Recorded Liturgical Music at Wedding Mass?

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PaulandRose

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I was wondering if it is forbidden to use tape recorded music/songs at a Wedding. Here I am speaking strictly of approved Church Songs (as opposed to secular songs which I think would be “forbidden” anyways in most cases). I am having a very small Wedding (in a beautiful and tiny Catholic Chapel) in 2 weeks (on the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday) and have as of yet not found anyone to play the piano…and am wondering if push comes to shove, can I use recorded music instead? Thank you in advance for your help. God bless.
 
I don’t believe that there is any stipulation that service music needs to be “live.”
:harp:

Is there a college or even high school nearby with a music department. You may be able to find a musician at one of those if you can’t find a professional.

Good luck with your wedding. 🙂
 
PaulandRose said:
I was wondering if it is forbidden to use tape recorded music/songs at a Wedding. Here I am speaking strictly of approved Church Songs (as opposed to secular songs which I think would be “forbidden” anyways in most cases). I am having a very small Wedding (in a beautiful and tiny Catholic Chapel) in 2 weeks (on the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday) and have as of yet not found anyone to play the piano…and am wondering if push comes to shove, can I use recorded music instead? Thank you in advance for your help. God bless.
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The use of recorded music is not allowed. The only instance where the Church makes a small concession is for Masses with Children, but, even there, it is limited. Here is a link that may help your situation:

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur59.htm

Almost five years ago, I went to the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Committees Conference in San Antonio. The issue you brought to the thread came up for discussion. The forrmer secretary of the formerly called USCCB Bishops’ Committee on Liturgy (now Divine Worship) stated that recorded music cannot be used for the Mass. Just like you can’t have artificial flowers, you can’t have artificial music. I can’t for the life of me remember the document, but, I wrote down everything Msgr. Moroney had to say on the subject. Oddly enough, this was the first time that I had seen the “liberals” and the Traditional group come together in agreement. Everyone was nodding their heads in affirmation of what Msgr. Moroney and staff had to say regarding the matter.

Does that parish have an organist? You might also, in a pinch, try to contact someone in your city’s Philharmonic orchestra or chorale, or your local community college of university. They will, perhaps, know someone who can help. You might also check in your home parish (if it’s not the same Church as where your wedding will be).
 
I’ve seen artificial flowers at many many Masses - real flowers are a rare thing - is that actually fobidden?
 
You may also want to contact your local high school. I’ll tell ya - some of those kids are fabulous and talented.

Congrats. I am getting married the following weekend. April 5th. I contacted my local school for the music and the options were inexpensive and amazing.
 
kage_ar said:
I’ve seen artificial flowers at many many Masses - real flowers are a rare thing - is that actually fobidden?
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As I said, I don’t have the actual documentation, but, artificial flowers are not permitted in the sanctuary. The provision may actually be found in Art and Environment in Catholic Worship. Our cathedral’s first rector was very strict about not having artificial flowers, as is the current administrator (who is now the diocesan Director of Divine Worship). In fact, if you look at some of the various parish websites throughout the country, you will find that they don’t allow artificial flowers in their sanctuaries and make a point of telling engaged couples to refrain from using them.
 
kage_ar said:
I’ve seen artificial flowers at many many Masses - real flowers are a rare thing - is that actually fobidden?
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Yes.

I have never seen artificial flowers at any Mass, ever. They are not allowed on the altar.
 
I’ve never heard that about artificial flowers. We always have fresh flowers and lots of plants, ferns and stuff on the altar. There’s a big statue of the Blessed Virgin that usually has flowers from someone’s yard in a vase. But lots of weddings have silk flowers. Both my sisters did. I had real ones, but I can’t remember another wedding I’ve attended in many years that had real flowers. So expensive, turning brown before you’re back down the aisle.
 
I’ve seen artificial flowers at non-Catholic weddings, but never at a Catholic Nuptial Mass or Ceremony. I would NEVER consider leaving fake flowers at the altar :eek: (not that it’s even allowed in the first place), but the thought would never even occur to me as an option.

~Liza
 
Reading the article on EWTN it almost sounds like recorded music is forbidden IF it is the only type of music. I intend to “belt my little heart out” singing during the Mass along with whatever music is played. Do you think recorded music is still forbidden if there is also singing by the Congregation?
 
