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bkayw
Guest
I was wondering if flute is ever used at Mass? If so, would you know which songs are played using flute?
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jilly4ski
Guest
My parents parish has a flutist that plays at Mass sometimes. The flutist plays every song where it is appropriate/can be tastefully done. This parish (built in the 80s) doesn’t have an organ, rather a “music group” where a piano, keyboard, guitars, and drums are used. (As well as the occasional violin, harp, trumpet, flute etc.). The flutist either plays melodies or descants or a combination depending on the song and place in the song. But again, they sing more praise and worship songs because of the history and limitations of that particular parish.
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fermat
Guest
I have played flute many times at Mass. I usually will play a descant part to cantor. I would also pick up the melody while the cantor and pianist were receiving communion. I am a big believer that music that is well done will bring people deeper into the liturgy.
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Ilyusha
Guest
Personally I don’t believe that common instruments have any place in the Mass. I prefer Gregorian chant, and the organ. Solemnity and absolute reverence are best… Gregorian chant is transcendent - it lifts us up to the Lord. The flute doesn’t have the same effect, at least, not for me.
I wouldn’t attend a parish with a ‘band.’
I wouldn’t attend a parish with a ‘band.’
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SimonDodd
Guest
My parish uses it occasionally to accompany the piano when the latter is the lead instrument. It’s a nice sound, although for my taste, I prefer the piano and violin combination, and I’d rather have the organ.
There’s quite a difference between flute and “a ‘band,’” no?Personally I don’t believe that common instruments have any place in the Mass. … The flute doesn’t have the same effect [as chant], at least, not for me. ¶ I wouldn’t attend a parish with a ‘band.’
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puzzleannie
Guest
yes several parishes around us have a flautist as one of the accompanying musicians. I assume there is a source from the publisher of the hymnals used for the sheet music. I have a favorite CD in the Serenity series with flute instrumental versions of favorite hymns.
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drafdog
Guest
The organ is a glorified flute.
Reb Levi
Reb Levi
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Love_Divine
Guest
This might come a shock to you, but not every parish is blessed with having an organist, let alone people who can do Gregorian chants.Personally I don’t believe that common instruments have any place in the Mass. I prefer Gregorian chant, and the organ. Solemnity and absolute reverence are best… Gregorian chant is transcendent - it lifts us up to the Lord. The flute doesn’t have the same effect, at least, not for me.
I wouldn’t attend a parish with a ‘band.’
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Bob_Aliano
Guest
The answers are Yes and Too Many.
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fermat
Guest
Is that in Breaking Bread or Gather?
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Bob_Aliano
Guest
If we could hum a few bars I’m sure it could be added (LOL).Is that in Breaking Bread or Gather?
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beckers
Guest
i use to play every sunday. If you are using the Gather book then it has a special “C” Instrument book you can get that has all the other parts. Normally i liked to play the descent or the alto part depending on the make up of the choir. If it is top heavy then you want to stay away from play the soprano parts.During the pslam i like to play the melody to help the congergation.During other songs, I play the meldoy during the first verse and then switch it up for the other ones. I like the congeration to be use to the song before I start playing other parts.
As for the other person who didn’t like ‘band’. The flute if done correctly can be quite beautiful. The flute can blend nicely with the voices and should be used to support the choir not be the focal point. I stopped playing because i felt that i was missing part of the mass. I was always focused on “what comes next” that i didn’t get to enjoy the mass. I miss it sometimes and have played a few times at weddings or other events but the church i know go to only uses the organ and i love it!
As for the other person who didn’t like ‘band’. The flute if done correctly can be quite beautiful. The flute can blend nicely with the voices and should be used to support the choir not be the focal point. I stopped playing because i felt that i was missing part of the mass. I was always focused on “what comes next” that i didn’t get to enjoy the mass. I miss it sometimes and have played a few times at weddings or other events but the church i know go to only uses the organ and i love it!
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ConstantineTG
Guest
How common is a flute?
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Ilyusha
Guest
When I hear the flute I feel like I’m back at a high school assembly. I don’t even like piano or violins at Mass, even though I know they are beautiful instruments (as is the flute). I just don’t feel that the flute, or any instrument really (with the exception of the organ, but even then, it’s still an instrument) is really appropriate for the Liturgy. Chant alone can touch the transcenden: the beauty of music from God’s finest musical instrument, the human voice, composed and sung specifically for the glory of God. Ordinary hymns don’t even suffice. It doesn’t have to be Gregorian chant, there are many chant styles out there which are appropriate - but chant stands above all other forms of music in the Liturgy because of its transcendent solemnity. Even the Vatican II documents state quite clearly that chanting should have pride of place in the Catholic Liturgy.
When my father was a boy, every parish had at least a small choir who could chant well, and provide decent Gregorian chant for the liturgy. Now very few parishes (priests and laypeople) are making any effort to learn or perform Gregorian chant, despite what the Vatican has to say about it.
When my father was a boy, every parish had at least a small choir who could chant well, and provide decent Gregorian chant for the liturgy. Now very few parishes (priests and laypeople) are making any effort to learn or perform Gregorian chant, despite what the Vatican has to say about it.
