Choir At Mass

[dal11]

I was wondering is it proper to
have the choir sing the responses during mass, excluding everybody else? Our
choir sings a lot of the responses but the congregation is included. I have
been to masses where just the choir sings the response or sings most of it
with the congregation singing only a line or two. Was just wondering if this
was ok?

 

[Montie_Claunch]

I wish my church had a chior. :crying:

O.K. sorry had to get that out. Alright I am still in R.C.I.A. Classes so I am not yet an expert on such things but, I wouldn’t think it would be wrong to have a choir only thing as long as the other laity wasn’t totally excluded. But, I am sure someone will come along and give you a more diffenitive answer.

 

[SMHW]

dal11:

I was wondering is it proper to
have the choir sing the responses during mass, excluding everybody else? Our
choir sings a lot of the responses but the congregation is included. I have
been to masses where just the choir sings the response or sings most of it
with the congregation singing only a line or two. Was just wondering if this
was ok?

Sometimes the choir will sing parts that rest of the congregation has not yet learned. The rest of the congregation will join in on the refrain. There are certain parts of the Mass, such as the Kyrie or Responsorial psalm which are designed to have a lead and a response. The choir may take the lead and the rest of the congregation responds.

There may be other Mass parts or songs where it has just kind of become customary that the choir sings a certain part and the rest of the congregation another but there is really nothing to stop the people from joining in if they want to do so.

 

[CantorRick]

dal11:

I was wondering is it proper to
have the choir sing the responses during mass, excluding everybody else? Our
choir sings a lot of the responses but the congregation is included. I have
been to masses where just the choir sings the response or sings most of it
with the congregation singing only a line or two. Was just wondering if this
was ok?

The chior is present to support the full and active participation of the gathered assembly. It is the assemblie’s responsibility to participate fully and actively in the liturgical celebration.

It is the Cantor’s responsibility to lead and animate the assembly. This is with or without the supporting choir.

It is the Psalmist’s responsibility to proclaim the Responsorial Psalm during the Liturgy of the Word with the assembly and choir being the respondents.

Everybody has a role in the Mass and none should take their assigned role lightly. As a member of the faithful gathered for the Celebration of the Mass, you are encouraged to join in, vigoriously even, in all the responses, sung or not.

Richard