad voice, sing loudly in church to remind him of it.”

 

[homewardbound]

There are other ways those who can not sing may serve.

I agree with this. God gives us all different talents. Also, those who sing badly and are never told(nicely) may be keeping those who do have the gift of song from using it.

Yes God made everyone’s voice, but just because someone wants to get up and sing doesn’t mean they should. Not if it make those listening cringe and distracts them from Mass.

 

[emsvetich]

There have been times when choir members are given the opportunity to perform solos and their singing ability leaves much to be desired. We usually attend a small rural church and the choir consists of only one or two people where the lack of ability to carry a tune is hard to hide. At those times when I find myself meeting my wife’s eyes and smiling at the off key, off pitch singer, I usually remind myself that at least they have the courage and call to be a member of the choir, unlike the vast multitudes still in the pews. When I look at it that way, it does not sound that bad after all.

 

[Beno]

The following excerpt comes from the church document “Music in Catholic Worship”: “…Although a cantor cannot enhance the service of worship in the same way as a choir, a trained and competent cantor can perform an important ministry by leading the congregation in common sacred song and in responsorial singing.” (#35)

The following excerpt comes from another church document titled “Liturgical Music Today”: “Among music ministers, the cantor has come to be recognized as having a crucial role in the development of congregational singing. Besides being qualified to lead singing, he or she must…” (#68)

Thus, the cantor must be musically trained, competent, and qualified to perform their duties.

 

[SMHW]

The following excerpt comes from the church document “Music in Catholic Worship”: “…Although a cantor cannot enhance the service of worship in the same way as a choir, a trained and competent cantor can perform an important ministry by leading the congregation in common sacred song and in responsorial singing.” (#35)

The following excerpt comes from another church document titled “Liturgical Music Today”: “Among music ministers, the cantor has come to be recognized as having a crucial role in the development of congregational singing. Besides being qualified to lead singing, he or she must…” (#68)

Thus, the cantor must be musically trained, competent, and qualified to perform their duties.

Ah! You saved me the trouble of looking it up.

The run-of-the-mill singer in the assembly can use his voice to make a joyful ‘noise’ unto the Lord but the cantor is to be held to a higher standard. The cantor needs to be both spiritually and musically competent.

One of the less desirable responsibilities of a manager is having to correct and sometimes even dismiss an employee who is not performing at an acceptable level. The music director might be dealing with volunteers rather than employees but that doesn’t change the managerial nature of the role.

There are many reasons why a cantor might not singing well. The music director can and should help correct some of the problems with practice.

But some cantors truly need to take voice lessons or they develop a physical problem like vocal chord nodules. Such problems are beyond what a music director should be expected to solve. In those cases the music director just needs to tell the cantor as gently as possible that he needs to take the cantor off the schedule until such time as the cantor can resolve the problem.