Kind of off Season but

[DarrenOglesby]

I know this is random for the season. But why don’t parishes usually sing Oh Holy Night at Christmas. It’s not in the Gather Hymnals. And the only time I have heard it at my church was last Christmas when a very musically gifted woman at my parish came up and sang it Capella during communion. Only she sang it. It was very good.

I was just wondering if it wasn’t liturgically correct or something. It is one of my favorites though.

 

[TheMc]

I know this is random for the season. But why don’t parishes usually sing Oh Holy Night at Christmas. It’s not in the Gather Hymnals. And the only time I have heard it at my church was last Christmas when a very musically gifted woman at my parish came up and sang it Capella during communion. Only she sang it. It was very good.

I was just wondering if it wasn’t liturgically correct or something. It is one of my favorites though.

If they decide to not sing the propers, parishes can choose whatever hymns they want, assuming the words and musical style are acceptable.

 

[Evan]

I would think that there would be no congressional singing of the O Holy Night because of the range required to sing it and the time that the notes must be held. It takes some practice to get it right.

Similarly the Ave Maria. This also requires a gifted and prepared singer to do the song justice.

 

[puzzleannie]

I would think that there would be no congressional singing of the O Holy Night because of the range required to sing it and the time that the notes must be held. It takes some practice to get it right.

Similarly the Ave Maria. This also requires a gifted and prepared singer to do the song justice.

if one attempts to sing O Holy Night without proper operatic voice training, let him be anathema
if one make a country music/pop arrangement of O Holy Night and flood the airways with it in the months before Christmas, let him be anathema
if one attempts O Holy Night on a non-classical musical instrument such as a banjo or kazoo, let him be anathema

 

[SMHW]

I know this is random for the season. But why don’t parishes usually sing Oh Holy Night at Christmas. It’s not in the Gather Hymnals. And the only time I have heard it at my church was last Christmas when a very musically gifted woman at my parish came up and sang it Capella during communion. Only she sang it. It was very good.

I was just wondering if it wasn’t liturgically correct or something. It is one of my favorites though.

As others have suggested… but charitably not said quite directly… O Holy Night is a difficult song to sing and it would probably sound ***bad ***if sung by the congregation.

I belong to a fairly gifted choir and our choir director won’t let everyone sing O Holy Night. If we do feature O Holy Night is during our annual Christmas concert or as a solo piece for Midnight Mass. The choir might get to sing some harmony but never everyone on the melody.