Should Cantor kneel after Sanctus

[Cat]

If you’re an organist or pianist, it’s almost always correct to stay sitting on your bench at all times. I’ve seen a few places where they provided kneelers, but those were usually also places where the organ was some tiny electronic synthesizer and there was a lot of room all around it. Usually, keyboard=stay put. It has been that way since the Middle Ages. Don’t feel shy about it.

If you don’t have physical problems and you’re in a group, you do whatever the director tells you to do, and you do it as a group. This usually boils down to “kneel” or “stand”.

If there’s enough space and not a lot of cords, music stands, etc. making it dangerous to kneel, you should preferably kneel. If you stand, you should stand with the attitude that you’re standing like an angel in attendance on God, not just standing around blah blah blah.

If you have a physical condition, you should do whatever is dictated. Most people will figure out why you are sitting, etc. If anybody should be inquisitive, tell them you’re sitting for health reasons. But whatever you do, do it prayerfully.

If you are in full view of the congregation (and even if you aren’t), you should try not to move around too much when it’s not necessary. Movement catches the eye and distracts people. If you make sure that your attention is fixed on the celebrant, etc. and you stay still, other people’s eyes and attention will also be led towards Mass and away from you.

When you move, try to move smoothly and deliberately, even when moving quickly. It’s easy to jerk and bob around when you’re nervous (I know I do!).

If kneeling is hard on your knees and there’s no kneeler provided, there’s nothing stopping you from bringing in a small cushion of an inconspicuous size and color. (People used to do this all the time, before pews were invented.) But practice what you’re going to do with it, so that it doesn’t become a production and get noticed.

If you’re going to kneel in full view of the congregation in a skirt, especially if you don’t have a kneeler, it’s probably best if you practice that ahead of time also. It’s better to figure this stuff out at home, rather than suddenly start worrying and fidgeting in the middle of Mass about whether your skirt is hanging right or your heels are going to rip your hem when you get up.

The problem is, people don’t ask. They just judge, as is evidenced on CAF.

You mention distracting motions. One of the problems that I have is having to use several hymnals to play Mass. I line them up on a chair next to the piano, but I still have to switch hymnals throughout the Mass. This bothers me. I try to be as quiet and efficient as possible, but I’m sure it’s still distracting to those who are sitting close to the piano. I wish that this wasn’t the case. Our piano, choir loft, and lectern are right up in the front–the front row could almost touch the piano. Sigh.

At the moment, I am dreaming of one of the free-hand music systems freehandsystems.com/ (This is just one example of the product.)

**These systems allow musicians to store all their sheet music in a computer tablet, place the tablet at the keyboard stand, and play. No page turning–just touch the screen. What a dream! ** There are various versions of this product, and I am personally panting to buy one, but they aren’t cheap. I think it would be a worthwhile product for Catholic churches to have, especially if their musicians are playing at the front of the nave in front of the people. But it’s not cheap.

 

[SMHW]

It’s more or less the norm around this diocese to have a cantor lead the congregation from “up front”

But’s it’s also very rare to have a cantor sing from the ambo EXCEPT for the Psalm. It is expected that the cantor sings from a separate stand/microphone when leading the congregation in other Mass parts or songs.

On a typical Sunday in our parish the ambo is only used for the psalm, the readings and Gospel, the homily, and for the prayers of the faithful. Singing and any announcements are delivered from the cantor stand.

 

[Mintaka]

We call the other mike stand “the Alleluia mike”.

It used to be that every church had two ambos, one for the Gospel and one for other stuff, and commonly had another lectern down off the sanctuary dais for cantors and announcements. That was a lot easier!

 

[Don9of11]

I am in the choir loft when I cantor but I don’t do anything different from what the congregation is doing with the exception of standing to sing the responsorial psalms.

 

[pnewton]

The problem is, people don’t ask. They just judge, as is evidenced on CAF.

That was my first thought. As a matter of course, musicians need to be as visibly inconspicuous as possible. But whether they kneel or not is no one’s business but their own. There is a medical exception and it does not need to be justified.

 

[corsair]

And this is why I love the EF Mass. No arguments there. I leave the cantering to my horse.