Is singing loudly at Mass good or annoying?

[DebChris]

I sing for one Mass every Sunday, but, I usually attend Mass Saturday evening as part of the congregation, and, I still sing out. Just last Saturday, a woman turned around after Mass and said, “You should be up singing with the choir!” Do people really feel that if someone can sing, they shouldn’t be in the congregation, but, in the choir loft? They really don’t think the congregation is supposed to be singing as well, despite repeated encouragement from our pastor? Her comment so took me by surprise that I’m not sure how I responded, or if I did. I wanted to say that **everyone **should be singing, but I don’t think I said it out loud.

Now, a little practice, then off to Mass! Happy Easter!!

Usually if a person suggests you “should be up singing with the choir!” it is meant as a compliment. While all should sing during Mass, not everybody has a voice that is good enough to lead. Just say “thanks.”

 

[CatholicOf94]

In what was is singing to the Lord annoying? I tend to use that deep voice that Im getting as I go through puberty to good use in Church.

I think if EVERY SINGLE PERSON sang in Church in a loud voice the alarms of the cars parked outside would go off in praise and joy :bounce: It is true what Saint Augustine said when he said “When you sing you pray twice.”

 

[LindaSK]

In what was is singing to the Lord annoying? I tend to use that deep voice that Im getting as I go through puberty to good use in Church.

I think if EVERY SINGLE PERSON sang in Church in a loud voice the alarms of the cars parked outside would go off in praise and joy :bounce: It is true what Saint Augustine said when he said “When you sing you pray twice.”

**
I think if EVERY SINGLE PERSON sang in Church in a loud voice the alarms of the cars parked outside would go off in praise and joy :bounce:**

Cool!!! God would smile ------ **after **He recovered from he shock!!

 

[ProVobis]

It is true what Saint Augustine said when he said “When you sing you pray twice.”

And when you sing so that people understand what you sing, that’s worth twice singing.

 

[RobbyS]

So, I noticed that most of the parishoners at my parish don’t really sing loud. The ones who usually sing the loudest are the cantors (even when they are not cantoring). I sing loud sometimes, but I’m afraid people find it annoying. My friend told me I have a beautiful singing voice, so it’s not like I’m singing very off-tune and don’t know it. Would singing loudly with a good voice be annoying to people?

Sometimes I can’t help myself. If I like the hymn, I’ll sing loud.

Most people don’t know how to sing. That’s because there is nothing much to sing nowadays. Melody is no longer in fashion. The stuff on the radio goes on, and on and on, and is mostly unintelligible. Plus in church cantors would have us sing a million different songs. most of which we don’t know.

 

[CatholicZ09]

I went to Mass last night and this lady in front of me turned around after we were finished singing the Communion hymn and said “You have a very beautiful singing voice. Good job.” And I kind of blushed. Haha. I was just like “Thanks.”

I might join the choir in September or inquire to become a cantor.

 

[Sarabande]

Most people don’t know how to sing. That’s because there is nothing much to sing nowadays. Melody is no longer in fashion.

This is so true. What I taught music to kids, I found that many of the children didn’t know how to sing a melody. It took time to get them to listen to actual melodies so that they could sing. Once they learned how to listen, they were able to sing fine.

Plus in church cantors would have us sing a million different songs. most of which we don’t know.

Having cantored since I was in high school and in many different parishes, I can definitely say that most of the time, it isn’t the cantors who choose the music. It’s usually the music director or the instrumentalist - organist, pianist, etc. The cantors just do what they’re told - especially in the ones where I’ve worked as a paid cantor.

 

[Sarabande]

I went to Mass last night and this lady in front of me turned around after we were finished singing the Communion hymn and said “You have a very beautiful singing voice. Good job.” And I kind of blushed. Haha. I was just like “Thanks.”

I might join the choir in September or inquire to become a cantor.

Definitely go for it!!!

 

[valient_Lucy]

To be perfectly honest, it depends on how good a singer the person is.

 

[doughnut]

I vote for singing loudly. I’m in the choir, but usually when the entire congregation sang, the presence of the Holy Spirit can be felt more strongly. Some might have objections to singing because either they aren’t familiar with the hymns, or they are self-conscious about their ‘not so good’ voice. But I supposed if everyone were to sing, an individual’s voice doesn’t stand out all that much, besides, when one sings, one is singing to the Lord, and if he happened to create you ‘musically disinclined’, then he would have to endure your bad singing voice.

When I’m not part of the choir, I sing loudly too, and I realised when I do, the people around me will start to sing louder. It really lifts the mood.

