Playing the Organ at Mass

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BrockH

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I have a question about playing the organ at Mass. Right now, I am the pianist on Sunday mornings at my parish. I have been studying the organ as well and even played once at Mass, receiving several compliments afterwards. At that Saturday Vigil Mass, I was also the cantor. I feel almost as if the cantors don’t want me to play the organ because we are not able to practice prior to Sunday Mass with the instrument. The Rosary is being prayed prior to Mass. We practice in the hall at an old piano. I have a great love for sacred music. How do I go about telling them I’d like to play organ in church?
 
I guess if you want you can okay it with your pastor but I don’t know if you necessarily need to ask anybody.

You need to practice with the cantors before Mass? Is Mass being celebrated at St Peter’s Basilica? 😛 Sounds like a classic case of people taking their role with more importance than it merited. I would just do it.
 
BrockH said:
I have a question about playing the organ at Mass. Right now, I am the pianist on Sunday mornings at my parish. I have been studying the organ as well and even played once at Mass, receiving several compliments afterwards. At that Saturday Vigil Mass, I was also the cantor. I feel almost as if the cantors don’t want me to play the organ because we are not able to practice prior to Sunday Mass with the instrument. The Rosary is being prayed prior to Mass. We practice in the hall at an old piano. I have a great love for sacred music. How do I go about telling them I’d like to play organ in church?
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Please don’t **practice **before Mass there is nothing more disturbing when trying to pray and spend quite time before the Tabernacle.
 
Well yeah, it’s not ever about you. It’s about the good of the liturgy.
Go to the priest and ask what HE wants you play.
Matter settled.

If he gives you carte blanche, then you have to consider why you want to do what will likely drive many of the singers away, and if it is worth it. It may be worth it if you can win people over. Mostly it’s CHANGE that upsets people. If you are competent, they will accept the change.
Good luck
 
jlhargus said:
Please don’t **practice **before Mass there is nothing more disturbing when trying to pray and spend quite time before the Tabernacle.
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Agreed - practice sessions right before mass are annoying. However, at one of our parishes (we’re a 3-parish cluster), a young man who is a marvelous pianist will sometimes play before mass. Not practice - play whole songs. Lovely ones too - not the sort of drivel we usually sing.

I miss good organ music - haven’t heard it in church for years*. I agree with Pianist Clare - talk with your priest. Perhaps one mass can be the organ mass.

*Now BAD organ music - I’ve heard that. Not everyone who likes to play the organ is skilled enough.
 
pianistclare said:
Well yeah, it’s not ever about you. It’s about the good of the liturgy.
Go to the priest and ask what HE wants you play.
Matter settled.

If he gives you carte blanche, then you have to consider why you want to do what will likely drive many of the singers away, and if it is worth it. It may be worth it if you can win people over. Mostly it’s CHANGE that upsets people. If you are competent, they will accept the change.
Good luck
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Well stated.
 
jlhargus said:
Please don’t **practice **before Mass there is nothing more disturbing when trying to pray and spend quite time before the Tabernacle.
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I always felt that listening to instrumental music intended for worship of God is a form of prayer but that’s me. After all, they don’t call the pipe organ the Vox Dei for nothing.
 
jlhargus said:
Please don’t **practice **before Mass there is nothing more disturbing when trying to pray and spend quite time before the Tabernacle.
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I understand what you are saying and have experienced distraction myself. But if people are volunteering their time and this is the only time they have to practice then so be it. Also, the music really shouldn’t be distracting. If it is then it is probably not well suited for Mass. But as I said I too have experienced distraction from music.
 
Please be aware, that for many parishes, it’s not a matter of no time. There simply isn’t another duplicate instrument to practice on.
You can’t practice organ on the piano.
Doesn’t compute.
Also, there often is not another SPACE where the choir can meet, and if it’s a suburban parish, likely those same folks won’t give up a weeknight after a long commute to go to choir practice.
Such is the reality fro many choir directors.
 
pianistclare said:
Well yeah, it’s not ever about you. It’s about the good of the liturgy.

Go to the priest and ask what HE wants you play. Matter settled.

If he gives you carte blanche, then you have to consider why you want to do what will likely drive many of the singers away, and if it is worth it. It may be worth it if you can win people over. Mostly it’s CHANGE that upsets people. **If you are competent, they will accept the change. **
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👍

As the Church has repeated the “pipe organ is to be held in high esteem” - so it demands competent musicians. Yet, the human voice is the most important instrument.

I agree, ask the Parish Priest. That’s where all the proper considerations can be satisfied.
 
There should be silence in Church before and after Mass, because it is a holy place. It’s not a social gathering place.

At the church I attended for the Easter vigil, the organist/pianist was blasting away at the organ for 15 seconds at a time then silence for a couple minutes, then blasting away again. WHAT IS GOING ON? Everybody thinks that they’re the center of the universe.

People are not even supposed to be saying the Rosary aloud before Mass, no matter how customary that may be.

The church is not a recital hall, where people should be tuning up their guitars or practicing whatever. THIS IS REALLY – REALLY CHURCH, FOLKS.

Oh, I get it, things aren’t holy until THEY say they’re holy.
 
psalm90 said:
There should be silence in Church before and after Mass, because it is a holy place. It’s not a social gathering place.
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I am SO with you on that! But people talk - loudly - & the musicians just have to fiddle around with their guitars. No awareness at all.

When we got to the church on Good Friday, our priest had put BIG signs on the doors that we were to remain silent. Tried to make a bet with my husband that the usual suspects would ignore them - he wouldn’t take me up on that. And they did talk - loudly. 😦
 
Good organ music is lovely. But as a cantor, singing solo to the piano is probably less challenging.
 
Go ahead and play the organ but please be careful not to get too exited and drown out the cantors while they are singing.
 
Our parish is very fortunate. Our organist has a PHD. in organ performance from a major university. We are trying to raise funds to purchase a pipe organ. Right now we just have a very good electric model. Can’t wait for the day when the “pipe” comes in. Our schola/choir is getting very good too.

God Bless.
 
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