Question on Music and Mass

[englishredrose]

What do you define as praise and worship music by the way? Just curious to know

though in my parish church I am a member of the choir (and serve alternate sundays) and we have a music director who selects hymns for services etc. The priest has very little (name removed by moderator)ut on that side of things though no doubt if he wanted to, he could do - and because he is musical, wrote his own mass setting tune which we use in Lent and Advent.

But we did have Mission Praise as well as celebration hymnal and English Hymnal and now have a book that combines all (more or less) those hymns in one which does make the music version heavyish to hold but at least we don’t have to sort out which book any more. The hymns are chosed to reflect the theme of each service.

We sing a wide variety of hymns really but as straight forward hymn style rather any sort style they can be used in pentecostal churches etc? Though it is a bug bear that some songs are classed as hymns like Jerusalem which isn’t a hymn its a song but still whats it matter if it helps people to focus and feel a part of it.

 

[Usige]

Do we ever hear “All Creatures…”? No. Perish the thought we shouldn’t be able to bop and sway to a pop tune.

I recently had a discussion with our music director about song selections and he said that we need to sing song that are easy for the average person to sing. When I asked about including “All Creatures of Our God and King”, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”, or “When Morning gilds the skies” he said he dislikes them because of the archaic language (i.e. words like “thou”, “hath”, “ye”) and we need songs that “speak to the modern heart.” My first thought was “the self centered modern heart?” but I chose to be charitable and simply remain silent.

I guess it’s good I didn’t suggest “Let all mortal flesh keep silence.” He would have flipped about a song that speaks of:…with fear and trembling stand.
Pondering nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth.
Sad thing is I sang more traditional hymns as a Presbyterian than I hear at most Catholic masses. “All Creatures of Our God and King” and “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow” were staples when I sang in the choir before my conversion.

 

[RosalieM]

I have recently returned to my nearby parish choir after a 9 month hiatus. During that time I went to another parish that has gregorian chant every Sunday morning and a music director who was honored by Pope Benedict himself.
This church is difficult for me to get to with public transportation and it became unmanageable to attend on a regular basis.
Now I’m singing whatever my old choir director dishes out. Some of it is very lovely and some of it isn’t.
What I’ve learned (for myself) is not to depend solely on the weekend mandatory mass and music for inspiration and to try and do my spiritual homework, try to make it to a few daily masses during the week and make the best of the music offered by my director. I’m not nearly as uppity and critical as I was and remember that “Catholic” means “universal”.
When the pope visited Mexico, you can bet there were lots of guitars playing. On the other hand, if I don’t want to attend a guitar, drum, rockish mass, I don’t have to. The parishes offer a choice to a variety of people. I miss the chant and polyphony, but I know I can go and hear it on occasion and…I can purchase CDs to hear at home.
I guess the important thing is to get people to come to the mass of their choice and receive Our Lord.
(and p.s. - we sing “All Creatures” a lot and the director likes the “thee’s” and “thou’s” and “hath’s”, etc.) We have “anthems”, which the choir does by itself as well as the hymns that we try to get the parishioners to sing along with us.

 

[RosalieM]

p.p.s. – too late to add another edit…the choir I’m in does polyphony and once in a while a chant. The director tries to have a broad spectrum to offer.

 

[WesternPAJayDee]

Praise and worship is fine outside of Mass but Mass is a prayer and the most important part is the Eucharist. The music should cause one to focus on that point.

Praise and worship music can be fun and maybe could become entertaining and that is not what should be happening at Mass.

In Pentecostal Churches and other protestant churches alot of times the music is a big focus and meant to draw people in but for us it is the presence of Jesus that draws us in.

God Bless

Hi there, I think you will find lots of music in our church to be from a wide variety of sources including Protestantism…Praise and Worship music…is not what we have in our GIA books in the pews? Throughout the Mass there are many calls for Praise…Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, It is right to give you thanks and Praise…have you ever heard good choral Gospel music…? It is glorious!