 

[valient_Lucy]

I vote for singing loudly. I’m in the choir, but usually when the entire congregation sang, the presence of the Holy Spirit can be felt more strongly. Some might have objections to singing because either they aren’t familiar with the hymns, or they are self-conscious about their ‘not so good’ voice. But I supposed if everyone were to sing, an individual’s voice doesn’t stand out all that much, besides, when one sings, one is singing to the Lord, and if he happened to create you ‘musically disinclined’, then he would have to endure your bad singing voice.

When I’m not part of the choir, I sing loudly too, and I realised when I do, the people around me will start to sing louder. It really lifts the mood.

You’re right. If the whole congregation sings, then the people who don’t sing as well aren’t as noticable.

 

[mariyka]

I am not the OP but all these responses are very heartening. I love to sing and I can sing quite loudly and do sometimes. I was once told by a nun (at my college) that I was singing too loud and it was disrupting the “community”. (these were the same nuns who said I shouldn’t be kneeling because the “community” didn’t kneel) I almost didn’t go back to nun mass after that and almost exclusively went to monk Mass or the parish church on the corner.

So yay for people who like the singing

Was this a common occurence? My husband said a nun told him not to sing so loud when he was in grade school and now he won’t sing at all, even though he has a fine voice.

I remember the first time I went to Mass in college and was surprised that so few were singing, and no one was singing harmony. It was a bit of an adjustment from the Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy, which has no instrumental accompaniment and lots of chant in four part harmony. What I have noticed is that the more people there are that sing well and loudly, the more other people will sing.

 

[Rence]

So, I noticed that most of the parishoners at my parish don’t really sing loud. The ones who usually sing the loudest are the cantors (even when they are not cantoring). I sing loud sometimes, but I’m afraid people find it annoying. My friend told me I have a beautiful singing voice, so it’s not like I’m singing very off-tune and don’t know it. Would singing loudly with a good voice be annoying to people?

Sometimes I can’t help myself. If I like the hymn, I’ll sing loud.

Yes, loud singing would annoy me. Anything loud annoys me. It is MOST annoying when my brother comes home with a new gun that is louder and has a bigger kickback than the last one. One day, he will come home with a cannon.

Apparently, I am an old fart But anything loud is annoying to me, mostly because I get a lot of sinus headaches that easily turn into full blown migraines, especially now. But I also have always had sensitive ears. The TV bothers me, the radio bothers me, the sound of certain people’s voices bother me even It’s usually pretty quiet in my home and it sounds wonderful

If the loudness bothers you, just put in some ear plugs. It doesn’t drown out everything, and might actually make the singing and music more enjoyable to you. There are different kinds as well. You can (at least I do) hear a lot even with them in, depending on which ones you get. Some people are just volume sensitive. If it really does bother you, try the earplugs

 

[benedictgal]

Last Sunday we were without a choir. My parochial vicar chose the music and I sang loudly. During Holy Communion, he asked for help to lead the singing of At the Lamb’s High Feast. I belted it out and the people sang.

Today, the children’s choir sang What Wondrous Love is This. The kids, however, got a little lost so I sang louder than usual to help them get back on track. The same held true for Eat This Bread, Drink this Cup. We managed to get the train going again.

Thus, sometimes, singing out loud can be of help.

 

[donr]

I must admit that I sing loud during the mass. However I must say that I have experimented a little with this. I will sit in different places in church at different weeks. Sometimes I will sing loud, others quietly and other times I won’t sing at all. I have noticed that when I am singing loudly (never too loud but with authority) that the people around me sing. When I sing quietly or not at all there does not seem to be anyone else singing. Even though my wife thinks I sing out a little too much, I think it helps the people around me feel confident in following someone who knows the song. My experiment shows that people will sing when others are singing. So sing loud and sing proud.

 

[ProVobis]

Even though my wife thinks I sing out a little too much, I think it helps the people around me feel confident in following someone who knows the song. My experiment shows that people will sing when others are singing. So sing loud and sing proud.

Please don’t take this the wrong way but don’t you think that by singing more loudly than the others, you seem to be wanting to draw attention to yourself? That’s what I think when I have a loud singer standing or sitting near me. I can’t help but notice the heads turning and sensing discomfort. Heck, the Church shouldn’t be a karaoke bar. At the same time, they should be playing recognizable hymns that everyone can sing at a normal singing level. Of course, good organ accompaniment doesn’t hurt either. Witness how many people sing at the ball parks when led by the organ.

 

[Sarabande]

Please don’t take this the wrong way but don’t you think that by singing more loudly than the others, you seem to be wanting to draw attention to yourself? That’s what I think when I have a loud singer standing or sitting near me. I can’t help but notice the heads turning and sensing discomfort. Heck, the Church shouldn’t be a karaoke bar. At the same time, they should be playing recognizable hymns that everyone can sing at a normal singing level. Of course, good organ accompaniment doesn’t hurt either. Witness how many people sing at the ball parks when led by the organ.

