Canned music at Mass

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hosea

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I’m a song leader at St. Helen’s and St. Raphael’s in Glendale, AZ.
I use Cakewalk Sonar m.i.d.i. music software to prepare accompaniment CD’s for use during Mass. I use violins, pianos, bass guitar, accoustic guitars and flutes in my mixes. Then, during Mass, I play my guitar and sing live with my choirs and along with the accompaiment CD.

If any of you have experienced this type of music in Mass I would like to know your opinions.

Does it make you uncomfortabe?
Does it enhance the spirituality of the Mass?

Any comments would be appreciated.
I have gotten mixed reviews from different Pastors. Some love it. Some say it’s inappropriate.
What do you say?

Thanks,
Peace,
Terry Little
 
Terry,

I appreciate your desire for feedback, but I’m afraid you probably won’t like what I have to say. I have been to Masses that have had similar music arrangements, and have felt that I was probably earning some time off in purgatory. You asked if it made me uncomfortable: “angry” is more like it. It does not have the reverence I look for, especially when paired with the awful songs that are usually used (Marty Haugen, David Schutte, etc). Given the rich treasury of music available to the Church, I am always disappointed that they have stooped to the banal. It is a terrible distraction, and so I simply will not attend any parish that subjects me to this if I can avoid it at all, though when going to Mass on vacation, I don’t always have a choice.

You asked, “Does it enhance the spirituality of the Mass?”

No. In fact, far from enhancing it, it degrades it. It is not a neutral influence.

Thank you for asking, though.
 
Good Morning Church
Good Morning Terry

I love music at Mass. I am one of the few (I think)here, who likes all sorts of intstruments. I like upbeat music sometimes and I even clap if it I am moved to.
I have never experienced “canned” music in Mass. By this, I am picturing Kareoke type recordings. I don’t think I would care for it.
It has been my experience that there are musical folks in most parishes that are not sharing their gift with the Church but in many cases they would like to. I think if you put something in your Bulletin, you might find some. If so, you can share yours in a bigger way. Maybe at Mass but also with youth groups and such.
Otherwise a single guitar is very lovely.

Thank you for giving your time to make Mass as wonderful as you can. You are putting much heart and time into this, I can see.
 
Hi Terry
I was so afraid you would get an answer like the Sherlocks.

Are you new here? There are folks here who do not accept any music in Mass but organ and then want the old traditional Cathololic hymns. Some folks want everything to be in Latin.

I do not know Sherlocks personal tastes or if they fall into the ultra Traditional like I mentioned.

Not all of us feel that way. I certainly don’t and I am every bit as orthodox and Catholic as anyone.

Music inspires me Spiritually. However, I am truly Catholic and I will attend any Parish with ANY music. I thank God for the ministry and the sharing of gifts. I am not easily distracted when I am at Mass. I don’t notice much how others worship and I honestly believe God calls all of his ministers to use the Gifts He gives. Yours is guitar. Bless you.

Please do not take some of the things you might read personally.
 
I do not go to church to be entertained. At the same time I do understand that there is a place for LITURGICAL music during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I was taught that singing LITURGICAL music is like praying twice. In most cases it takes a good leader (pastor) in our parishes to instruct people that they do NOT have to entertain but just praise God with their music.🙂
 
the most important role of music at Mass is to accompany congregational singing, it should never overwhelm the voices. in every choir or litugry planning setting I have ever been in it has been a principle that pre-recorded music is never acceptable at Mass. at several parishes this has presented lots of battles for weddings etc. any instrumental music should be live not canned and should be a background not replacement for the human voice of cantor, choir and congregation. this is regardless of the genre or style of songs. in another type of worship setting what you are doing might work very well, youth group, family celebrations etc, but not during sacred liturgy.
 
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DJJG:
Canned music is NOT permitted at mass.:nope:
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Do you have any facts to back this up, or are you making a stylistic statement like Sherlock. I have never done this, but I have often wondered.
 
Hi Hosea, I am not very fond of that type of music at Mass but I noticed that you are at St. Raphael’s Parish in Glendale. My mother attends there and has recently joined their Sunday morning choir. She is a great soprano for the age of 86. Maybe you know her?
 
Robertaf,

You wrote: “I was so afraid you would get an answer like the Sherlocks…Are you new here? There are folks here who do not accept any music in Mass but organ and then want the old traditional Cathololic hymns. Some folks want everything to be in Latin…I do not know Sherlocks personal tastes or if they fall into the ultra Traditional like I mentioned.”

