Catholic songs at Mass - a more upbeat pace

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I love music at Mass, but it seems that the songs sung at Mass at my parish all seem to be sung at a slow pace.
It seems to me that songs of praise and joy should be done in an upbeat pace and with enthusiasm. šŸŽ‰šŸŽ¤šŸŽ¶
 
I think sometimes the organ itself can affect the tempo of hymns - so even the most ā€˜resoundingā€™ chorus might drag a little.

Our Cathedral is never going to be the focus for the more modern hymns (although it has a fondness for ā€˜Be Stillā€™) so if I really feel the need to belt out a few liturgically acceptable Graham Kendrick choruses Iā€™ll attend Mass at one of my more local churches where thereā€™s more congregational singing and less choir.

I still keep dropping unsubtle hints to the musical director about How Great thou Art however - maybe one dayā€¦!
 
The parish in my community has a knack for songs with an upbeat pace sometimes like its more of a performance than worship. I donā€™t like the upbeat music, or parts of the mass that are upbeat. Bring in the chant. In my opinion the mass should have more silence. Can we switch parishes?!?! =}
 
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All I ask is that all songs played are not at a durge pace.
 
I donā€™t know what a ā€œdirge paceā€ means. I, for one, am not very taken with hymns that are like something Lawrence Welk would have played, all jumpy and hard to sing.

Itā€™s hard to express this, but some hymns have stood the test of time, just as is the case with good art or good literature. Some is best forgotten and usually is, fairly quickly. To me, the desirable characteristics of a hymn in church are:
-Is it reverent? That doesnā€™t necessarily mean slow. One of my favorites is ā€œFrom this World of Sin and Sadnessā€, which is Russian and pretty sprightly in its pace. But itā€™s also reverent.
-Is the melody attractive? Lots of newer hymns are not attractive, being almost like a demonstration of technical prowess. How many time can you get the choir to repeat a partial verse or change the key?
-Is the melody logical? Does the last note seem to ā€œcall forā€ the next? Or are they seemingly random?
-Is it ā€œsingableā€? Lots of the old protestant hymns and Catholic ā€œethnicā€ hymns are eminently ā€œsingableā€. Lots of the newer ones are just hard to sing.
 
YourNameHere said:
All I ask is that all songs played are not at a durge pace.
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I once encounters, ā€œLord of the Danceā€ as a dirge . . . now that was odd . . .

I donā€™t have a problem with ā€œupbeatā€. Itā€™s ā€œsing-songā€ that drives me mad, especially when ā€œadaptingā€ a piece of the Mass.

But then, I am only at the RC Mass a handful of times a year, so . . . .

hawk
 
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I completely agree. I donā€™t care for the new upbeat songs. It doesnā€™t seem as appropriate. Gregorian chant sounds much better.
 
Sometimes the tempo of the music is being adjusted to allow for the echo caused by a vast space or a domed or vaulted ceiling.
 
Hmm, didnā€™t know that. That is interesting and informative.
 
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YourNameHere said:
I love music at Mass, but it seems that the songs sung at Mass at my parish all seem to be sung at a slow pace.
It seems to me that songs of praise and joy should be done in an upbeat pace and with enthusiasm.
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I feel the same way. One of our parish musicians goes way too slow. šŸ¢

Then, for emphasis at key moments, she goes even slower! šŸŒ

I donā€™t know how it ā€œshould be doneā€ but two things I do know are that the other musicians (at other Masses) go a good bit faster, and I like it a lot better that way. I choose my Mass accordingly.
 
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Loud-living-dogma said:
How fast does your priest chant his parts of the Mass?
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Parts? He chants the entire thing, save for the homily and the prayer before communion, which he speaks with us (the only time we areā€™t chanting, for that matter).

That said, my particular priest may hold the byzantine land speed record for chanting in English šŸ¤£šŸ˜œ
 
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