Music leader rude to priest

[KCT]

Ugh! This has happened at least twice that I’ve seen. After the congregation has received Communion, the priest turns to the music group to give them Communion. The leader KEEPS ON SINGING while Father stands there.

He doesn’t just finish the verse, he sings at least one more verse while Father continues to wait! Tonight they kept singing, so I bowed my head in order not to stare and get annoyed. The singing continued (whole group, not just the leader). When I looked up, they were still singing, but Father was back in his chair and the altar was clear. I guess he decided not to wait for them.

My husband refers to it as the “music leader holding Father hostage.”

I think it’s rude (and presumptuous - as if he’s in charge of Mass)

 

[adrift]

Ugh! This has happened at least twice that I’ve seen. After the congregation has received Communion, the priest turns to the music group to give them Communion. The leader KEEPS ON SINGING while Father stands there.

He doesn’t just finish the verse, he sings at least one more verse while Father continues to wait! Tonight they kept singing, so I bowed my head in order not to stare and get annoyed. The singing continued (whole group, not just the leader). When I looked up, they were still singing, but Father was back in his chair and the altar was clear. I guess he decided not to wait for them.

My husband refers to it as the “music leader holding Father hostage.”

I think it’s rude (and presumptuous - as if he’s in charge of Mass)

You need to talk to the music leader. Tell him you are bothered by it and you just want to know why.You might be surpirsed at what he tells you. Pray before you do.

 

[corsair]

Perhaps even an encouraging talk with the priest. He may just need a little encouragement from some of the faithful folks

 

[damooster]

Some laity are really getting carried away. I went to Mass this evening and after the recessional hymn, the cantor “thanked everyone for coming” as if we were there to listen to him sing.

 

[PatriceA]

Some laity are really getting carried away. I went to Mass this evening and after the recessional hymn, the cantor “thanked everyone for coming” as if we were there to listen to him sing.

Oh wow, maybe next week he’ll require everyone to buy tickets to his “concert.”

 

[agapewolf]

You can’t just stop in the middle of a verse or a song. The expectation that one do so is ridiculous. That would be disrespectful to the whole congregation.

 

[twopekinguys]

You can’t just stop in the middle of a verse or a song. The expectation that one do so is ridiculous. That would be disrespectful to the whole congregation.

Singing another verse while the priest is waiting, is disrespectul not only to the priest, but our Lord in the Eucharist. This isn’t a concert, or performance, or recital, it is worship. The priority is on Jesus, and not the songs, music, or choir.

As an EMHC, I am often sent to the choir loft to distribute the Eucharist, while the choir is singing. Once I arrive, the choir director will give a cue to the members, and they will come forward a couple at a time, then return to their places, then a few more, etc. It does not interrupt the song at all. I also distribute to our organist, while he is playing.

I can tell you one thing. If that music director pulled that in our parish, with our pastor, it wouldn’t happen again, and there would be a help wanted sign posted.

 

[twopekinguys]

Ugh! This has happened at least twice that I’ve seen. After the congregation has received Communion, the priest turns to the music group to give them Communion. The leader KEEPS ON SINGING while Father stands there.

He doesn’t just finish the verse, he sings at least one more verse while Father continues to wait! Tonight they kept singing, so I bowed my head in order not to stare and get annoyed. The singing continued (whole group, not just the leader). When I looked up, they were still singing, but Father was back in his chair and the altar was clear. I guess he decided not to wait for them.

My husband refers to it as the “music leader holding Father hostage.”

I think it’s rude (and presumptuous - as if he’s in charge of Mass)

Bravo for the priest!!

Somehow, I think they are going to have a discussion about this.

 

[agapewolf]

Singing another verse while the priest is waiting, is disrespectul not only to the priest, but our Lord in the Eucharist. This isn’t a concert, or performance, or recital, it is worship. The priority is on Jesus, and not the songs, music, or choir.

As an EMHC, I am often sent to the choir loft to distribute the Eucharist, while the choir is singing. Once I arrive, the choir director will give a cue to the members, and they will come forward a couple at a time, then return to their places, then a few more, etc. It does not interrupt the song at all. I also distribute to our organist, while he is playing.

I can tell you one thing. If that music director pulled that in our parish, with our pastor, it wouldn’t happen again, and there would be a help wanted sign posted.

I am a music director, and if I’m leading the singing of the congregation, I am NOT “performing” or putting on a concert or recital. I am leading the singing of the congregation, and that is not disrespectful of the Eucharist. I cannot stop mid verse to receive. I cannot stop mid-song to receive. It is impossible.

