Music at mass

[SeekerJen]

And I would add one more thing. Don’t be afraid of our sacred music tradition. There is so much that the average choir could reach with practice in terms of sacred polyphony. I’m not talking Palestrina’s Sicut Cervus but simple motets like Adoramus Te Christe. Or Taize chants - many of them have gorgeous instrumental settings with acoustic guitars, flutes, etc.

We start practicing motets months out in advance. Practice makes perfect. Surprise your parish! Give them a gift from your choir!

Even the Palestrina isn’t out of reach. Our parish adult choir, open to all regardless of musical training, does a lovely job with the “Sicut Cervus”. You’re right, there’s so much out there to work with, and often choirs are capable of much more than they are given credit for.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Even the Palestrina isn’t out of reach. Our parish adult choir, open to all regardless of musical training, does a lovely job with the “Sicut Cervus”. You’re right, there’s so much out there to work with, and often choirs are capable of much more than they are given credit for.

And the key is…practice…as in three hours a week for my choir. But, I have to confess…those two hours on Wednesday night have “made my week” for years. It has always been a complete joy for me (despite singing Christmas motets in September ) Or Lent stuff in Advent. We practice that far out.

The hour before Mass on Sunday is used to polish what we would sing that day and that day alone.

God bless my local parish, but music prepared a half hour before Mass is going to sound just like music prepared a half hour before Mass.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

Even the Palestrina isn’t out of reach. Our parish adult choir, open to all regardless of musical training, does a lovely job with the “Sicut Cervus”. You’re right, there’s so much out there to work with, and often choirs are capable of much more than they are given credit for.

My choir sings that, too. We sound just fine, and most of the choir members are not professional singers. Many don’t even read music.

It just isn’t necessary to have professional, auditioned singers in order to have good music at Mass.