Only organ allowed during Lent

[hamburglar]

Is it correct that only organ is allowed during Lent? What about if the Parish only has a Piano at the moment?

 

[Guitar]

My copy of the latest version of the GIRM says, “the organ or other instruments” when stating that instrumental music is only to support singing during Lent, so I’d say no, it’s not correct.

Edit: found the quote.

1. The organ *and other lawfully approved musical instruments *are to be placed in an appropriate place so that they can support the singing of both the choir and the congregation and be heard with ease by all if they are played alone. It is appropriate that, before being put into liturgical use, the organ be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.

In Advent *the organ and other musical instruments *should be used with a moderation that is consistent with the season’s character and does not anticipate the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord.

In Lent the playing of *the organ and musical instruments *is allowed only to assist the
singing. Exceptions are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts.

 

[hamburglar]

To “assist” the singing? What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Guitar]

To indicate when and at what pitch and tempo the singing should start, and to provide any necessary rhythmic and pitch support to keep everyone together and stop them drifting flat, and then to indicate when to stop singing, presumably.

I take it to mean “no music for its own sake” but only where it is essential to allow singing to occur. No instrumental pieces and probably no flourishes and “frills” such as solo reed stop descants superimposed on the final verse, type of thing - things that are nice but not necessary to sustain singing. If the congregation couldn’t sing without it, do it; if they could, don’t, sort of thing. For some things that will be a more-or-less normal accompaniment, for others it might just be a soft starting pitch.