I think there is a balance between singing with more fullness, strength and sound to just singing loudly for the sake of drowning out everyone else around you. Because of my classical training, I could sing so that I fill up the entire church without using a microphone or straining my voice. Do I do that? No. I think nothing of the sort about wanting to draw attention to myself if I sing like that, since music and singing is my most direct spiritual connection and prayer with God. But I choose not to do it because it’s not needed, and also because of people who will negatively assume things about my character and intentions which aren’t true. This is something I have been bothered about for a number of years, not particularly about that way of singing because I wouldn’t sing like that anyway, but of assuming in general.

Basically, I wish that we would all stop assuming the worst in others and think the best. Now, that’s not to say that there may be people out there who sing loudly or sing operatically for the attention, but from those I’ve met and known, they are few and far between. We just can’t know someone’s intention unless we know him/her personally.

Imagine what it would be like if others assumed that people who thought this way about those who sang out or about gifted musicians in general were negative, cold and spiritually-shallow people who didn’t know what it is to find a true, deep connection with God. There are those who think that way of individuals who aren’t of the musical or artistic mindset. I know this to be true because I once thought that way as a teenager and in my early 20s. Thankfully, we grow and mature, and I know now that it was just as terrible and ignorant for me to think this, as it was for those who assumed negatively of me. Now, it just saddens me that there is this kind of negativity going in the pews.

And I’m not saying that people are actually ignorant for assuming this. It’s a flaw and I believe most of us, including myself, have this and we have to work hard to think the best of others. I have worked to see where those of the opposite mindset are coming from, so I try to be sensitive of that, but I think if we all just worked to assume the best, there wouldn’t be this sense of negativity, being offended and whatnot on either end.

My thoughts with the balance is that if the congregation is singing fully out, go ahead, sing as loudly as you like. The organ and all of the other voices will be right there with you. If the congregation isn’t singing, don’t be really loud as to fill up the entire church just with your own voice, but sing out with fullness so that you can start the ball rolling. More often than not, people around you will get the courage to sing as well. Sometimes, congregations need that little help from those around them in the pews, especially if the the organist/instrumentalist(s) isn’t helping. Sometimes with hymns that everyone should know, the congregation just won’t sing if the instrumentalist is not playing with fullness to help them not feel like the only ones singing. When you get one or two or more people around in the congregation singing out, that’s when they lose their timidity and no one has to worry about “sticking out” and feeling afraid that there will be those will assume the worst of you.

P.S. ProVobis - Please don’t think I’m picking on you about this. I also see where you are coming from, thus why I believe there needs to be a balance with this. God Bless.

 

[jilly4ski]

Was this a common occurence? My husband said a nun told him not to sing so loud when he was in grade school and now he won’t sing at all, even though he has a fine voice.

I remember the first time I went to Mass in college and was surprised that so few were singing, and no one was singing harmony. It was a bit of an adjustment from the Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy, which has no instrumental accompaniment and lots of chant in four part harmony. What I have noticed is that the more people there are that sing well and loudly, the more other people will sing.

I am not sure if this is a common occurrence, (these are the only ones I have had contact with) and they are on the unorthodox side.

 

[valient_Lucy]

Was this a common occurence? My husband said a nun told him not to sing so loud when he was in grade school and now he won’t sing at all, even though he has a fine voice.

I remember the first time I went to Mass in college and was surprised that so few were singing, and no one was singing harmony. It was a bit of an adjustment from the Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy, which has no instrumental accompaniment and lots of chant in four part harmony. What I have noticed is that the more people there are that sing well and loudly, the more other people will sing.

That’s true! I never sang more fully than when I was a sophmore and junior in my high school choir, when I sat next to a girl with an amazing voice, who sang very loudly.

 

[RobbyS]

This is so true. What I taught music to kids, I found that many of the children didn’t know how to sing a melody. It took time to get them to listen to actual melodies so that they could sing. Once they learned how to listen, they were able to sing fine.

Having cantored since I was in high school and in many different parishes, I can definitely say that most of the time, it isn’t the cantors who choose the music. It’s usually the music director or the instrumentalist - organist, pianist, etc. The cantors just do what they’re told - especially in the ones where I’ve worked as a paid cantor.

I misspoke. I meant the music director, who is also the cantor at our church. I thought he might learn something by the example of the ACTS groups, who sit together after they finish their retreat and sing a song they have rehearsed. It is startling how powerfully fifty men can sing together, event if some of them singing alone could barely carry a tune.