"Holy God we praise… dead silence

“body of Christ… amen…” with the Eucharist in my mouth continuing…

“thy name”

Sorry, it doesn’t work. People here THINK they know what is going on or how things should go when there is no clue to the ins and outs of it. While it would be better to arrange receiving communino in a different way, perhaps after mass, or an EM bring a pyx over for after the song is over, at the moment, the song can’t just STOP dead silence. That is disrespectful to the congregation who is singing along. It isn’t “performance”

 

[twopekinguys]

I am a music director, and if I’m leading the singing of the congregation, I am NOT “performing” or putting on a concert or recital. I am leading the singing of the congregation, and that is not disrespectful of the Eucharist. I cannot stop mid verse to receive. I cannot stop mid-song to receive. It is impossible.

"Holy God we praise… dead silence

“body of Christ… amen…” with the Eucharist in my mouth continuing…

“thy name”

Sorry, it doesn’t work. People here THINK they know what is going on or how things should go when there is no clue to the ins and outs of it. While it would be better to arrange receiving communino in a different way, perhaps after mass, or an EM bring a pyx over for after the song is over, at the moment, the song can’t just STOP dead silence. That is disrespectful to the congregation who is singing along. It isn’t “performance”

I have to disagree. I see it in our congregation every week. I see our own music director do it.

While singing, have you ever had to stop and clear your throat, then pick up where ever the song is? Of course you have. If you can do that, you can stop for a moment to receive our Lord, then pick up at the appropriate spot.

Do you honestly think the congregation will stop singing just because the music director stops to receive communion? If anything, they should step up, and start singing louder.

Like I said, I see it done every week in our parish. The whole choir doesn’t have to stop singing all at once, only a few members at a time. They can pick up at the appropriate time once they’ve received.

It isn’t about the congregation and them getting to sing along, it is about our Lord.

If the priest is standing in front of the music director (as in the OP), and he/she decides to continue on, then they are making it about themselves, and not the Eucharist. They are bringing attention to themselves, instead of on the Eucharist.

It is as simple as that.

 

[agapewolf]

I have to disagree. I see it in our congregation every week. I see our own music director do it.

While singing, have you ever had to stop and clear your throat, then pick up where ever the song is? Of course you have. If you can do that, you can stop for a moment to receive our Lord, then pick up at the appropriate spot.

Do you honestly think the congregation will stop singing just because the music director stops to receive communion? If anything, they should step up, and start singing louder.

Like I said, I see it done every week in our parish. The whole choir doesn’t have to stop singing all at once, only a few members at a time. They can pick up at the appropriate time once they’ve received.

It isn’t about the congregation and them getting to sing along, it is about our Lord.

If the priest is standing in front of the music director (as in the OP), and he/she decides to continue on, then they are making it about themselves, and not the Eucharist. They are bringing attention to themselves, instead of on the Eucharist.

It is as simple as that.

No, it is not as simple as that. I have to stop to receive the Eucharist, the piano stops. Dead silence. Awkward, distracting. It THEN becomes about the musician and distracts everyone

To keep working, leading the folks singing, that is NOT making it about myself, that is about doing my job well.

 

[twopekinguys]

No, it is not as simple as that. I have to stop to receive the Eucharist, the piano stops. Dead silence. Awkward, distracting. It THEN becomes about the musician and distracts everyone

To keep working, leading the folks singing, that is NOT making it about myself, that is about doing my job well.

Evidently you didn’t read my earlier post. I have distributed to our organist, “While he is playing”. He doesn’t miss a beat.

If a member of the clergy, or even an EMHC under the direction of the clergy comes to you to present the Eucharist, then the focus should be on the Eucharist, and not your “job”.

I understand the idea of wanting the music and singing to be “just right”, and “beautiful”, but ultimately, it isn’t about the music and singing, it is about the Eucharist.

 

[choy]

i agree that you cannot in the middle of a song

as it is, the choir should practice in a way that when they go to receive communion, those who are in line or not receiving should continue the song while the leader and/or other members are receiving, so that the song is not cut

 

[baltobetsy]

"Holy God we praise… dead silence

“body of Christ… amen…” with the Eucharist in my mouth continuing…

“thy name”

Unless you’re playing and singing with your eyes closed, this would never happen. Any musician aware of his surroundings would realize that the priest is coming to bring Holy Communion to the music group and make an appropriate adjustment - an instrumental interlude while the singers receive, an unaccompanied verse while the instrumentalists receive, ending the song altogether at the end of a verse… it would take only a little thought at the rehearsal to get the procedure down. If none of these are possible, another arrangement should be made for the musicians to receive. It’s all in the planning. It’s a matter of respect.

No piece of music is important enough to leave Jesus Christ twiddling His thumbs waiting for it to end.

And before you tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ve been a church musician for over 30 years. I know how things work.

