choir

[Through_Him]

Hi I made this thread quite general but I am a choir member. Is the music by the choir considered part of the liturgy? Our priest does not acknowledge us very often. He prays with the assists before mass but does not include our director. Nor are included the cantors if any. Our director could introduce our gathering hymn, but not allowed, the priests does. In the prayers of the people the choir is never prayed for or the future choir upcoming events, whatever. We work very hard at practice and do our best to include the congregation and inform them of the music. So I started prayer in our “corner” before we beggin following St. Cecilia example and dedicating our music to the glory of God. But our priest acts upstaged a lot if anyone takes the initiative. Hmmm do not pray? I am wondering if the church really recognizes part of the mass? Even though Vatican II happened is the music, is it in our universe or just on a back burner? Like an afterthought. Any thoughts?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Yes, the music is part of the liturgy and the choir has a role in the liturgy. Similarly the altar servers have a role, the lectors have a role, and the EMHCs have a role.

I wouldn’t expect the priest to lead a round of applause for the choir any more than I would expect a round of applause for the altar servers, the environment committee, or the sacristan. Everyone contributes to the liturgy and everyone benefits from it. Some of the roles are more visible. Others – like the parents who get their kids to training or rehearsals for the altar servers – are completely invisible.

 

[Through_Him]

Yes, the music is part of the liturgy and the choir has a role in the liturgy. Similarly the altar servers have a role, the lectors have a role, and the EMHCs have a role.

I wouldn’t expect the priest to lead a round of applause for the choir any more than I would expect a round of applause for the altar servers, the environment committee, or the sacristan. Everyone contributes to the liturgy and everyone benefits from it. Some of the roles are more visible. Others – like the parents who get their kids to training or rehearsals for the altar servers – are completely invisible.

:thumbsup:We do have a mission in engaging the congregation in the worship through song especially in the beginning and welcoming and the sending forth. Sometimes we are singing accappella. As our priest does so as in the liturgy. Our priest likes to encourage to clap for a lot of people that are recognized for their volunteer work. But I guess that is what I see is he picks and chooses, which is what he has even said to me that he has the right to pick and choose.

Thanks for your answer we will continue to pray on our own but more so at practice and quietly before mass as the priest I think is feeling upstaged and we should remain humble anyways if possible.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

It sounds like you’re in a difficult situation with the priest. Picking and choosing who to recognize isn’t the way to build loyalty. But ultimately, there’s nothing you can do to control his behavior, only your own reaction to it. Thank you for contributing to the choir and contributing to the liturgy! You make the experience better for people like me.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Please understand that I am not reflecting on the original poster, whom I do not know, but only generally.

Musicians and singers in church choirs often forget their true purpose, which is to assist the people in praying the Mass. Many musicians - and I am one myself - sometimes feel that we are leading the whole Mass. This is often the case in parishes where the musicians are in front and visible to the congregation, which, frankly, is gratifying to the egos of certain musicians. I have heard from many priests that parish musicians are the most difficult people to work with, because their passion for their God-given talent sometimes overrides their obedience to their pastor. In my parish, as the pastor prepares to switch to a different hymnal because of the rampant theological problems with the current one, many of our musicians are angry with him and have threatened to quit. They forget that it is the pastor’s prerogative to assure that all parts of the liturgy - including music - are in conformity with Church teachings.

 

[Through_Him]

Please understand that I am not reflecting on the original poster, whom I do not know, but only generally.

Musicians and singers in church choirs often forget their true purpose, which is to assist the people in praying the Mass. Many musicians - and I am one myself - sometimes feel that we are leading the whole Mass. This is often the case in parishes where the musicians are in front and visible to the congregation, which, frankly, is gratifying to the egos of certain musicians. I have heard from many priests that parish musicians are the most difficult people to work with, because their passion for their God-given talent sometimes overrides their obedience to their pastor. In my parish, as the pastor prepares to switch to a different hymnal because of the rampant theological problems with the current one, many of our musicians are angry with him and have threatened to quit. They forget that it is the pastor’s prerogative to assure that all parts of the liturgy - including music - are in conformity with Church teachings.

Yes I really agree with this. So that is why I am trying to emphasize prayer. It does seem like our director is leading us and the priest is waiting for us to finish or start or our pianist to accompany or not. It is like a dance and timing everything. Our priest does have his favorites which is good he tells us as we would not know or I should say our director would not know. Some in the congregation do not want to sing or listen to all 4 or 5 vs. and some do. Some are hurry up and get this over with. We have a music corordinator she makes sure the selections are geared to Lent etc then we have some choices for communion or preludes or post ludes, which our director loves to teach us new stuff, and then sometimes we order music like Twila Paris and try to get away with something contemporary, and then Father hum bugs hums it or smile then we know he likes it. We were thinking of a new hymnal but since the new Pope is in we don’t know what our music will be go back as usual I guess. Our priest wants more simple music. We have 3 old hymnals we now take turns singing from each one sometimes. As you can see this gets kind of crazy. One of the things a stickler our director says is not healthy is solos. He would prefer 2 to cantor and if a sheet music has a solo part it will be 3 of that group not one. He is really against solos. Anyways I am learning to be a follower and we are lucky we have a director who wants to put into it so much time with his full time outside job. Although sometimes we just sing with the pianist works just as well. Musicians are especially talented. And they are picky about chords. Our director plays by ear and can hear when anyone is off. Go on line to google prayers for musicians and there are many.