Music for the Gloria and Alleluia CONSTANTLY changing

[johnnykins]

I am a pianist/organist and totally understand where the OP is coming from. One of our musicians insists on changing everything all the time. When I’M there, the congregation sings what they know pretty well. My philosophy is that Mass is NOT the place to teach new music, and musicians are there to serve the congregation’s need to worship…not to show off.
Another pet peeve is not using the music that’s in the Missalette (for instance, the psalms and the alleluia that already there…then the congregation is bewildered on how to sing what should be easy.)

It would indeed be nice to get the music - preferably in 4 parts so that we basses are not trying to tighten our shorts to hit the high notes.

I’ll never forget going to Mass not long ago at a neighboring parish - the lyrics were handed out without any music at all - the music was unfamiliar and syncopated- -the priest exhorted everyone to sing. Of course no one in the pews sang - nor did the priest. Sometimes I really just want to slap some sense into the bozos who do things like that. They may be well meaning, but they are clowns. And let’s not forget - the Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions…

 

[pm1853]

I am a pianist/organist and totally understand where the OP is coming from. One of our musicians insists on changing everything all the time. When I’M there, the congregation sings what they know pretty well. My philosophy is that Mass is NOT the place to teach new music, and musicians are there to serve the congregation’s need to worship…not to show off.
Another pet peeve is not using the music that’s in the Missalette (for instance, the psalms and the alleluia that already there…then the congregation is bewildered on how to sing what should be easy.)

Do you notice people having difficulty with psalms and alleluias not printed in the Missalette? I haven’t really noticed this as a problem in my church. If I do a different setting than whats in the Misallette, I try to keep it simple and singable so that the congregation can figure it out without problem. We handle it by having the organist play the entire refrain, then Cantor sings the refrain then everyone join in an go from there. I suppose I just don’t find many of the Missalette settings very inspiring (Owen Alstott is starting to wear on me).

I try to do seasonal alleluias (one for ordinary time, one for advent, one for Christmas Season/Easter Season/Holy Days/etc… and an acclamation for lent) so the congregation can get familiar with it.

I agree with constantly changing settings however. The congregation has no time to learn one before chaning to another.