Folk Groups

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TMGallyon85

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Has anybody else noticed that Folk groups since the reign of Pope Benedict seem to be slowly dissapearing from the scene. I noticed at my parish, the Folk group that used to play one mass every sunday, then 2 masses one sunday a month just dissapeared. Now I am hearing the parish is having one “contemporary” mass a month at 6 pm. Seems the reform of the reform is casting it’s magic spell upon the Church at last. Now almost every mass, the music director plays the organ:thumbsup:
 
Sounds great for you. I’m still kinda mystified at why the keyboardist at our mass uses an electric keyboard for piano and strings while there’s an upright piano and an electric (though not too bad) organ right in front of him. And we have a violin and a viola already.
 
Yes if he can play an electric keyboard, he can learn the electric organ.
 
I love our folk group. I love a more traditional mass too. I hope that our folk group does not disappear. I think if done within the rubrics of the mass it can be beautiful.

Just my opinion.

Crystal
 
I’m still kinda mystified at why the keyboardist at our mass uses an electric keyboard for piano and strings while there’s an upright piano and an electric (though not too bad) organ right in front of him.

And in what condition are these instruments? I’ve noticed that keeping them in tune is NOT high on many parishe’s priorities.
 
bpbasilphx said:
I’m still kinda mystified at why the keyboardist at our mass uses an electric keyboard for piano and strings while there’s an upright piano and an electric (though not too bad) organ right in front of him.

And in what condition are these instruments? I’ve noticed that keeping them in tune is NOT high on many parishe’s priorities.
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Good point. But we do occasionally use them when he isn’t playing at mass, and they don’t sound that bad. Or else the instruments probably wouldn’t be sitting there.
 
TMGallyon85 said:
Has anybody else noticed that Folk groups since the reign of Pope Benedict seem to be slowly dissapearing from the scene. I
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maybe, and “folk” is probably a very loose designation, my guess is that the “folks” who led these groups are my generation, aging hippies, and starting to die off (may they RIP) or just retire. I certainly don’t think one can use “folk” and “contemporary” in the same sentence, at least when referring to liturgical (and I use the term loosely) music.
 
puzzleannie said:
I certainly don’t think one can use “folk” and “contemporary” in the same sentence, at least when referring to liturgical (and I use the term loosely) music.
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Definitely not at my church – we don’t have a folk group, but we do have a contemporary group (very reverent), and there is no similarity whatsoever between the contemporary group’s music and so-called folk music. 😃
 
I would say the group at my church performed quasi rock sounding music, not really folk.
 
I wouldn’t have any problem with the electronic keyboard, depending on the voicing. My own synth has some very good pipe organ sounds. Split the keyboard to voice the left hand with a tuba for the bass line, and you have a pretty good combination. However, our church has a very good pipe organ, so that’s not going to happen, and with good reason.

Concerning the disapperance of the “folk groups,” it can’t happen soon enough. I was a folkie in the late '60s and early '70s, and as far as I’m concerned, the term “folk mass” is an insult both to folk music (because if the vapidity of the Catholic music that is passed off as “folk”) and to the holy Mass (for using such vapid music in what should be a worship setting).

DaveBj
 
I haven’t seen a folk group at any Mass in more than 20 years.
Masses in Chicago, Alabama, northern California, Indiana …
not even one.
 
The one at my parish is still going strong - although they’re not the ones who concern me so much. It’s the choir at the youth Mass that I can’t stand. I’m only 22, so the music isn’t unfamiliar to me…but having a keyboard play steel drums and a drum kit accompany the Great Amen really takes something out of it for me. We go straight from the priest’s reverent chant to something, well, obnoxious.
 
As a musician at our church since I was about 7 or 8 (30 some years), I think that music that is played from the heart and soul with a true focus on what we are there for, namely praise, worship, and sharing the Word, love and healing of God can only be pleasing to Him. Are not the choirs of angels in constant adoration?

We have a fantastic Folk Group, Youth Choir, Adult Choir as well as talented musicians and cantors at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Indiana. I would also mention that we have some really great Lectors. All of these fine individuals and groups lend their God-given talents to provide a truly wonderful and prayerful experience at each Mass. I pray we always have these people. We are truly blessed!

I think the secret to the balance we have is that lifting our voices is done with reverence. Sometimes our Youth Choir really “rocks” the Holy but it is done in a way of total love and adoration of God.
I once told the children that the “Holy” was the part where all of the angels in Heaven “stood up and did the WAVE for God”.
I think this is what all church music should strive for in the end:
Giving ourselves to God totally.

I don’t think that this can be accomplished only one way. Just as the Gospel was not limited to one point of view, say Luke… It was several different points of view to reach different people in different ways. I think the music of the Mass is the same.

He had everything. All of the matter, all of the energy. All of the knowledge and power. And what did He do? He created us. What do we need to do in return? We need to offer Him endless praise and return His love. That is our purpose.🙂
 
The term “Folk Group” has given way to Contemporary Choir, but some parishes are still stuck in the 70’s and don’t go beyond the old songs to see some of the really good contemporary music out there. One of the groups that do contemporary really well, although they retain the name “folk” is the Notre Dame Folk Choir. These kids do a variety of musical genres including Latin, but also they gather liturgical songs from throughout the world. They sing from the choir loft and make use of the pipe organ, but also many other contemporary and classic instruments (brass, woodwinds and percussion) and also instruments from different cultures. Their music is so uplifting and fills the bascilica on campus, or whatever venue they may sing at when they go on tour, with beautiful praise to God.
 
DaveBj said:
Concerning the disapperance of the “folk groups,” it can’t happen soon enough. I was a folkie in the late '60s and early '70s, and as far as I’m concerned, the term “folk mass” is an insult both to folk music (because if the vapidity of the Catholic music that is passed off as “folk”) and to the holy Mass (for using such vapid music in what should be a worship setting).

DaveBj
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That is exactly how I feel. What passes for “folk music” in the Catholic Church is a huge insult to true folk music and its musicians and singers.

Fortunately, in my parish, none of our music ministries is even remotely like those pretend folk (sic) groups.
 
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