Music and Christmas time

[Gertabelle]

1ke and Allegra’s comment are unfair. Just because Seeksadvice has a comment to make about the music doesn’t mean it’s invalid unless he steps up to the plate and joins the music ministry. His comment may be worth more because he could be the parishioner that starts the fund that pays for the music director.

I think their points are completely valid, sorry. Although they didn’t go into every possible variation of how one might be part of the solution, I think their point is simply that – be part of the process or get over it.

Seriously, the number of people who start threads on CAF complaining about music at mass is ridiculous.

Meanwhile, the number of people who are willing to make a commitment of time, talent or treasure to their local music ministry is minuscule to non-existent.

I played only two Christmas masses this year – made dozens of ugly (and of course loud) mistakes, played a couple hymns too slow, one too fast, had to sight-read at least one piece, couldn’t find my feet on the pedals for anything in one piece, accidentally doubled the volume in the middle of Gloria when I switched manuals, etc.

You’re welcome.

And if anyone in my parish just can’t take it anymore, they are welcome to take my place, or raise the funds to hire a real organist.

 

[Lara]

Which was point exactly.

Believe me I know all about the music ministry from having been in it. We need more people like Seeksadvice to complain, not fewer. The more the better, because then improvement can be possible.

If the plumbing in the Church were left to volunteers without expertise, within no time, you’d hear complaints, and everybody would say why don’t we put more money into plumbing? Likewise if there were buckets collecting the roof water within the church next to the pews, the drip drip would eventually get to the parishioners who weren’t talking to their neighbours, and in no time, voila, a roof repair company would be called. But trained musicians are notoriously undervalued.

I’ve complained from within the ministry and from without and believe me, it makes no difference whatsoever. If you are in the ministry, and you want a crow to please quiet down, you will get in trouble. If you want to hold auditions, you will get in trouble. If you want to place an amazing singer for a solo, you will get in trouble. The focus is on congregational singing. If you want to get rid of guitars and drums, which don’t belong except the latter in African Masses, you will get in trouble. No pianist/organist should have to contend with another chord-making instrument such as a guitarist. If you want to do all verses, you will get in trouble. If you want to keep the key it’s written in, you will get in trouble. Guitarists are unable to play in the written key, it seems. If you want only the people that have rehearsed properly to perform, you will get in trouble. Someone will show up and sing two beats ahead of the rest of the choir.

So even money wouldn’t solve all the problems. There are conflicting demands. In short, there is no good way for a trained leader to feel welcome in this ministry.

 

[JButky]

So even money wouldn’t solve all the problems. There are conflicting demands. In short, there is no good way for a trained leader to feel welcome in this ministry.

Well, I’m not no sure about that. But your point is well taken that being an organist/music director is a lot like “it ain’t easy being green”.

The Organist or director (usually the same person these days) has to balance lots of political agendas and is often in the middle between the politics and being faithful to their duty within the Church.

And it has become a thankless job for many reasons. The saving grace for the director is in their dedication to their duty for the church and from the appreciation of the congregation.

Our culture has moved in a direction that expects much of musicians but sees no value in paying for their talent. That does vary by location but in general, even a decent paying organist gig is hard to come by in his day and age. And as an organist, finding a place with an organ is getting much more difficult. Financially it is a heavy burden for a parish to support such an undertaking.

Then, pastors come and go, each with their own concept of what liturgical music should be for whatever reasons which can wreak havoc on a liturgical music support structure. I’ve seen choirs destroyed, organs abandoned, gratis work expected. And I’ve seen new churches built, organs installed, and at at least an acknowledgement that a person dedicating their life to music in the Church is large part of their way of life and that requires some monetary compensation and pastoral understanding.

As the CCC states, the organ will always hold it’s proper place in Catholic worship because of it’s very nature. But without a support structure, it is a dead lifeless thing. Only time, talent and treasure of at least one person in a parish can bring that into the light and fulfill that purpose.

Many parishes do the best with what they have. The solution I think you are looking for is highly complicated.

I’ve been a Church Musician, Organist, Choir director, Music director serving in the Church for some 45 years in various areas of the country and in parishes of all sizes and income brackets. So I’ve seen about just about everything you can see. From playing at Cathedrals, Basilicas, to serving at missionary churches and everything in between I’ve pretty much experienced everything of the good, the bad and the ugly.

The best you can hope for is to pray for change. I don’t have any concrete solutions for you except that from experience, I know that God finds away to take care of His faithful musicians.

 

[pianistclare]

Yeah. What he said. I was the Music director at my parish for 16 years. Worked for pennies. Literally. Have a very unique skillset.
Asked for a raise. Nope. So I left.
In the interim, they got two college kids Horrible. The entire choir quit.
One man from the congregation came forward and even offered to cover my salary.
Pastor said no.
He left, new pastor lets it be known that he’s praying for a fine musician to walk in the door.
I came back, he created a combo position for me so that I could be full time and earn real $$.
It takes a lot of training, scholarship, talent, and yes, $$ to keep someone good. We do it for love of God, but we also have families to feed.
Bashing your musicians will get you nowhere.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Here’s the issue - - most priests don’t prioritize music. Therefore, the quality is a mixed bag. The professional organists that I know of, tend to play professionally at Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran churches (or other mainline Protestant). At those churches, they get actual money they can live off, and they don’t deal with the revolving door of priests who may have “interesting” liturgical ideas, and who think it’s okay to treat their musicians not very well.
Priests have to deal with the parishioners who complain the most, and give the most $$. This is the only way that I can make sense of the music that I see occasionally at Catholic parishes.
We are very fortunate at our parish to have a great, well-trained organist. I don’t know what the parish pays him. I communicate my compliments to him and our pastor as often as I can.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Here’s the issue - - most priests don’t prioritize music.

I’ve worked for many priests. Some do not prioritize music, for some they want to approve songs for Mass, want highly talented people involved. Varies widely.