I had real plants for the altar, that I donated to the Church where I was married, but the bridesmaids, groomsmen, DH and I all had fake flowers. It was the only way I could afford it.
 
PaulandRose said:
Reading the article on EWTN it almost sounds like recorded music is forbidden IF it is the only type of music. I intend to “belt my little heart out” singing during the Mass along with whatever music is played. Do you think recorded music is still forbidden if there is also singing by the Congregation?
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Ask your priest. I am almost 100% positive recorded music is not allowed in the Liturgy.
 
PaulandRose said:
Reading the article on EWTN it almost sounds like recorded music is forbidden IF it is the only type of music. I intend to “belt my little heart out” singing during the Mass along with whatever music is played. Do you think recorded music is still forbidden if there is also singing by the Congregation?
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It is still forbidden. You could get a cantor who can sing acapella. Remember, the first instrument is the human voice. Do try to get someone, though. Does that particular parish not have a resident musician? Have you tried other parishes to see if you could hire one of their cantors or musicians?

Too bad we haven’t heard from Sarabande in awhile. She’s a good resource.
 
Thanks, Liza, for getting in touch with me. 😃

I have to be quick on this, because I had decided to give up posting on CAF for the rest of Lent, but since my presence was specifically requested here, I’ve decided to make an exception.

Recorded music during the liturgy isn’t permitted. Authenticity within the liturgy in every aspect is apparently important from using real flowers to living musicians playing/singing live. I’ve done a lot of Catholic weddings all over my diocese and surrounding dioceses, and none of them permit artificial flowers or recording music.

Anyway, I found this on the USCCB Office of Divine Worship:
Recorded Music
  1. Recorded music lacks the authenticity provided by a living liturgical assembly
    gathered for the Sacred Liturgy. While recorded music might be used advantageously outside the
    Liturgy as an aid in the teaching of new music, it should not, as a general norm, be used within
    the Liturgy.
  2. Some exceptions to this principle should be noted. Recorded music may be used to
    accompany the community’s song during a procession outside and, when used carefully, in
    Masses with children. Occasionally, it might be used as an aid to prayer, for example, during
    long periods of silence in a communal celebration of reconciliation. However, recorded music
    should never become a substitute for the community’s singing.
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This site also goes into the practical reasons for not using recorded music:
members.ozemail.com.au/~bfk/CDsRecordedMusic.html

Well, that’s all for now from me until Easter. 🙂 God bless
 
Sarabande said:
Thanks, Liza, for getting in touch with me. 😃

I have to be quick on this, because I had decided to give up posting on CAF for the rest of Lent, but since my presence was specifically requested here, I’ve decided to make an exception.

Recorded music during the liturgy isn’t permitted. Authenticity within the liturgy in every aspect is apparently important from using real flowers to living musicians playing/singing live. I’ve done a lot of Catholic weddings all over my diocese and surrounding dioceses, and none of them permit artificial flowers or recording music.

Anyway, I found this on the USCCB Office of Divine Worship:
Recorded Music

This site also goes into the practical reasons for not using recorded music:
members.ozemail.com.au/~bfk/CDsRecordedMusic.html

Well, that’s all for now from me until Easter. 🙂 God bless
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It’s clear that the use of audio recordings is not permitted, but what about MIDI? Obviously I wouldn’t advocate it’s use if a suitable organist were available to us, but as a high school, such talents are limited for us. The student body generally refuses to sing in the first place, but they are more likely to do so if accompaniment can be furnished. Under the circumstances, would is be all right to use the MIDI (name removed by moderator)ut on our organ to accompany congregational singing? Keep in mind that MIDI recordings do not record actual audio–they are merely a series of instructions for an instrument to interpret and replay live.
 
Please note the bump - this thread is over two and a half years old.

MIDI was discussed at length in this thread several months ago.

In short, MIDI is two different things: it is a software interface between musical instruments, and it is a file format of recorded music. The former kind of MIDI is just fine to use in the liturgy: it merely connects instruments like an electric cable. The latter kind, although it represents events and their timing, is still a representation of recorded music, and cannot be substituted for a live person pressing the keys of an instrument.
 
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