People who sing in the choir: Why does the music change so frequently?

[Ridgerunner]

I think blaming the choir might be a mistake. I sing in the choir in my parish. It seems like we just get comfortable with one set of hymns and the choir director will go to a whole new set. I think choir directors get CDs or something sent to them by music companies and sit at home and listen to them. Then they want the choir to try them out. So we have to learn them.

The poor parishioners, most of whom are not in the choir for good reason, are just baffled by a new repertoire and tend not to sing at all unless one of the new hymns is especially singable.

 

[SMHW]

I can’t speak for any other parish but at mine, we usually change “Mass settings” according to the liturgical seasons. A Mass setting will typically consist of a version of the Gloria, the Sanctus (Holy, Holy), Memorial Acclamation, Amen, and the Agnus Dei. There may be other sung parts in included such as the Creed, Our Father, etc.

So-called “sandwich” hymns (Entrance, Preparation of gifts, Communion hymn, and Closing) vary from Mass to Mass. They might be similar to the Propers of the day, they might reflect one of the readings, or they might reflect the current liturgical season or feast. Some of the music might be chosen just because the pastor or the music director likes it.

 

[Peeps]

I’ve been thinking for years that music needs to be constant at mass. People never sing because they don’t know the words! The best way for them to know the words is repetition! Which songs get the most participation? Christmas Carols! and sometimes very well known modern songs. Lord of the Dance, Amazing Grace, things like that, because people know them!

Anyway, I think I agree with you. Mass music should be more consistent, like 10 songs over and over again, and simple, no crazy time signatures.

I’m a church musician who substitutes (organ,piano) in several Catholic parishes, including my own, and I also play for Protestant churches.

I strongly disagree with this.

There’s a reason why most Catholic hymnals have hundreds of hymns–they have been deemed appropriate and efficacious for Christians to sing by our bishops (or at least by their committee).

I think that it is good to make use of the “4-hymn sandwich” OF Mass to sing at least one very familiar and beloved hymn, one somewhat familiar hymn (possibly this one could be a contemporary “chorus-type” hymn–easy to sing), one extremely ancient and “Catholic” traditional hymn, and one “new” hymn–something that is unfamiliar to most in the congregation.

Most parishes that I’m involved with do about 30 hymns in the hymnal–what a waste! Sometimes I think that OCP or other Catholic music publishing houses should give up these giant hymnals and publish a hymnal that includes only the “Top 30” hymns. Include the 4-part harmony so that the few people out of the 500 people sitting in the pews who have learned to read music can sing the harmonies. It would sure be a lot less expensive for parishes, and lighter for elderly people and children to hold. Make an online version to attract all those who use their smart phones for virtually everything in their lives.

Joking, everyone. This would be a major turn-off for me and my family.

We have so many beautiful and thoughtful hymns that have been written through the centuries–to limit a Catholic parish to only a Top 10 or Top 30 would be insulting to our intelligence and “dumb-down” the Catholic Church.

I think that the Catholic Church should embark upon a major campaign, at least in the U.S., to educate parishioners of all ages of the incredible gift of singing, and make at least one of our upcoming years, “The Year of Catholic Mass Music.”

 

[pnewton]

I guess there are different philosophies on this. My own has been to stick to about a hundred of hymns, adding only a couple a year at most. This seems to be about the most people can sing (the majority) at my parish. One of my counterparts do a lot more new stuff, or used to. I would recommend that the OP write or tell the pastor his concerns. He needs feedback. This is not to change things or complain, but just to let him know the downside of too much variety.

This last year, my pastor circled about a hundred songs and told us all to stick with stuff we knew, not adding anything new. As to Mass settings, we only use two - one for Lent and Advent, one for the rest of the time.

 

[Dewey83]

It’s tough right now for music ministries regarding Mass parts. Since the changes to the words used in the Gloria, Lamb of God, etc., from about 10 years ago, all of the Mass settings have had to be new compositions or things like the Mass of Glory Frankensteined to fit with the different words. Composing memorable settings that sound beautiful can take time, and it is still very early days, relatively speaking.