Wow, that’s a lot of speculation, and on the basis of very little information…No, I am not “ultra Traditional”. I was raised post-Vatican ll, and have never been to a Tridentine Mass, let alone longed for its return as some Traditionalists do. I like it when our parish brings in other instruments ( a small band or ensemble), as it does on special feasts, and so am not a person who does “not accept any music in Mass but organ”. I would like to see parishes actually adopt the rubrics put out by the Vatican regarding music, which accords the organ special esteem, as well as chant. Note that that does not exclude other instruments, or other forms of singing, but merely assigns them a hierarchy, if you will. I enjoy good liturgical music, and enjoy singing. I do not enjoy being “entertained” by guitars playing dippy songs with bad theology, typified by many Marty Haugen and David Schutte numbers. None of this makes me “ultra Traditional”. It merely makes me someone who prefers fine music to being annoyed.
 
The current approved American adaptation to the GIRM has this to say about instrumentation:

393: While the organ is to be accorded pride of place, other wind, stringed, or percussion instruments may be used in liturgical services in the dioceses of the United States of America, according to longstanding local usage, provided they are truly apt for sacred use or can be rendered apt.
No specific mention is made of pre-recorded or other electonically generated music or accompaniment. The conclusion we might draw from this is that the new document makes no change to guidelines already in place regarding this issue. A search of Vatican guidelines in this area revealed that the topic was specifically addressed in De Musica Sacra, issued 3 September 1958. That document says, in part:
  1. The use of automatic instruments and machines, such as the automatic organ, phonograph, radio, tape or wire recorders, and other similar machines, is absolutely forbidden in liturgical functions and private devotions, whether they are held inside or outside the church, even if these machines be used only to transmit sermons or sacred music, or to substitute for the singing of the choir or faithful, or even just to support it.
A search for subsequent instructions modifying or abandoning this restriction was unsuccessful.

Food for thought.
 
Good Morning Church
Good Morning Sherlock

I apologize to you, then. When I read your post it seemed pretty harsh. Please read it again. You did answer the question and give your opinion. That is, indeed what was asked for. I guess by saying it makes you “angry” and using words like “banal” sounded like you were coming on quite strong and not very nice in answer to someone who seemed to be asking a very heartfelt and sincere question about ministry.

I am sorry if I read it wrong. That is never my intention.
Please forgive me if I have offended you.
 
an aged father in a parish I used to go to was famous for his Communion time records…they were sooo awful yet Fr. loved them…kinda forced ya to consencrate on prayers
 
Servulus,

Thanks for the information. I was hoping something might be a little more current since technology has changed so much. I think one should err on the side of caution until such a time new information is forth coming. We will stick with live instruments only.
 
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moira:
Hi Hosea, I am not very fond of that type of music at Mass but I noticed that you are at St. Raphael’s Parish in Glendale. My mother attends there and has recently joined their Sunday morning choir. She is a great soprano for the age of 86. Maybe you know her?
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If you are talking about Betty, yes I know her. I have directed that choir for 4 years. We have been using music created on my pc all that time and the Assembly has never complained. They sing very well and the choir (including Betty) have no trouble following. What a delightful little lady she is. We pick her up at her apartment each week for practice. She lives right around the corner from us.
We are truly blessed to have those beautiful bright eyes and lovely voice grace our choir.

I look forward to singing with her tonight.
Peace,
Terry
 
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Sherlock:
Robertaf,

You wrote: “I was so afraid you would get an answer like the Sherlocks…Are you new here? There are folks here who do not accept any music in Mass but organ and then want the old traditional Cathololic hymns. Some folks want everything to be in Latin…I do not know Sherlocks personal tastes or if they fall into the ultra Traditional like I mentioned.”

