Music and Christmas time

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This year, I’m seriously asking myself… what happened to the traditional stuff? Went to a musical Christmas event at church and good grief. Electric bass, a trap set, piano pounding, and “singing” that sounded more like a cat being slowly tortured to death.

A while back, I asked one of the music folks why the organ wasn’t played… it’s “too hard.” I guess it’s going to make an appearance at Christmas, but I find that organ + brass + percussion is a far more… respectful and refined way to celebrate the season than something that sounds like dueling banshees.

I thought that I lived in a very conservative area. Has America lost so much of its tradition that what has worked for longer than the US has existed has to be replaced by newer and “better” stuff?
 
And it isn’t happening just at church. Has anyone else noticed that many stores did not play traditional secular Christmas music this year? Mostly what I have heard is regular rock music and much of it is simply obscene.
 
We live in a culture of noise. There is noise everywhere. If you go anywhere there is loud music or TVs blaring. Given this most people aren’t going to find peaceful music interesting. They want blaring noise if for no other reason than they are accustomed to it.
 
The organ IS hard. Do you know how to play it? Most people can’t afford even a practice instrument in their home and organ teachers are scarce. In addition, there are so many different counsels out there. It’s much harder to be a guest organist because you have to spend time with the instrument and get it set up for yourself. In our parish, we’re singing Gaudete, Jesu Bambino, Rise Up Shepherd and Follow, Wexford Carol, Child of the Poor, O Come All Ye Faithful, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, Nativity Carol, Joy to the World, so fairly traditional.
 
One can still play the organ without the pedals, and get maybe half the sound and sound far better than piano
 
So I assume you have signed up for organ lessons and will step up to the plate to learn how to play it?

Or do you believe it is someone else’s responsibility to learn to play the instrument you prefer at mass while you complain about the people who have put forth effort to produce the music they are able to on the instruments they know how to play?
 
Organ isn’t even necessary. Personally I think less is more when it concerns church music. The sound of the choir’s voices are beautiful on their own.
 
Exnihilo: People obviously have no idea how blaring an organ can be:) Went to a lot of concerts at Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, VA. Let me tell you, the 32’ contra-fagote in the center of the church was… authoritative. You could hear the instrument for a couple of blocks around.

Allegra: I know organ is difficult. I played cello for several years until other things took over. Sat down at a keyboard a while back and realized that I still can read the pertinent clefs just a bit slow from rust.

Maximilian: don’t forget pedal to manual couplers:) The big Lutheran church out here has a good sized Schlicker organ of ~5,300 pipes if I recall. Their organist didn’t know how to play pedals, and seems to have not known about coupling. It’s a shame, really, really nice instrument. The 32’ bourdon would put the firmus in cantus firmus.

1ke: I’m just wondering why they’d hire a music director who can’t play it. Apparently the congregation spent a lot of money bringing it back online.

Misstherese: there is no choir at the church. Organ can add depth to any choir just like it can add depth to an orchestra. For example, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra version of The Sorceror’s Apprentice vs. other orchestras.
 
I suspect that you are not too affiliated with the organ. It’s a bit more than simply a piano with optional pedals.
 
Great! Brush off that rust and have at it! I’m sure they’d love to have you playing the organ and directing the choir!
 
well, I was in the choir loft when a friend of mine who only knows piano stepped in and played the organ for Mass at my catholic HS, so… It certainly can be played as one
 
I like the Christmas Carols, but an organ, I agree is
not necessary, I heard it played by a group of Ukelelee
players and they sounded great!!
 
What was the age of the choir/musicians? Many younger people use a different musical format for worship. It’s not wrong, just different. On occasion, I will go to the 5 PM Sunday mass that is mostly attended by youth. I like those songs too and enjoy it from time to time. Usually, I love the more traditional hymns and enjoy those as for me, it helps with my making a spiritual connection to the Creator.

A few years ago, my daughter and I decided to go to a Christmas concern at a Presbyterian church in the area. We actually had to pay to see the concert and most of the songs were just dreary sounding. Even the couple of traditional Christmas songs seemed dreary. I still don’t know why but have not gone back.

I grew up in a Baptist Church and during Advent, the hymns and the music was mostly traditional and the congregation actually sings. Most of them anyway. Sadly, that isn’t always true in the Catholic Church. It is so joyful to hear the parishioners joining in song to worship the Trinity.
 
I went to midnight mass and they had the most beautiful music i had ever heard. It was just organ along with a choir, the women’s voices hitting the high notes so gracefully and beautifully. Silent Night was the best.

The choir was of course in the back because they aren’t the star of the show. Jesus is.
 
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Didn’t make midnight Mass. Went to the 9:00AM. Was still ~-34F windchill, but, eh…

There is just something about a 16’ bourdon or bombarde that just speaks authority.
 
Maximilian75 said:
One can still play the organ without the pedals, and get maybe half the sound and sound far better than piano
Click to expand...
In one Baptist church where I was a member, the organist also had electrical engineering experience, and he had the electronic organ wired so that the lowest note played on the lower manual could connect to whatever stops were open on the pedalboard. I’ve always thought that was a great idea.

D
 
Guessing you have not tried to hire a regular organist recently. They are thin on the ground.
 
Seeksadvice said:
This year, I’m seriously asking myself… what happened to the traditional stuff? Went to a musical Christmas event at church and good grief. Electric bass, a trap set, piano pounding, and “singing” that sounded more like a cat being slowly tortured to death.

A while back, I asked one of the music folks why the organ wasn’t played… it’s “too hard.” I guess it’s going to make an appearance at Christmas, but I find that organ + brass + percussion is a far more… respectful and refined way to celebrate the season than something that sounds like dueling banshees.

I thought that I lived in a very conservative area. Has America lost so much of its tradition that what has worked for longer than the US has existed has to be replaced by newer and “better” stuff?
Click to expand...
wow.
such a unique and pressing problem.
Another complaint about musical tastes as Mass. 🤦‍♂️
 
It is absolutely a valid complaint. But here is the problem. Catholic parishioners do not want to put money up for a music director or pianists and lead singers. You will never get quality without paying for it.

Secondly, people need to be on the same page for appreciating music. They are nowhere near on the same page. An old man who appreciates Gregorian chant is not a young single Mom who plays tunes on her iPhone everyday.

Even in this thread, there is disagreement; I marvel. How could anyone not like the organ?

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.
 
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