Singing harmony at mass

[benedictgal]

This is true. Our choir has the GIA Worship III choir hymnals with the four-part harmony. Since my husband and I were part of that choir for many years, we knew the harmony by heart and basically will sing harmony down in the pews. My dad, never was part of a choir although loved to sing, always made up his own harmony to any hymn and even any piece of music he heard from as far back as I can remember. (He was a trumpet player through high school so knew a little music.) So, I grew up always hearing vocal harmony at mass - at least in the bass or even tenor voices.

It is a shame that they don’t have those hymnals in the pews. The Episcopal and Anglican churches I’ve been in have the four-part harmony.

Also with many of the older, traditional hymns, the piano or organ part is many times the four-part vocal parts, so you might be able to find some sheet music that has that.

Unfortunately, the costs for these partricular hymnals don’t lend themselves too well for bulk ordering. It would be nice to have them in the pews, but, I think at $18 a pop, that might be too steep for some parishes.

 

[Sarabande]

Where did you get these lists? I know a few singers who would appreciate this.

I got this from an email that is usually sent around at least once year by one of my friends who is in music.

I did a search, though, I found the same lists on-line:

members.shaw.ca/pfolk/choir.htm

and here:

westburyumc.org/SanctuaryChoir/TopTenReasons.htm

and here:

holyfamilyvb.org/music/topten.html#Top

 

[Sarabande]

Unfortunately, the costs for these partricular hymnals don’t lend themselves too well for bulk ordering. It would be nice to have them in the pews, but, I think at $18 a pop, that might be too steep for some parishes.

This is true. A parish would need to either have a generous donation or save up for many years to get this. When I think about how much money has been wasted on throw-away books each year, that money could have been used to purchase hard-cover hymnals with the four-part harmony. They would have saved money in the long run. It’s a shame.