Music ministry leaders have to juggle a lot of concerns, including the requests of the pastor, difficulty of the music, the demographics of the parish, and a balance between familiarity and variety.

 

[Jen95]

I think that good hospitality would be:

1. to always make sure there is music and lyrics easily to be found for each piece of music, 4 part if possible
2. Lots of repetition of hymns / settings
3. Suitable music for the Mass (i.e. music written for sacred liturgy, not pop-style, etc)

 

[Margaret_Ann]

I think that the Catholic Church should embark upon a major campaign, at least in the U.S., to educate parishioners of all ages of the incredible gift of singing, and make at least one of our upcoming years, “The Year of Catholic Mass Music.”

I attended SingCon 2019 at St. Basil’s Seminary in Stamford, CT last year. SingCon is a 4 day event where everyone from beginners to experienced cantors can learn (or re-learn) how to sing the Divine Services. Last year they covered the Divine Liturgy, Vespers, Dogmatikoi, and baptism/weddings/funerals. It was absolutely marvelous!!! Everyone was so welcoming. We had people from all over the U.S. and one fellow came from Germany! (Yes, Germany has UGCC churches! )

SingCon 2020 will be held in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. One can go to ugccmusic.com for more information.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Am I just a huge whiner, and in the musically-challenged minority?

No.

As someone from a good Protestant singing background and a convert to the Church for forty years, and who has endured Catholic parish music in the congregation for thirty of those years and in the choir for 10, and who has a strong education in music and liturgy, I agree entirely with your observations and complaints.

Like you, my first response is to make the effort to join in without complaining, but year after year the pieces are challenging and forever changing - but never for the better. On the contrary, over time traditional hymns get picked off one by one.

From the inside of the choir I have heard the leaders smirk at the hymns (mostly traditional) they know are popular with the congregation, and almost hold their noses as they reluctantly “give them what they want”.

It is well known that men particularly need music which has a suitable range and level of difficulty, because their voices are less flexible than women’s and their ears slower. I can tell you that no parish musical group has ever asked itself “Will the men be able to sing this?”, and no parish representative has got back them and requested music which is singable by men.

I have seen all that you have observed, over and over in parishes and even Cathedrals across Australia (albeit less so in Cathedrals, some of which have fine music programs and congregational singing).

These patterns of musical selection by choirs add nothing to the liturgy or congregational experience, and in fact detract from them. Myself and others with good musical skills have said among ourselves that we would rather have no music than this strange selection from the choir.

 

[Edmundus1581]

I think the problem (of church music changing too rapidly) has got exponentially worse in recent years as many parishes have started using recorded music in masses without musicians. It’s too easy to find a recording and the lyrics, and with no effort introduce a “new” hymn to the congregation. The same thing can happen week after week.

Now, we’ve discussed the “licitiness” of recorded music before, so I suggest we don’t go down that path again…

My own impression of problem is that, while the situation wasn’t good until, say, 2010, since 2010 it’s got much worse with the widespread use of recorded music.

 

[Edmundus1581]

It’s tough right now for music ministries regarding Mass parts. Since the changes to the words used in the Gloria, Lamb of God, etc., from about 10 years ago, all of the Mass settings have had to be new compositions or things like the Mass of Glory Frankensteined to fit with the different words. Composing memorable settings that sound beautiful can take time, and it is still very early days, relatively speaking.

Music ministry leaders have to juggle a lot of concerns, including the requests of the pastor, difficulty of the music, the demographics of the parish, and a balance between familiarity and variety.

You make good points about the complex difficulties facing music leaders today, and thanks for the information.

However, I think these problems would be realm of the more conscientious music leaders who take pains in selecting music which both conforms with the various directives and appeals to the congregation.

I applaud these musicians and thank them for their efforts!

I think the OP’s complaint is about the music leaders, who in my observation are many (in Australia at least), who make additional difficulties for the congregation by changing hymns and music too frequently and, apparently, to suit their own tastes with little care for what the congregation are familiar with or capable of.

