Music during communion question

[Kbell]

I am getting married soon and I need to choose a classical piece of music to be played during communion. The Father suggested it be something we could pray and contemplate to. The other musicall chioces are vivaldi, Handel and Bach pieces. Any suggesstions?
Thank You,Kelly

 

[John_Lilburne]

Sing a hymn.

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“86. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful. If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be ended in a timely manner.”

 

[agapewolf]

I am a music director and play about 35 weddings a year.

Why do you think the communion song needs to be classical?

The idea that ANY wedding music has to be classical is just from t.v. shows, and seeing other weddings. I urge all of the couples to consider spiritual songs…even for their processional music (and I have actually convinced a few couples to process in to a gathering/entrance hymn with people singing…its BEAUTIFUL)

The communion song must be able to be sung by the congregation. Ideally it has something to do with a Eucharist Topic. A few good songs are “We are One Body” , “Taste and See” or “I am the Bread of Life”. All of these songs are direct scripture quotes, and are easily sung.

 

[Kbell]

I do not think it HAS to be classical music. I have CHOSEN to have classical music played. I was looking for a piece of classical music for communion which would be appropriate because I know not all are. Thank you for any suggestions.

 

[agapewolf]

and my point is that it is not appropriate. Having classical music there only promotes the "show"idea of a wedding. A mass is the public work of the Church, and therefore, the church is in union in their participation.

It is supposed to be SUNG by the congregation.

It shouldn’t be allowed.

 

[SMHW]

You could pick a hymn with a classical feel to it. Perhaps something like Panis Angelicus or Ave Verum Corpus Neither is really very long so you could sing a verse and then just let the accompanist(s) run with it for the remainder of communion time.

 

[Jack]

Congrats Kelly

I would suggest Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus” which is certainly “Classical” and very Catholic. Alternatively, Franck’s “Panis Angelicus” would do just fine. Both are beautiful and perfect for use during the reception of the Holy Eucharist.

 

[Sarabande]

I have to disagree that classical music promotes a “show” quality for a wedding or a mass. On the contrary, classical music - chant, polyphony, motets, masses, etc. were composed specifically for Catholic Mass throughout the centuries to the present day. In fact, Vatican II states that Gregorian Latin chant is “specially suited to the Roman liturgy” (ibid., n. 116). But other forms of liturgically correct sacred music, especially polyphony, are also acceptable as long as it is, as expressed in the International Congress of Sacred Music of 2001, a “high-quality repertoire which will enable musical expression to serve its purpose, “the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 112), in an appropriate way”.

I also see nothing wrong with wanting to give the best to God. In my mind and as a classical musician, hymns are not the best and highest quality of music to offer up to our Lord. They are fine if that is all you have. I do not have anything against hymns and singing of the faithful as long as it is “intelligently fostered”, but if you have the ability to give even more, it would be wrong to hold back the gifts and talents the God gives to you. It has NOTHING to do with showing off to me and to many of my colleagues and non-musician friends. It’s what we believe to be as our best to God and how we express our prayer to God. And why not hear that music which was meant to be performed in church during mass, instead of at a secular concert?

kbell - If you want to use classical music, you go do it. It is appropriate. PM me and I can give you suggestions for appropriate music during Communion. We had a lot of Palestrina at our wedding along with sacred works by Mozart, Tallis, Faure, Bach and Gregorian chant.

 

[tcraig]

A few good songs are “We are One Body” , “Taste and See” or “I am the Bread of Life”. All of these songs are direct scripture quotes, and are easily sung.

Songs like this are probably the #1 reason the OP wants “something classical”.

 

[Jack]

Well said Sarabande.

 

[Sarabande]

Songs like this are probably the #1 reason the OP wants “something classical”.

I have to agree. Even as an 8-year-old girl about to make her First Communion back in the 80s, I thought that music was insulting or “yucky” as I called it then.

 

[kangnamdragon]

I am getting married soon and I need to choose a classical piece of music to be played during communion. The Father suggested it be something we could pray and contemplate to. The other musicall chioces are vivaldi, Handel and Bach pieces. Any suggesstions?
Thank You,Kelly

Panis Angelicus

 

[kangnamdragon]

The communion song must be able to be sung by the congregation. .

I don’t believe this is true.

 

[kangnamdragon]

and my point is that it is not appropriate. Having classical music there only promotes the "show"idea of a wedding. A mass is the public work of the Church, and therefore, the church is in union in their participation.

It is supposed to be SUNG by the congregation.

It shouldn’t be allowed.

Then why does the Holy Father encourage the use of Gregorian chant? Is everyone supposed to chant? Where is the rule that says everyone is supposed to sing?

From the GIRM:

1. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful.74 If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be ended in a timely manner.

Care should be taken that singers, too, can receive Communion with ease.

1. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Communion chant: (1) the antiphon from the Roman Missal or the Psalm from the Roman Gradual as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song chosen in accordance with no. 86 above. This is sung either by the choir alone or by the choir or cantor with the people.

If there is no singing, however, the Communion antiphon found in the Missal may be recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a lector. Otherwise the priest himself says it after he has received Communion and before he distributes Communion to the faithful.

Sorry, but I don’t understand why a music director does not know these rules.

 

[Sarabande]

A lot of people are mentioning “Panis Angelicus”. The more popular setting of it is the one by Cesar Frank.

There is also a Charpentier setting to “Panis Angelicus”

There is also a setting of the “Ave Verum Corpus” by Elgar.

