Least Favorite Songs at Mass

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lacoloratura:
Also, I definitely agree with the comment about singability. Congregational singing is an area of great embarrassment to me. My husband is not Catholic, and in my limited experience of non-Catholic churches, they are so much better at participation! Which absolutely stumps me, since the Catholic population is not somehow inherently less musically able than the Protestant population!
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I was brought up with protestant hymn singing as my mothers family were Congregational and during the holidays I would be dragged off with my Granny to their local church. I loved it. In fact it was the only thing I loved about her church. What struck me was the hymns were first of all built around a few basic tunes and were clearly designed to be easily singable and tuneful. Anyone who has been in a church where the congregation sings “Hail Holy Queen” unaccompanied will understand what I mean. The problem with a lot of “modern hymns” is that they are totally unsingable. I find myself often humming “O salutaris hostia” while I am working - I can hardly imagine myself doing the same with some of “Eagles Wings”.

I would also caution about the young people argument. As a teacher I have suffered from modern course materials that use music supposedly to attract young people. Unfortunately it has the opposite effect. Modern music tastes change dramatically in the space of days and there is nothing kids despise more than adults trying to be hip. Young people will accept what is “timeless” but not what is two days out of date. In my experience it is the 60s generation which loves these songs and promotes their use at mass.

My last comment, I promise - what’s wrong with including Protestant hymns, as long as they do not contradict Catholic doctrine? Sounds like a prejudice to me…

I hope I am not being offensive here, because I don’t mean to be. I’m NOT denying that traditional hymns are wonderful and should continue to thrive at Mass! But, as a professional musician (church musician/music teacher/aspiring opera singer, who holds an MM degree), this is a topic which touches me deeply! Thanks for listening to my rant! 🙂
 
I think our 9 oclock choir was having a meltdown yesterday. We had Peace is flowing like a river, One Bread one Body, and Let there be peace on earth, all at the same Mass, now I have to explain to the parish why I ran out of church screaming, wailing and gnashing my teeth.
 
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teresas1979:
The reason why many of these more “popular” are sung at Mass is for the youth. They are the future of the Church. Why do people have to be so pompous about how we sing. If we praise the Lord does it really matter?
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Try a CD of Eagels Wings on your average teen and check out their response. As far as teens are concerned you either have to be up to the minute with it or so old fashioned as to be an antique. Most hymnals are neither and therefore lose on both counts. One teenager at my old school though Sons of God sounded like a nursery rhyme and the whole class would start a parody jig. Let’s not confuse ourselves into thinking we know and understand what teens want or that they will appreciate our trying to be hip.

As a further point, many of the hymns that we now consign to history lasted for centuries while Eagles Wings will be dead when the generation of the 60s passes away. Already they sound so old fashioned when compared to the music on the radio. in fact they remind me so much of Bob Dylan and peter Paul and Mary and in case anyone hasn’t listened lately, they don’t get played on the radio much these days.
 
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paramedicgirl:
My least favourite songs at Mass are the ones where people clap their hands. Every time they do that, I feel like I’m in a Protestant church. :rolleyes:
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This is not really mainstream protestant but more evangelical and charismatic. My grandmothers church was definitely not into clapping and dancing and I’m pretty sure that applied to Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches also.

A couple of points I did not make earlier - I find ‘clapping’ songs of the kind popular among charismatics and revivalists incredibly childish in their words. The idea seesm to be to get everyone in te mood through the music rather than focus on the words whcih are often just mantras or easily remembered choruses.

Secondly I think the strength of the old hymns both catholic and protestant was that the were written for congregational singing and so were kept to a basic harmony that could be easily followed and didn’t make too many demands on amateur vocal skills. The result was a good communal singalong. Many of todays “hymns” seem written for soloists and choirs. They do not excite the congregation or create a sense of community despite their words. In fact I often give up on them and there are many like me leaving the music director and a few faithful to struggle on alone. Its not helped by the fact that he chooses songs that he enjoys singing totally disregarding the lack of congregational involvement.

