I hope everybody involved in liturgy will do a little soul-searching

[JMMJ]

I never have really understood the concept of going to Mass for the music. I get my music fill in other places, usually professionals who make professional recordings. Why? Because otherwise most music sounds like nails on the chalkboard to me. But that is no different, as a previous poster stated, as having to listen to a homily from someone whose strong suit isn’t public speaking. Or the nasally lector. Or maybe the ushers are a disorganized mess.

Why does that matter so much to people? It almost seems like they forget why they are there (?). I will say sometimes something may be so bad that it is distracting to the point of making the attendee reflect on if they are putting themselves in a bad situation. But there are options. Other parishes, other mass times, etc.

To use the McDonald’s metaphor…I wouldn’t go to McDonalds expecting a hamburger that is gourmet. That isn’t the purpose of McDonald’s. I buy concert tickets with my local opera when I want to listen to real quality music and singing. If you go to Mass and get that quality of music and singing, it is gravy and you should be thankful. But I don’t think it is reasonable to expect it.

 

[Fauken]

Why does that matter so much to people? It almost seems like they forget why they are there (?).

Here’s my two cents.

The OF, compared to the EF, is much louder. Typically, there are very few long quiet pauses. I like the quiet moments in the EF because it helps me think better. Loud music I don’t like is distracting. Yes, I’m there for the Eucharist, but Mass is one of my few occasions during the week to converse with God face to face. I hold that time for prayer as important. And so when the music is cheesy while I’m trying to contemplate the readings, when the hymn has nothing to do with the Eucharist after I just received Jesus, when the congregation talks after the end of Mass in the sanctuary while I’m trying to pray, I get aggravated. I notice. Mass is not just sitting and waiting for communion. All of our senses can be engaged during Mass. I’m not asking for Spem in Alium to be played all the time at every Mass, I’m not asking for Mozart’s Mass in C Minor to be played, I just want some hymns which do not cheapen what is going on at Mass and fit with what is going on during the Mass (communion hymn during communion), or nothing at all.

 

[stpurl]

It is not an either-or here.

Nobody was talking about beautiful cathedrals or gold. What people were talking about was going from exactly what you spoke of —the Word and the Eucharist being offered reverently and humbly—and it is humble whether the chalice is gold or not, or whether the church has a big organ or an off-key guitar—to the Word and the Eucharist being offered with lesser to little reverence, with the focus being on ‘the people’ more than on God.

I’ve attended Mass where the choir was full of talented musicians, state of the art instruments, in ‘full choir robes’, with a huge budget and plenty of musical choice, but the worship was focused on the musicians extolling each other. Every hymn or musical note was met with frantic applause and constant ‘encores’ and trills. It didn’t matter whether the music was Palestrina or Marty Haagen —and both were well known—it was all focused around “The music”. So much so that frequently the Creed was omitted (to give more time for the offertory song), and the Mass ‘tweaked’ with ‘instrumentals’ all through the Liturgy of the Eucharist etc. etc.

Was the music beautiful? Sure. It was in fact overwhelming. People didn’t pay attention to the Mass, they went from ‘musical offering’ to ‘musical offering’. And again, we aren’t talking of the music being all chant and classical, in fact the majority ranged from gospel to contemporary.

I’m not saying that the musicians weren’t offering glory to God; I’m sure they were. But even with the best intentions, the liturgy or Mass that was offered was overwhelmingly focused on ‘the music and musicians’ and little else.

 

[Gorgias]

Just wanted to point out that it wasn’t a strawman argument, but merely one that you disagree with.

The post that @MrsAngelala was responding to really did literally say what she says it did – namely that the “most reverent and beautiful liturgies” had someone competent playing the hymns and “doing it for free for the glory of God.”

So, yeah… you kinda do have all the elements there: competence, gratis work, and objective value to God.

But hey… it’s easier to just claim “strawman” and walk away, ain’t it?

 

[catholiclala]

One of the most beautiful mass experiences I’ve experienced was the parish in Kona, Hawaii, and it was casual. Flowered shirts, shorts, and sandals, oh my! Bright, open, airy, allowing the beautiful breeze off the ocean blow through. A drum set guitars and sandals It was beautiful because we went in and took in what was offered, which was filled with reverence and fun/joy–those things are not mutually exclusive. We were taught some of the sung liturgy in Hawaiian, on which we improved upon over our attendance there the two weeks of our stay. Many CAFers would’ve been mortified (did you get that people wore sandals?! With toes displayed ). For me, my heart is filled to bursting just remembering the experience.

I love this account.

 

[jeannetherese]

I know many Catholic musicians who can’t make a living in Catholic churches, and have to work in other churches when they would much prefer to offer their gifts to Catholics, in Catholic liturgies.

I have a very talented family member who plays piano/organ as Mass. The Church is in a very poor community-keeping the roof repaired is a major effort.
The organist donates musical skill and time as part of the tithe. (Yes, tithing does still happen !)
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[jeannetherese]

competence deserves compensation.

I don’t know goout. It seems to me that in a capitalist world, ideally competence is rewarded monetarily. However, in the world of faith, we see great saints who have lived lives of suffering (their reward is great in heaven).
Musicians do need to eat, to be sure. The challenge is caring for body and soul. It is a blessing to be able to give money to musicians, but I’m not sure that musicians at Mass should always be able to expect pay.
Offering it up to God is a good thing and, given that Mass is generally a Sunday once a week situation for most musicians. expecting to make a living with this talent seems dubious, at best.