If you plan on having a choir or two female singers, Faure’s setting of “Ave Verum Corpus” is also beautiful. We had that for our communion piece.

You can find a solo version of the Mozart “Ave Verum Corpus”, although I think it is better for choir.

Chausson “Ave Verum Corpus”

 

[Sarabande]

I don’t believe this is true.

It isn’t true. Although the “singing of the faithful” is acceptable, I have not found anything that says the music MUST be congregational.

 

[toutestgrace]

It is supposed to be SUNG by the congregation.

I find congregational singing during Communion distracting; particularly after receiving, when I am trying to meditate on prayers of thanksgiving.

 

[agapewolf]

I should have known I would have gotten jumped here.

Yes, I am very aware of the rules…no need to be patronizing.

First off, I was not referring to the “performance” aspect of classical music. I was referring to the fact that less opportunity for participation at a wedding (no matter what kind of music) leads to this idea that we come to watch it, instead of participate and pray.

Please read the rules again…the whole first paragraph is dedicated to the fact of why the Communion song should be sung. It says if there is no singing (referring to the fact that there are no music ministers), then you must recite the communion antiphon.

My 3 suggestions may not be favs of people here, but again, I reiterate, they are all VERY scripturally based. We are one body being a theme song for world youth day…the JPII even stating that was his fav.

Please understand…I am in the trenches…over 35 weddings a year. The classical music realm of “canon in D” and “trumpet voluntary” makes me want to lose my hearing. It is so cliche, and only promoted by T.v. versions of weddings. (never mind the disgusting “here comes the bride”). In every wedding I play, I reiterate…EVERY SINGLE wedding I play, the more you can make everything possible congregational that has the option, you should. This is from real lived experience. When this is done, the Mass takes on a different light…it gives the people at Mass at least a chance to pray. Most serious practicing Catholics don’t need these things to pray for the couple and to pray the Mass, of course not. But every wedding I have played, it gives the hope and more likeliness that the prayer will happen. Even Catholics forget when to sit and stand at a wedding. It’s terribly sad. They go to a “Show” to watch it happen.

From the constition of the sacred liturgy:

*II. The Promotion of Liturgical Instruction and Active Participation

1. Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people (1 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.

In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit; and therefore pastors of souls must zealously strive to achieve it, by means of the necessary instruction, in all their pastoral work.*

It seems that most if not all brides have this “classical” mindset of their wedding. I challenge that idea. I said before, a couple times a year, I play the procession with people singing the entrance song…one time is was “all creatures of our God and king”…everyone singing…it was so beautiful.

 

[Sarabande]

I work at a Cathedral as a musician and we do between 80-100 weddings a year. I also assist bridal couples with choosing music for weddings that I do outside of the Cathedral. So I understand how sometimes playing or hearing (I’m not the organist) the Canon in D and Trumpet Voluntary would feel overdone. But that does not mean we should just throw out all classical music for mediocrity only because the text is scripturally based. Besides, there are hundreds of classical sacred works that are very scripturally based and far superior. (In terms of the Wagner and Mendelssohn - they aren’t supposed to be performed in Catholic weddings anyway since they are not absolute music, so I’ve been blessed not to hear it at all unless I’m performing for a Protestant wedding.) So, I feel it is better to provide sacred music that is uplifting and beautiful (which is something encouraged by the Church) although not “congregational”, than to employ mediocre congregational music, which does not encourage active participation, at least in the numerous Catholic Churches I’ve attended.

Whenever I hear music such as ones you mentioned, (excuse me for this) I want to vomit. It distracts me from prayer rather than help me be inspired and work towards prayer. Honestly, I have to continually pray to God to help me block the music out and help me not think of how bad the music is. Otherwise, if I can’t get through it, I have to leave and attend mass somewhere else that either has no music or has something which I can live through without being distracted from my prayer. I know that’s “horriable”, but my best to God and prayer to God is more important to me than the text to a bad or mediocre melody.

I agree that some hymns are very beautiful and can be done well. I do have favorite hymns myself and actually used “O God Beyond All Praising” as my bridal entrance, although we used it only as an organ instrumental. We also had a choir chant the Gregorian chant in Latin (we provided the Latin to our guests), as well as perform a Palestrina mass, Tallis motet, Faure for communion, a Faure setting of Ave Maria (solo) and Mozart for a meditation after communion.

But speaking as a classical musician, I’d say many of the melodies of hymns that are in some hymnals today are trash - especially ones written in the 70s and 80s - stuff that was forced down my throat as a child. The melodies (NOT most of the texts) are so insulting and dumbed down. I know there are people who do enjoy that music, which is fine, but I cannot abide by it. I feel like I would be insulting God if I sat there and accepted it, especially as a musician who knows better.

It’s ok to “challenge the idea” as you expressed. It’s also ok to encourage active participation, but the music mentioned to me and to people I know - including those who aren’t musicians - would agree that it keep us from wanting to be active participants. At our Cathedral, we offer many other beautiful, appropriate and liturgically correct alternatives that aren’t typical of the weddings that you are used to - including hymns. But most are superior compositions. It can be done, especially if you are a consummate musician and can perform them. You can also find wonderful composers from the 20th century who wrote inspiring sacred music. My husband and I personally know one. He didn’t bow down to mediocrity, but offered up his best for God. I believe to offer something lower than the best that you can do for God is a disservice to God and to people who are looking for guidance in choosing music.

 

[Sarabande]

P.S. I would agree that “All Creatures of Our God and King” is a beautiful hymn to process to.