Wow, that’s a lot of speculation, and on the basis of very little information…No, I am not “ultra Traditional”. I was raised post-Vatican ll, and have never been to a Tridentine Mass, let alone longed for its return as some Traditionalists do. I like it when our parish brings in other instruments ( a small band or ensemble), as it does on special feasts, and so am not a person who does “not accept any music in Mass but organ”. I would like to see parishes actually adopt the rubrics put out by the Vatican regarding music, which accords the organ special esteem, as well as chant. Note that that does not exclude other instruments, or other forms of singing, but merely assigns them a hierarchy, if you will. I enjoy good liturgical music, and enjoy singing. I do not enjoy being “entertained” by guitars playing dippy songs with bad theology, typified by many Marty Haugen and David Schutte numbers. None of this makes me “ultra Traditional”. It merely makes me someone who prefers fine music to being annoyed.
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Hello, Sherlock (I feel kinda funny calling you Sherlock under the circumstances);
Thank you for your frank comments. I have been a song leader in the Catholic Church since 1973. I converted from Presbyterian (the frozen chosen) in '72. I fell in love with the traditionalism. The guitar was just starting to emerge as an accompaniment instrument. This has been the ministry of my heart for most of my adult life. EVERY song that I learn is first read for meaning and scriptual relevance. I won’t do certain songs such as “I, myself, am the bread of life.” For that is simply not true. I am not the bread of life. Jesus Christ is the bread of life. And when I am sitting at my computer creating a musical arrangement of a Marty Haugen or David Haas song I first put all the notes in to a score so that it plays exactly as the author intended. Then I add dynamics from my heart that come from reading the text of the verses. The result is a direct reflection of my heart and the hearts of my group. It is not some dis-embodied gimmic meant to entertain the assembly. It is a technically sound and dynamically relevant song which inspires my singers to lift their voices to God and the assembly as well. I recently sang “You raise me up” at St. Raphael’s to the arrangement I had done on my pc. The people actually started singing the refrain with me. People were crying. And I cried as well. The music lifted me and the assembly closer to God. And all the Glory be His and His alone.
I pray that someone will touch your heart with a song and you too will be lifted up.
Peace to you and to all you love,
Terry Little
 
Hi Terry,

Thank you for your efforts—it is clear that you have put your heart and soul into it, and I respect that immensely. I wish you continued joy in your music ministry.

You wrote: “I pray that someone will touch your heart with a song and you too will be lifted up.”

Actually, that happens very often at Mass. I have difficulty singing some hymns (“Humbly We Adore Thee” is a favorite) because their beauty touches me to the point of tears (which makes it hard to sing). I think it is a mistake to think that because someone does not like modern liturgical music, that person is necessarily a curmudgeon that doesn’t like music at all. Far from it: I have Palestrina Masses on CDs that I play throughout the day, and as I mentioned, I enjoy singing hymns.
 
Robertaf,

You wrote: “When I read your post it seemed pretty harsh. Please read it again. You did answer the question and give your opinion. That is, indeed what was asked for. I guess by saying it makes you “angry” and using words like “banal” sounded like you were coming on quite strong and not very nice in answer to someone who seemed to be asking a very heartfelt and sincere question about ministry.”

Honestly, Robertaf, I meant no offense. If I come on strong, well, what can I say? I do have very strong opinions on all kinds of subjects, and if someone solicits opinions I might just respond—and no, I don’t mince words. Bad liturgical music happens to annoy me a great deal, not because I am a curmudgeon who doesn’t like music but precisely because I love music. I’m sorry, but Palestrina beats Marty Haugen any day, as well as being orthodox. Some modern liturgical music is so “me-me-me” oriented I think it would make for good Muzak at shopping malls.
 
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hosea:
If you are talking about Betty, yes I know her. I have directed that choir for 4 years. We have been using music created on my pc all that time and the Assembly has never complained. They sing very well and the choir (including Betty) have no trouble following. What a delightful little lady she is. We pick her up at her apartment each week for practice. She lives right around the corner from us.
We are truly blessed to have those beautiful bright eyes and lovely voice grace our choir.

I look forward to singing with her tonight.
Peace,
Terry
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Yes, Hosea, Betty is my mother!!! And yes, you’re right, she is a delightful lady. Small world. And now you’ve got me interested. Maybe some Sunday I’ll come to Mass at St. Raphael’s so I can hear how you all sound. I’ve been going to the Latin Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle. She told me that you and your wife are very nice people. Thank you for picking her up each week. It’s very kind of you to do so. She loves to sing and has been in a church choir ever since I can remember. Thanks again for the kindness you’ve shown my mother.

Peace to you, too. Mary
 
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hosea:
Does it make you uncomfortabe?
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Yes
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hosea:
Does it enhance the spirituality of the Mass?
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No.
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hosea:
I have gotten mixed reviews from different Pastors. Some love it. Some say it’s inappropriate.
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I side with those who feel that it is inappropriate. In my opinion, anything that might be remotely construed as a “performance” is inappropriate. As a rule, when you get mixed feed back such as, “I love it,” vs. “It is inappropriate.” Listen to the more conservative voice. The Liturgy is the public worship of the Church, and it isn’t to be toyed with. Remember, there is a LOT of liturgical abuse out there, some minor some not. I will wager that you would get an “I love it” from every one of those who like to tinker with and improve the Mass. I don’t mean to imply that the “I Love it” people all abuse the Mass, rather that the abusers will say, “I love it.”
For the record
  • I favor traditional music, that is consistant with the Liturgy, not bolted on as it were.
  • I dislike guitar music at Mass intensely
  • Nothing is more stunning than a single human voice raised in prayer.
:blessyou:
 
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