Interestingly, in his absence one Sunday the priest asked the congregation to sing any hymn unaccompanied. The vote was for “Hail Holy Queen” which we all managed to sing together, in harmony, without any music to accompany us.
 
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Audrey:
Hosea is one of my favorite songs. Hosea turned away from God and when he returned, this was God’s song to him. It shows that God will wait as long as it takes for someone to return to the church and he will welcome them with open arms. Having been away from the Catholic Church for 17 years before becoming a “Revert,” I can really connect with this most beautiful song.
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I have to confess I have a soft spot for “Hosea.” The first time I heard it was at the baccalaureate mass offered during my college graduation weekend, umptee tum years ago.
 
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InnocentIII:
This is not really mainstream protestant but more evangelical and charismatic. My grandmothers church was definitely not into clapping and dancing and I’m pretty sure that applied to Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches also.
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This is true, I was raised in a mainstream protestant church and we always sang dignified, traditional hymns accompanied by the organ. The most “modern” music we ever sang was actually written by Catholics (“On Eagle’s Wings”, “Hear I am, Lord”, “One Bread, One Body.”)
That said, my least favorite folksongs–er, I mean “hymns”–are “Gather Us In” and “Sing to the Mountains, Sing to the Seas.”
 
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InnocentIII:
This is not really mainstream protestant but more evangelical and charismatic. My grandmothers church was definitely not into clapping and dancing and I’m pretty sure that applied to Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches also.
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This is true, I was raised in a mainstream protestant church and we always sang dignified, traditional hymns accompanied by the organ. The most “modern” music we ever sang was actually written by Catholics (“On Eagle’s Wings”, “Hear I am, Lord”, “One Bread, One Body.”)
That said, my least favorite folksongs–er, I mean “hymns”–are “Gather Us In” and “Sing to the Mountains, Sing to the Seas.”
 
Another hypothesis as to why people don’t sing at Mass – a lot of them simply don’t read music. When “new” (to the parish) songs are constantly being introduced, and most of the congregation doesn’t already know them, only the ones who read music will be able to sing right off. The rest of the people will have to hear it several times, until they can remember it.

I’ve noticed this in my church – and look at the difference when there’s a song that everybody knows, like “Holy, Holy, Holy”. Everybody sings when that one is used.

**Crazy Internet Junkies Society
**Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag
 
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MarthaMartha:
I have to confess I have a soft spot for “Hosea.” The first time I heard it was at the baccalaureate mass offered during my college graduation weekend, umptee tum years ago.
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I also love this song, along with Here I am Lord and Be not Afraid.

What I least want to hear–PLEASE DON’T THROW STONES!–are anything that reminds me of being in the pre-V2 tridentine Mass. I unfortunately never felt connected to the church during that time when I couldn’t understand what was being said (although I could parrot back the correct responses) so any of those old songs bring back unpleasant memories. I have no problem with people liking them, or even preferring them. I just want to be able to choose a Mass where I won’t have to hear them.
 
BrianDay said:
“Sing a New Church” has to be the worst ever.
SING A NEW CHURCH (1991)
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Ahhhh…yesss…I was presented with this song as a cantor and I flatly refused to sing it. I told my organist that it insulted me.

Sing a new church? Please. Give me the church of the apostles. I hardly need a new one. It’s as if the one we have isn’t good enough.

Gag me with a pitchfork. PC garbage.

To me, the A-#1 worst hymn is “Gather Us In.” It’s “Hey! Let’s worship ourselves and NOT EVEN MENTION GOD ONCE!”

I flatly refuse to sing that one, too.

I think I shocked my organist with the Sing a New Church. I’m the most agreeable soprano he has. I’ll do just about any service, any time, and I have a toddler. I’m the most reliable person on his staff. But I looked him straight in the eyes and I said, “I am NOT singing that song. Period.”