Betsy

 

[agapewolf]

Evidently you didn’t read my earlier post. I have distributed to our organist, “While he is playing”. He doesn’t miss a beat.

If a member of the clergy, or even an EMHC under the direction of the clergy comes to you to present the Eucharist, then the focus should be on the Eucharist, and not your “job”.

I understand the idea of wanting the music and singing to be “just right”, and “beautiful”, but ultimately, it isn’t about the music and singing, it is about the Eucharist.

And If I’m singing while playing the piano, I cannot receive the Eucharist, because it will be distracting to the congregation and bring attention to me.

You keep saying “its about the eucharist”. I know this, which is why I am insisting that I know what I’m doing, and I believe in it being about the Eucharist, and for you to say that I’m making it about myself is highly insulting.

I will NOT draw attention to myself by stopping mid-verse to receive, I will receive later, when more appropriate that I don’t draw attention to myself and have time to focus on who I am receiving.

Its not about being “just right” its about the absolute ridiculousness it would cause to stop what I’m doing mid-verse.

 

[baltobetsy]

I will receive later,

That’s a perfectly fine solution. Keeping the priest waiting through another couple of verses is not.

Betsy

 

[agapewolf]

There are several problems going on here with the “shouldas”…that really have no idea about what really goes on.

One parish I play for arranges for an EMHC to hold a pyx and stand there and wait for the musician to finish. This is prearranged. To all those in the pews it would seem here that this terrible musician is rudely making the EMHC wait around because they are putting themselves out there to show off in a recital than make it about the Eucharist.

Certain musical pieces (especially the ones that are pushed here at this forum) are especially difficult and need a lot of concentration to pull off in a decent way that isn’t fatal when trying to put together with a choir that is COUNTING on certain musical cues in order to execute. Some people cannot multi-task and receive the Eucharist while playing and taking care so that there isn’t some major mistakes going on. To have to receive the Eucharist while playing piano/organ is considered by some disrespectful. (I did it once when an EMHC came over to me and the pastor got an angry letter saying I wasn’t giving the Eucharist enough respect because I was playing piano while receiving) So whose opinion is right?

All of you who are “shoulding” all over the place, please take a step back and consider that maybe you don’t have the whole story. Maybe you don’t know what is in their heart. Maybe you don’t understand the whole situation. Maybe something YOU have done has appeared to be disrespectful to others.

I’m in the trenches…3-4 masses every sunday, 5-7every Weekend. For over 9 years now. I do not perform or give concerts at mass. I am there to lead worship and shrink out of sight. Your opinion of what is “acceptable” behavior is not based on the reality of my situation.

 

[5Loaves]

Its not about being “just right” its about the absolute ridiculousness it would cause to stop what I’m doing mid-verse.

With all due respect, I don’t see where anyone except you has spoken of the idea of stopping mid-verse…

Music directors in most Latin parishes seem to have a very challenging job.

 

[twopekinguys]

And If I’m singing while playing the piano, I cannot receive the Eucharist, because it will be distracting to the congregation and bring attention to me.

You keep saying “its about the eucharist”. I know this, which is why I am insisting that I know what I’m doing, and I believe in it being about the Eucharist, and for you to say that I’m making it about myself is highly insulting.

I will NOT draw attention to myself by stopping mid-verse to receive, I will receive later, when more appropriate that I don’t draw attention to myself and have time to focus on who I am receiving.

Its not about being “just right” its about the absolute ridiculousness it would cause to stop what I’m doing mid-verse.

By you putting more emphasis on the song and music, that is exactly what you are doing.

You are putting more emphasis on the music than you are in the Eucharist.

Remember, it is the priest who has the ultimate authority. If he, or an EMHC, at the direction of the celebrant approaches you with the Eucharist, who are you to say, “wait a minute, I have to finish this song/verse”? Or, “Oh, I’ll just receive later.” I don’t believe that falls under the discretion of a music director.

 

[agapewolf]

By you putting more emphasis on the song and music, that is exactly what you are doing.

You are putting more emphasis on the music than you are in the Eucharist.

Remember, it is the priest who has the ultimate authority. If he, or an EMHC, at the direction of the celebrant approaches you with the Eucharist, who are you to say, “wait a minute, I have to finish this song/verse”? Or, “Oh, I’ll just receive later.” I don’t believe that falls under the discretion of a music director.

No, I’m putting emphasis on not being distracting.

I am a person to say I’m not properly disposed to receive the Eucharist, that is who I am. Whether needing confession, or mind is not in the right mindset, for whatever reason.

And again, you are showing ignorance to the reality of the situation when you put it in to terms like one would say “wait a minute, I’ll receive later” Doesn’t happen. Not the reality of what actually happens.