Music director changes prayers/songs

[irisheyes66]

And it bothers me. This past Sunday he announced before mass that they were doing a new Gloria, Lamb of God, and Alleluia. Of course the words were the same but it was to new music. My young kids (5yo and 2.5yo) actually know the prayers because of the familiar songs. Now they go and change it.

Sometimes I feel that they change things just for change. As if they are bored and want to mix it up.

I’m sure it’s not right to be upset about this matter but it really irked me.

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[VociMike]

There’s nothing automatically wrong with changing the musical settings of the people’s parts of the Mass. I think it is most appropriate when it helps to to herald a new liturgical season, or to celebrate a special day. Thus e.g. there are Gregorian chant Mass settings for Lent, Easter, Advent, Ordinary Time, Feasts and Solemnities, Marian Feasts and Solemnities, etc.

Changing them in the middle of Ordinary Time makes a lot less sense and comes across more like change for change’s sake.

 

[dafalax]

The fact that he announced it before mass makes it seem fishy, too. We had an accompanist at our local parish make us practice a tricky key change in the entrance hymn before the mass could start. On the list of parish goals was “Make the Eucharist the source and summit of our faith”. I guess currently getting all key changes right is the source and summit.

 

[agapewolf]

The fact that he announced it before mass makes it seem fishy, too. We had an accompanist at our local parish make us practice a tricky key change in the entrance hymn before the mass could start. On the list of parish goals was “Make the Eucharist the source and summit of our faith”. I guess currently getting all key changes right is the source and summit.

or maybe he’s trying to help everyone participate better…
Whether there should be a key change or not I’m not debating, but I sing a new song once with a congregation befre Mass so they can participate in it better during Mass.

Changing mass settings is actually a very good thing…especially in regard to the seasons. The long stretch of ordinary time from Pentacost to Advent might warrant a change in the middle.
If its a tourist parish, doing more well known mass settings during the tourist season so that more can participate makes sense.

Just as you don’t want change for change sake, you don’t want to dislike change becuase it is change. Goes both ways.

 

[VociMike]

…The long stretch of ordinary time from Pentacost to Advent might warrant a change in the middle.
If its a tourist parish, doing more well known mass settings during the tourist season so that more can participate makes sense.

What you say about the time between Pentecost and Advent is reasonable, but participation would be better served if the music dirrector had introduced a setting the parish already knew, which doesn’t seem to be the case. Of course I also acknowledge the obvious, which is that in the beginning every new composition is, well, new. In that case, let’s hope it’s at least good new music.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

A parish I visit frequently always has people practice before Mass while my own parish only practices if there are new Mass settings.

At the church I visit, the music guy announced that he gets two kinds of complaints from people. Some people complain that he always uses the same music and it’s boring, while others complain that he constantly changes the music and they can’t keep up. Then he announced that he had something to make both groups happy. He was introducing a new piece so people couldn’t say he always used the same music, but he would also use it the following week so people couldn’t say he’s always changing things.

God bless those who are willing to put up with so many complaints to help the rest of us in our experience of Mass.

 

[CarrieH]

Far more annoying to me is when they use a responsorial Psalm setting vastly different from the one in the missalette. Sometimes they really stretch things in that regard.

We always change Mass settings with the change of liturgical seasons. One nice thing about this is that when we use one I don’t much care for, I can look forward to the next season when we’ll do something different!

 

[Epsilon_Omega]

The group I used to sing with during mass (left them to go to college), would do two praise and worship (not too crazy) and then 2 hymns that were familiar.

 

[agapewolf]

Far more annoying to me is when they use a responsorial Psalm setting vastly different from the one in the missalette. Sometimes they really stretch things in that regard.

It is very acceptable to use a seasonal common psalm other than the one for the day.

 

[irisheyes66]

The fact that he announced it before mass makes it seem fishy, too. We had an accompanist at our local parish make us practice a tricky key change in the entrance hymn before the mass could start. On the list of parish goals was “Make the Eucharist the source and summit of our faith”. I guess currently getting all key changes right is the source and summit.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that we had to practice the songs prior to the entrance hymn. You should have seen the faces of the people walking in after the announcement. They had no idea what was going on. They looked like they thought they were late but had no idea what was being sung.

 

[irisheyes66]

It is very acceptable to use a seasonal common psalm other than the one for the day.

How do they expect most people to follow and sign along then? Usually the person from our choir that leads the psalm is so pumped up to do their solo that, while they have a beautiful voice, it warbles so much like Mariah Carey, I can’t understand a word she is saying. If it’s not in the missal, I wish they would print it each week in the bulletin.

 

[agapewolf]

If things are done correctly, its very easy to follow along and sing a psalm that isn’t in the missal.