 

[TigerKitty]

Seems this is a common topic on the forums - I’ve read several times on here about what music is appropriate for mass and what is not. And all too often I run into “angst-ridden” microphone-hanging-on teenage rock-music-wannabes “performing” at liturgies. I can’t allow myself to get started on that…

Recently, though, I feel like my soul is crying over the music at our new church. I want so much to be involved, but can’t seem to get through to anyone. I have several years of experience as an organist/cantor/etc., and I want so much to contribute in a prayerful manner to the liturgy. The current music is poorly (and I think thoughtlessly) executed, and I’ve offered to fill in, but no one has taken me up on the offer. There is a one-foot organist who uses the same registratrion, save the crescendo penal (which I don’t count as changing registration). What should be done in a situation like that? I’m resolved to grin and bear it, and I feel my conscience is clear because I have offered to share my talents (for free).

 

[RosalieM]

Seems this is a common topic on the forums - I’ve read several times on here about what music is appropriate for mass and what is not. And all too often I run into “angst-ridden” microphone-hanging-on teenage rock-music-wannabes “performing” at liturgies. I can’t allow myself to get started on that…

Recently, though, I feel like my soul is crying over the music at our new church. I want so much to be involved, but can’t seem to get through to anyone. I have several years of experience as an organist/cantor/etc., and I want so much to contribute in a prayerful manner to the liturgy. The current music is poorly (and I think thoughtlessly) executed, and I’ve offered to fill in, but no one has taken me up on the offer. There is a one-foot organist who uses the same registratrion, save the crescendo penal (which I don’t count as changing registration). What should be done in a situation like that? I’m resolved to grin and bear it, and I feel my conscience is clear because I have offered to share my talents (for free).

Sounds like the people who won’t let you fill in are being protective of their territory, as unspiritual as that sounds…especially if they’ve obtained paid positions. They wouldn’t want to be shown up on their “gig”. The church musician’s position is steady. Maybe you could look for a musician’s opening in another church?
I’m just a choir member, but I see things. Best of luck and God bless you.

 

[MissRose73]

I have no issues with guitars, drums, woodwinds, string instruments, etc accompanying a pianist or an organist at Mass as my mother’s parish musical director welcomes instrumentalists to play alongside whoever is playing piano and/or organ once or twice a month on average. Other parishes I’ve been to do similar things from time to time. I only notice chanting and similar at EF Masses even though sometimes there will be organ music at those kinds of Masses.

What we sing should reflect our beliefs and should also fit the Mass of the day in some way. No musical director is perfect but I am sure they would not allow secular music and songs/hymns that may not be in line with Catholic beliefs. I know some people cringe at the thought of singing things written in the past 30 to 40 years compared to songs that have been around much longer. I do like to raise my voice in song with others in the congregation as I consider that part of active participation at Mass.

 

[slotty]

I always find it interesting that people say that guitars and drums shouldn’t be used when they are the modern day evolutions of instruments referenced in scripture.
(1 Chronicles 15:16, 1 Chronicles 16:42)

So perhaps it’s not the instruments but the reverence and the style of music that is being put into the mass?

 

[thewanderer]

I always find it interesting that people say that guitars and drums shouldn’t be used when they are the modern day evolutions of instruments referenced in scripture.
(1 Chronicles 15:16, 1 Chronicles 16:42)

So perhaps it’s not the instruments but the reverence and the style of music that is being put into the mass?

I think it is more to do with whether they are culturally connected with Sacred Worship.

 

[MissRose73]

I always find it interesting that people say that guitars and drums shouldn’t be used when they are the modern day evolutions of instruments referenced in scripture.
(1 Chronicles 15:16, 1 Chronicles 16:42)

So perhaps it’s not the instruments but the reverence and the style of music that is being put into the mass?

I have no issues with the use of instruments at Mass like guitars and drums accompanying the choir and/or cantor. I would prefer not to have the atmosphere of a rock concert at Mass and most places I’ve gone to that use guitars and drums know how to use them in a way to not overwhelm people.