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JHow
Guest
We just had this debate for guitar, now we have moved on to flute. Are we going to do this for every instrument? At least no one has yet argued that they mostly associate flute with Jethro Tull, and that the instrument that played “Aqualung” doesn’t belong in church.
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OraLabora
Guest
Personally I don’t believe that common instruments have any place in the Mass. I prefer Gregorian chant, and the organ. Solemnity and absolute reverence are best… Gregorian chant is transcendent - it lifts us up to the Lord. The flute doesn’t have the same effect, at least, not for me.
I wouldn’t attend a parish with a ‘band.’
Agree, though it’s hard to find Gregorian chant in some places. Although where I go to Mass it is sung daily in an abbey that also has a magnificent pipe organ. And I sing in a small schola that is trying hard to bring Gregorian chant to parishes in our area by singing at Mass once a month, rotating through different parishes in the diocese.
That said, while I like both Gregorian chant and the organ, Gregorian chant is meant to be sung a cappella. So while both can and should be used in a Mass, preferably not at the same time!
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dconklin
Guest
Exactly! Ha! I was going to ask, isn’t there a setting/switch on organs for a flute-like sound. Why not have the original and intended sound?
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Bob_Aliano
Guest
Why stop there, lets have a calliopede, it’s just like an organ. What the heck, an organ is like every wind and brass instrument so why not tin whistles and harmonicas?
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kristie_m
Guest
And here I was just thinking that the flute has no business being in a classic rock band!!
(Every once in a while my bass man will play that opening riff during rehearsal…I always get a kick out of that!)
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Allayne
Guest
I’ve played flute at Mass for years and years at several different parishes and for Masses within my religious community. When tastefully done, flute music (or that of most instruments) can greatly enhance the liturgy. Above everything else, the musician needs to be constantly aware that the music is meant to enhance prayer, not to draw attention. Music within the Mass is prayer; it is not a performance. Most objections to instrumental music happen when this distinction is lost.
As for what to play, most major hymnals have a “C instrument” or “solo instrument” book written to compliment them. The church’s music director should be able to direct the player to the correct book. Many choir pieces also have flute accompaniment parts included in the choral score.
For large Masses (like Sundays and special feast days), I play from the instrumental book that goes with our hymnal, a descant written in the choir scores, or whatever voice part our choir needs help with. One thing I’ve found to be particularly effective is to play the melody line of the hymn (what the congregation is singing) for the first and last verse and play the instrumental or choral parts for the verses in between. It gives the congregation a good solid foundation at the beginning, a little interest in the middle, and brings them back to the simple melody at the end. A little bit of experimentation will help you figure out what is liturgically appropriate and musically helpful within your particular parish.
For smaller Masses (like daily Mass with the Sisters), I tend to play just the melody line of the hymn. I play it an octave higher than it is written in the hymnal. We find that this reinforces the congregation’s ability and confidence to sing the hymn. The instrumental or choral parts seem to overpower and confuse when there are only a few voices.
For preludes, postludes or meditation pieces, there are many beautiful pieces of classical music. A quick search through some books of classical flute music will give plenty of possibilities. My own experiences have taught me that simple is normally the best bet, so I like books meant for younger players, even though they are “too easy” by most standards. Again, the idea is to enhance prayer, so keeping it simple and prayerful is the goal. You could also use a hymn that the congregation knows well and would recognize. Voice solos written for liturgical purposes also make beautiful prelude/postlude/meditation pieces because of their simplicity.
Hope that helps
As for what to play, most major hymnals have a “C instrument” or “solo instrument” book written to compliment them. The church’s music director should be able to direct the player to the correct book. Many choir pieces also have flute accompaniment parts included in the choral score.
For large Masses (like Sundays and special feast days), I play from the instrumental book that goes with our hymnal, a descant written in the choir scores, or whatever voice part our choir needs help with. One thing I’ve found to be particularly effective is to play the melody line of the hymn (what the congregation is singing) for the first and last verse and play the instrumental or choral parts for the verses in between. It gives the congregation a good solid foundation at the beginning, a little interest in the middle, and brings them back to the simple melody at the end. A little bit of experimentation will help you figure out what is liturgically appropriate and musically helpful within your particular parish.
For smaller Masses (like daily Mass with the Sisters), I tend to play just the melody line of the hymn. I play it an octave higher than it is written in the hymnal. We find that this reinforces the congregation’s ability and confidence to sing the hymn. The instrumental or choral parts seem to overpower and confuse when there are only a few voices.
For preludes, postludes or meditation pieces, there are many beautiful pieces of classical music. A quick search through some books of classical flute music will give plenty of possibilities. My own experiences have taught me that simple is normally the best bet, so I like books meant for younger players, even though they are “too easy” by most standards. Again, the idea is to enhance prayer, so keeping it simple and prayerful is the goal. You could also use a hymn that the congregation knows well and would recognize. Voice solos written for liturgical purposes also make beautiful prelude/postlude/meditation pieces because of their simplicity.
Hope that helps
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