Catholic Church music

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funnyyetsavvy

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OK, by now most readers here probably know that I am trying to start RCIA so I can ‘Swim the Tiber’ someday…so in that context…

I’ve attended Mass in at least five different churches. While all of them seem to have a cantor and organist, I’ve never seen what I would call a choir. One church has what looks like a group of people that might be like a worship team, there are microphones to amplify them and they kind of sing in parts on some things, but only once have I heard them sing by themselves a particular song and it was at the end of the service.

This is new to me since I come from churches with very strong choral traditions. I’ve also been choir director for two congregations. So I’m just trying to understand.

I’m used to experiencing a musical presentation during the service - is that just not done? Is there a specific reason for that? When I watch the Pope at the Vatican it seems there are choirs, am I wrong? Also, I’ve never seen anyone church solo in the Catholic service - is that not done either and why not?

Thank you for helping me - I’m just really trying to understand.
 
Hi Elizabeth and Welcome Home!

I can assure you, there are plenty of Catholic Churches with excellent choir’s, soloists, musicians, etc. Perhaps you visited them at a time when the choir was not there or were on hiatus. My choir is off for the summer and we usually start back up after Labor Day.

We definately use soloists, small groups, children, and 4-part harmony. I think it depends on the parish on what type of music ministry they have. I’m sure with your background you can find a parish that can use your talents.

God Bless you on your journey.
 
Thank you for your response, idrum!

I’ve been attending Mass for almost a year now here in Florida, and as I posted, I’ve only seen one example of what could be a choir…that’s why I started to wonder.

Oh, I don’t think I’ll be leading any choirs or music programs in a Catholic church! I’d be so afraid that I don’t know enough about liturgy and such to take on that responsibility. I’d love to teach choir again, but I’m content to just sit these days:)

Also, I don’t think I’d be viewed as a good hire for something like that since I’m divorced (seeking anullment) and now a single parent.

Still, I’m trying to learn about the Catholic Church’s musical ways…
 
Welcome Elizabeth and God bless you on your journey of faith!

We have a choir at our church but not during the summer.Also,our choir only sings at the 9 a.m. Mass throughout the rest of the year and not at the other masses.
I can’t make the choir commitment right now either,but I joined a two week choir for our parish mission and that was alot of fun.
Remember the old saying, “singing is praying twice!”
 
I am guessing that my parish has probably 5 to 6 choir teams for total of 7 Sunday masses. Most of them are quite professional.
 
There are also many smaller communities who don’t have what you would consider a ‘choir’: singing in parts, harmonizing, etc. We just have a group of folk who get together, learn the hymns and sing. Most parishes I’ve been in fall in that category.

In the Catholic Church the choir is considered to be there to ‘enable the community to sing’, so although the documents do give the option for the choir to sing alone in several places, it’s not the best option and so the choir usually doesn’t sing alone.

You will have also noted that singing hymns in the Catholic Church usually accompanies an action: the entrance; the collection & offertory procession; the communion procession. In non-Catholic communities singing a hymn is a stand-alone moment of worship. In the Catholic Church the only exception is the post-Communion hymn – that is an optional stand-alone singing moment.

Interestingly, that is often where you’ll hear the choir singing alone although the documents specifically call for the entire community to sing if there is a post-Communion hymn.
 
At my church the choir only sings at our 10:30 Sunday mass and only every other week. It seems traditionally there is only a choir for the “high mass.” Do people still use that term? Maybe you’re just missing the choir at the masses you attend. If you’re musically inclined and your church doesn’t have a choir, maybe you’d consider volunteering to get a group together?
 
Oh, this is in no way a criticism of what I’ve seen, I’m actually just inquiring so I understand things…

I used to sing semi-professionally and I did serve on several church staffs as choir director and such, but those were not Catholic experiences (although I was hired as a Catholic cantor for a time, but the commute was tremendous so I stopped). I also trained in voice for over 25 years and have done vocal coaching.

BUT this isn’t about getting a job or starting a group. I’m now divorced and a single parent. I don’t think any church would have me in a leadership role under those circumstances…

I merely want to know more about the Church and how it ministers with music.
 
I’m used to experiencing a **musical presentation during the service **- is that just not done? Is there a specific reason for that? When I watch the Pope at the Vatican it seems there are choirs, am I wrong? Also, I’ve never seen anyone church solo in the Catholic service - is that not done either and why not?
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When I was in high school the girl’s ensemble I was in preformed at a Lutheran church a religious piece we prepared. It (and our group) was under the heading of “Special Music” in the service program. the timin was sort of in the middle of the service. Is that what you mean by “presentation”? I have always wondered what role the "special music’ played in the service.