 

[TK421]

I sang in the choir for 3 years at 3 different parishes and I think the people who are in charge of the choir (all of them nice people) just have a tendency to be a bit zealous and enthusiastic with trying out new things.

I don’t agree with it either because most of the congregation isn’t practiced singers and the choir is there to be a servant to the people, but it happens.

 

[Gyro]

Several years ago (I believe it was circa 2010) the Church in the USA decided to change the text of its Missal. This affected the music of the Ordinary of the Mass in rather profound ways because the responses sung by the faithful had to include certain phrases that were changed by the folks at the USCCB. For example, we no longer would say, “We believe,” in the recitation of the Nicene Creed. Instead we now say , “I believe.” We also now use the words “consubstantial with the Father” instead of “one in being with the Father.” This change had its impact on the music we sing as a congregation.

The language for the “Gloria” was now altered in a way that forced (I think) a significant change. This change in new text affected the musical structure of the song as it is to be sung in English. The settings for the Gloria were no longer functional because the English words were now more conformed in meaning with the original Latin. This modest change affected the entire musical setting, forcing compositions that were often clumsy in order to accommodate the new verbiage. What to do?

Well, IIRC, some music directors stubbornly clinged to the old musical structures and then crow-barred the new language into them in an effort to fit the old model. While this might’ve made sense lyrically, it was often (too often) awkward musically. Some, on the other hand, purchased a slew of new hymnals from the OCP/GIA publishing houses that contained some rather quickly composed and untested music with what I consider to be awful and often banal renditions of this most important hymn. I mean, it’s the “Gloria” for goodness sake! Shouldn’t it sound Glorious? Some of the Gloria’s I hear now sound like something out of a poorly written short-run Broadway musical. The congregation can’t possibly keep up with the shifting rhythmic and melodic changes that are demanded of it. And, may God have mercy on us, we continue hear this kind of nonsense frequently performed at our churches across this great land.

Another solution was to have every church in the diocese use only one English language setting - and one only - to be used for the Ordinary of the Mass on every single Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Diocese of Lansing Michigan for instance, the setting was quite a lovely one by the Canadian composer, Michel Guimont, called Mass for a Servant Church. It was hard at first to make the transition, because it was a challenge, but eventually everyone got it, and for at least two glorious years, every church in the diocese was on the same page every Sunday. Unfortunately, we’re now back to having different Mass settings sung at different churches within the diocese. My supposition is that the music directors started to complain about being “limited” or something. The point being is that we are back to cacophonous disorder. I frequently visit other churches in the diocese than my home church and, quite frankly, I can’t keep up with the plenitude of Mass settings. In my mind, we should, all of us, be able to worship together as one people no matter what Catholic church we attend. Having a common musical vernacular would go a long way in making that a real possibility.

 

[Wesrock]

At my parish they introduce new mass settings every year. Every time they change the congregation reverts back to barely mouthing the lyrics. As the year progresses they get better. By Christ the King oh wow we’re singing so great and people are trying.

Then advent starts and they change it. So Advent and Christmas and even Eastertide everyone is just mouthing or quietly singing the words. And all the enthusiasm and effort culminates at the end of liturgical year just before the biggest solemnities.

I’m not involved in these things so I don’t know what it goes on. And I know the musical directors receive a lot of criticism. Still, I’d think changing the mass settings after Pentecost, if they’re going to change them, would make more sense. At least if they want the parish participating in singing the mass settings during Christmas and Easter.

 

[Peeps]

As someone from a good Protestant singing background and a convert to the Church for forty years, and who has endured Catholic parish music in the congregation for thirty of those years and in the choir for 10, and who has a strong education in music and liturgy, I agree entirely with your observations and complaints.

Can you describe what you do in your parish to be involved with the music/liturgy? Thanks!