He got the message.
–Ann
 
With respect to context, this week ias it was the anniversary of 9/11 we sang “I Vow to Thee My Country” which I have only heard once before, at Sunday Mass before 9/11 last year. it is a stirring hym, set to beautiful music. You can hear it and see the lyrics here: cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/v/ivow2the.htm

I had occasion to be in my parish office this afternoon and had a chance encounter with George Rutler, of EWTN and the author of several books, including one on hymns. I told him how much I like this selection and after a small chat about hymns he pulled a copy of his book on hymns from the church book shelf and gave it to me as a present. I was so surprised and delighted I hardly knew how to respond. If you ever see him on TV and wonder what he is like in person, I can only say he is the best.
 
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Sparky:
Ahhhh…yesss…I was presented with this song as a cantor and I flatly refused to sing it. I told my organist that it insulted me.

Sing a new church? Please. Give me the church of the apostles. I hardly need a new one. It’s as if the one we have isn’t good enough.

Gag me with a pitchfork. PC garbage.

To me, the A-#1 worst hymn is “Gather Us In.” It’s “Hey! Let’s worship ourselves and NOT EVEN MENTION GOD ONCE!”

I flatly refuse to sing that one, too.

I think I shocked my organist with the Sing a New Church. I’m the most agreeable soprano he has. I’ll do just about any service, any time, and I have a toddler. I’m the most reliable person on his staff. But I looked him straight in the eyes and I said, “I am NOT singing that song. Period.”

He got the message.
–Ann
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Bravissima!

Remember the famous quote: All that is necessary for the triumph of bad music is for good singers to do nothing. 😃
 
Boy, we had them all this weekend!

Processional: Gather Us In
Offertory: Eye Has Not Seen
Communion: We Have Been Told
by the famous (or infamous) Hagen and Haas…

…and has anyone noticed how identical “Eye Has Not Seen” and “We Have Been Told” sound???

Was very difficult trying to keep my composure during these songs - and I’m a song-leader at Mass! :eek:
 
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mpav:
With respect to context, this week ias it was the anniversary of 9/11 we sang “I Vow to Thee My Country” which I have only heard once before, at Sunday Mass before 9/11 last year. it is a stirring hym, set to beautiful music. You can hear it and see the lyrics here: cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/v/ivow2the.htm

I had occasion to be in my parish office this afternoon and had a chance encounter with George Rutler, of EWTN and the author of several books, including one on hymns. I told him how much I like this selection and after a small chat about hymns he pulled a copy of his book on hymns from the church book shelf and gave it to me as a present. I was so surprised and delighted I hardly knew how to respond. If you ever see him on TV and wonder what he is like in person, I can only say he is the best.
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I am very fond of Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Navy hymn). We got Let There Be Peace On Earth this weekend, and the usual suspects.
 
Anything by Dan Schutte (Here I am Lord and many others), he is a former priest and an active homosexual. People should instruct their choir directors of this fact. We should not support his lifestyle by buying hymnals that purchase his songs.

See the link below for more on Dan Schutte.

cruxnews.com/ftm/ftm-02july04.html
 
“Here I Am Lord” has eternally been destroyed for me after reading in Thomas Day’s “Why Catholics Can’t Sing” its apparent (though not exact) similarity to the Brady Bunch Song.

Mr. Day also points out how there are so many “I Am God” songs, ie. songs in which the congregation sings the part of God in a song. He points out that there was a time when such a thing was unfathomable. Sing as if you were God? Hymns used to be praises to God, not songs in which God is supposedly singing a part.
 
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bquinnan:
It also works well to “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” as will almost any poem by Emily Dickinson. Try it!
"Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labor, and my leisure too,
For his civility."
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Wow! I’ll truly never look at Emily Dickinson the same way again!
 
I don’t like “Rain Down”. I also don’t like any song that is difficult to sing- strange tempo, reallly high notes. And it’s nice when the organist/pianist can count time. The regular guy at our chuch moved and we have this new guy who plays everything like it was a dirge. Sunday we were doing “City of God” (it’s an Augustinian parish so we do this often). At one point almost everyone shut up because the singers (including the priest) were way ahead of the pianist. It was really terrible. Maybe I can find him a cheap metronome on Ebay. 😛
 
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4HisChurch:
Wow! I’ll truly never look at Emily Dickinson the same way again!
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This reminds of my high school days. 😃

Try “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” to the tune “Fernando’s Hideaway.”
 
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