When I was in music “ministry”, way waaaaaaaaaaaay back, any song/hymn that was not a part of the liturgy (processional, psalm, recessional, et. al. was done right after the communion song and just before the concluding rite. I don’t remember what songs we did or why they were done 🤷

ETA: I’ve been in choirs and cantored (I’m using the term loosely) and while I’ve sung alone I haven’t soloed or seen i done other than leading the psalm.

I have a feeling I will have to come back to correct this as my memory unfogs.
 
funnyyetsavvy said:
I’m now divorced and a single parent. I don’t think any church would have me in a leadership role under those circumstances…
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That would be of no consequence whatsoever in any church I’ve ever been a musician in, and I’d resign from any music team that would reject a divorced person who was living a good life. We have divorced single parents in all sorts of roles in our parish. Please don’t let that be the thing that stops you making use of your gifts in the Church. 🙂
 
At our Parish, the chior only sings at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass.

You might use your diocese web site to find Parish web sites around you to locate one with a Chior.
 
Well, perhaps some of the posters have got it…Come to think of it, I generally attend Sat night Mass or the 12:15 Sunday Mass…Maybe I’m just missing it!!!😊

Oh I dearly love working with musicians. A small testimony here: When I was in high school and college, I was what I call a competitive singer. In other words, I had a ‘me first’ attitude somewhat common in the competive world of singers. Kind of ego driven. As I drew closer to God, I began to struggle with having the focus on me as opposed to Him. I believe God helped me mature in my faith. I gave up ‘competitive’ singing, and began to focus solely on church music and never looked back. My greatest joy musically has been working with a choir and having them experience singing something they thought they never would, or sing more beautifully than they believed was possible. The more the focus is on them and the worship music, the happier I was!

Sounds like I need to check out some other service times and see if that’s what’s happening.

Someone asked about the function of special music. To me, a time of special music is when a song (generally on the theme of the homily or Scripture readings) is offered. It is not a performance (or it shouldn’t be anyway). It should be a time for ministry. THis is especially powerful in Lenten Season.
 
funnyyetsavvy said:
Someone asked about the function of special music. To me, a time of special music is when a song (generally on the theme of the homily or Scripture readings) is offered. It is not a performance (or it shouldn’t be anyway). It should be a time for ministry. THis is especially powerful in Lenten Season.
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Like when an Anglican choir presents a choral anthem?
 
funnyyetsavvy said:
Someone asked about the function of special music. To me, a time of special music is when a song (generally on the theme of the homily or Scripture readings) is offered. It is not a performance (or it shouldn’t be anyway). It should be a time for ministry. THis is especially powerful in Lenten Season.
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That should be the purpose of the offertory hymn. It should reflect the theme of the scripture or if there is a feast day.

Also, I second Guitar’s opinion that your being a divorced, single parent is of no consequence if you are living a good life. A HUGE misconception of the Catholic Church is that we do not welcome people who are divorced at all. You should learn more about that in RCIA.

I would’t worry about not knowing enough about the church to be a choir director. Some simple research on your own would get you pretty far. There are also guides for the liturgy and song selections. God will put your talents to good use- trust me.
 
One year we took our Catholic School kids to a Christian Art’s fest and they sang… they were the only ones who got a standing ovation they were so good.

But for the most part, alot of smaller parishes don’t have very musically inclined choirs at all masses. We usually have to find out which groups sing at which masses if we are looking for better music (read: more traditional). It bothered me when I first moved here as I was from a parish with a full orchestra on Holidays and a pretty good group of musicians at all masses every Sunday. I sang and played flute and tenor recorder at my first parish and music was just such a big part of my worship that I thought I was doomed when the parish I am at now had so little musical talent. Thankfully, our new pastor has taken a bigger role in the music for the parish and it seems like the biggest downfall to our music was the organist who didn’t really work with the people she had. Now this is slowly changing.

Please don’t be afraid to get involved at your parish. They might just be waiting for someone with your talents. If you fear that your divorce and single motherhood is hampering you, remember that we all have our own shortcomings and it looks like your parish could use your gifts.
 
Thank you for the references, hopefully they’ll help me learn more…
 
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