 

[Peeps]

I think there are several reasons that people have a hard time learning new pieces:

1. Age–sadly, in many Catholic churches in the U.S., at least half the congregation during Mass is above retirement. And again, sadly, many elderly people do have a hard time reading words, let alone music, and hearing the melody line. It’s just a fact of life, even with hearing aids and glasses.
2. Age again–in many Catholic churches in the U.S. at least half the congregation is younger people/families in their 30s and 40s. Many of these folks grew up at a time when public schools and even private schools ousted music education in favor of pushing math and science. Many of these people never learned to read music, or how to learn songs through listening,. And many of these people grew up with pop music their only music in the home. As a result of their unfortunate lack of music education, these people have a difficult time learning to make music themselves.
3. Many parishes still have a population of children and young people, but because they have been raised in families with musically under-educated parents AND because of the easy availability of online entertainment, they have not learned to appreciate a variety of styles of music and are completely incapable of reading music (both notes and lyrics), and do not play any instruments that would be useful in a liturgical setting (e.g., organ, piano).

As the long-time chair of a youth music scholarship competition, I can testify that over the years, the number of entries has dropped by at least half. The music teachers tell us that they have very few students, and many who start out quit within a few months because they “don’t like it.” Apparently the parents lack the intestinal fortitude to compel their children to continue doing anything that they “don’t like.”

So in conclusion, I believe that church music in general, not just Catholic church music, has suffered because of changes in our society. I don’t think we should simplify our church music for the sake of those who can’t learn fast enough, but instead, we should change our society by influencing families to commit to rearing their children well and educating them more fully not only in job-producing STEM subjects, but the arts as well. As for those who can’t learn new music, I think that the music/liturgy directors should do a better job of teaching their congregations.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Edmundus1581:

As someone from a good Protestant singing background and a convert to the Church for forty years, and who has endured Catholic parish music in the congregation for thirty of those years and in the choir for 10, and who has a strong education in music and liturgy, I agree entirely with your observations and complaints.

Can you describe what you do in your parish to be involved with the music/liturgy? Thanks!

My involvement in music in the parish is as described in that para, ie. member of the choir for ten years. I could clarify that this is the “traditional” choir for the main Sunday service. With regard to liturgy, over twenty years I have been a reader, commentator, EMHC, leader of a prayer group, and also was a member of the Liturgy Committee for seven years.

The choir itself (the “traditional” one), I would have rated thirty years ago as “average”, but over thirty years they have maintained their own standard, albeit aging, while other traditional choirs have largely disappeared, to be replaced by more modern “music groups”, cantors, and recorded music, so now we are, in my estimation, well above average.

With regard to my other education in liturgy and liturgical music, much of it has been gained here in CAF, where I listen to those more knowledgable than myself, and also, from time to time, ask a question arising from a matter in my own parish. We do actually make progress here and educate each other, giving ourselves some advantage over those who know little more than parish meetings and speculation about what the church requires.

 

[AlmaRedemptorisMater]

In many parishes there is an incorrect assumption that the congregation needs to sing with the hymns, or in fact that there needs to be hymns at all. It is nice, but not necessary.

 

[MNathaniel]

I mean, I think at this point, the assumption of a congregation’s obligation to sing the hymns (often explicitly urged by priests and musical leaders, too), is just kind of culturally ‘set’, and a priest would have to officially announce (perhaps repeatedly) that the congregation actually isn’t supposed to sing, or is free not to join in with singing.

As it is, it doesn’t seem unreasonable that parishioners feel social pressure to sing, and guilt when they can’t (and awkwardness when they end up in entire pockets of pews that are silent, while parishioners sing in other pews, and a person has to basically decide whether they’re brave enough to be a soloist in their silent section). And that’s on top of the fact that it really would be nice to be able to all sing together, if that were better facilitated.

 

[AlmaRedemptorisMater]

Very true. To me, it’s a bit odd that we have this dichotomy where part of the congregation wants everyone to sing, and the other part wants no part in singing. Difficult for any music director to work with.

 

[Edmundus1581]

These matters (whether the congregational singing and hymns are optional) have been raised before and we get into complex disputes over them, referring to various liturgical directives.

I’d point out that half of your question related to too-frequent changing of the music for the Ordinary of the Mass (Gloria, etc).