THis is a common instruction in the lectionary. It is completely acceptable.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

How do they expect most people to follow and sign along then? Usually the person from our choir that leads the psalm is so pumped up to do their solo that, while they have a beautiful voice, it warbles so much like Mariah Carey, I can’t understand a word she is saying. If it’s not in the missal, I wish they would print it each week in the bulletin.

LISTEN to the 4 or 5 word refrain and repeat it. You probably do it every day with car dealership jingles from the radio without even thinking about it.

 

[CarrieH]

It is very acceptable to use a seasonal common psalm other than the one for the day.

Being acceptable does not make it any less annoying, especially when the refrain is long and difficult to follow, as is the case with many of the more modern Psalm settings.

 

[irisheyes66]

LISTEN to the 4 or 5 word refrain and repeat it. You probably do it every day with car dealership jingles from the radio without even thinking about it.

Many times the refrain is unintelligible as the vocalist seems more concerned with showing of her talent rather than clearly communicating the message.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t lose sleep over it and there are much greater issues in life to address. These are just a few rants.

 

[SMHW]

I’m in the choir and sometimes even I have trouble understanding the words to the psalm if I don’t have them in front of me. (I *HATE *having to look at the words; but that’s just a personal thing. I’d like to think I’ve memorized the whole scriptures. Ha! ha! ha! I wish.)

Along with some published settings, this website lists all the seasonal psalms (the ones that can replace the ones for that day)
archdiocesesantafe.org/Offices/Worship/Music/SeasonalPsalms.pdf

You should be hearing one of these. Of course some settings vary a word or two and some have repeated refrains. (I’ll leave discussions for the validity of this for another thread.) Here are the ones for ordinary time:

-Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
-Your words, Lord, are spirit and life.
-The Lord is my light and my salvation.
-I will bless the Lord at all times.
-Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
-My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
-If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
-We are his people;the sheep of his flock.
-The Lord is kind and merciful.
-I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.
-Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

That website ought to be on a sticky for music.

 

[DaughterSorrow]

We change the lit music for each season and it is acceptable.

In all the diocesan cantor training I have received, and publications I have read, it is customary for the cantor to assist the congregation when a new song or liturgical mass setting is being planned. This aids the congregation in sung prayer.

As far as common psalms are done, this is totally legit as well. And usually they are NOT hard to follow because they are , well, common.

As an aside, the people that are in music minstry at my parish give at least 4 hours a week to this ministry. A lot of us work full time. We try to do this with prayerful loving kindness and have a good time too. So it’s discouraging to read (and hear) so many complaints about something done in ministry for the Lord. Constructive criticism is fine, especially if we are not conforming to the GIRM or something, but sometimes I feel like many of the comments seem petty. Sorry - just my take.

In Peace,
DS

 

[CarrieH]

As far as common psalms are done, this is totally legit as well. And usually they are NOT hard to follow because they are , well, common.

They are common if and when actual Psalm settings are used, but sometimes at my parish they will use a hymn based upon the Psalm for that day instead. For example, “Blest are those who love you, blest are those who follow you, blest are those who seek you, O Lord” instead of “Happy are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.” The former, when sung as a response, is long and wordy, and if you don’t already know the hymn, you’re not likely to get all of that when the cantor intones it.

Constructive criticism is fine, especially if we are not conforming to the GIRM or something, but sometimes I feel like many of the comments seem petty. Sorry - just my take.

I am in the music minstry as well, but I am also a strong advocate for giving the congregation things they can sing and follow along with. I don’t choose the music; the music director does, but at least our new director is more congregation-conscious when it comes to choosing the music. Yes, we get many complaints: the music is too old/too modern/too high/too low/too whatever, and a lot of it IS petty, so I choose to ignore it. But if someone has a legitimate complaint, it is worth considering, especially if they offer a constructive suggestion…and even better, if they are willing to join us and help us to improve things!

 

[pm1853]

Its good to know a couple of settings because if you ever go to another church, you’re not guaranteed the setting that you know.

Also, don’t necessarily blame the music director. Some of us have more…“hands on” pastors than others and might be required to change the setting.

 

[SeekerJen]

Also, don’t necessarily blame the music director. Some of us have more…“hands on” pastors than others and might be required to change the setting.

This happens more than most people probably realize. I’m a cantor and have arrived at Mass having practiced all of the music on my schedule, only to find out 10 minutes before Mass that half of it has been scrapped in favor of stuff that the priest thinks is more appropriate to the Gospel reading. Fine, but 1) he gets the schedule well in advance and had ample time to make said changes, and 2) I don’t always know the songs, especially if it’s something originally from, say, the “Glory and Praise” hymnal (which it usually is because our pastor likes that type of music).

Inevitably the cantor gets blamed. Sometimes it is our fault (lack of rehearsal, some do indeed like to show off, etc.) but more often than not we have no control over the situation and are doing as we’re told. The pastor wants us to try a new Mass setting? Fine. He wants us to teach it to the congregation before Mass? Fine. Go take up the complaints with him, not me.