Singing The Lord's Prayer

[Master_Yoda]

Greetings from a long time reader and first time poster. You are all such awesome posters that I know that I will find resolution to this issue.

Today, my family and I went to Mass and experienced the “Our Father” sung by the choir and very few of the congregation. This is a new change to our parish and quite shocking. Is this to be expected in the future?

 

[wynd]

I thought ideally the Mass parts are to be sung?

 

[LilyM]

I thought ideally the Mass parts are to be sung?

The Our Father should be sung to a familiar tune though - there’s usually only THE one that most people know well enough to sing.

 

[pnewton]

The Our Father should be sung to a familiar tune though - there’s usually only THE one that most people know well enough to sing.

If it is not familiar enough for everyone to sing, then the cantor is falling down on the job of encouraging participation by the faithful. (my opinion only)

 

[Saoirse]

Although, really a song is only new the first one to three times it is sung… after all, the words are hardly new even if there might be repetitions in a chorus-like form - and so there’s really only the rhythm and music to catch onto -

which means that after even only a handful of weeks, almost everyone should have caught on.

I also find that an occasional change - such as the choir singing something previously spoken, or a different style of a regular song - can make sure that everyone is awake at MASS and paying attention…

it’s hard to unthinkingly “rattle off” an Our Father if the way it is said or sung is changed just enough (keeping the same words, mind) to jarr people out of auto-pilot and onto new old ground.

I am sure your choir director had some of her own, likely valid and possibly excellent, reasons to change things up a little and try out something new with your particular parish.

It seems to me unlikely (though I could be wrong) that a person who would do something on just a childish whim would last very long as, if they ever managed to become, a choir director.

If the Our Father is sung like that somewhat frequently from now on in your parish (lucky you!), I suggest that you give it a few weeks and do your best to participate in and learn the new song.

If you feel it would be helpful, you might even approach your choir director, or a member of your choir, and ask for a copy so you can see the notes (even if you can’t read them exactly for singing purposes, you can at least follow them higher and lower once you catch the initial sound) and the order of the words if there’s anything like a chorus and any rearrangement to consider.

I am sure that your choir would be delighted to help you fully participate in the singing of that particular prayer (be warned: you might be asked to joined the choir, or even pressured to do so! it is only because they love singing, and they like/love you and would like to share their joy with you!) - so remember, ask and you shall recieve!

disclaimer: when asking, beware that what you recieve may not be what you meant to ask for!!! example: a child in her anger asked God to ‘go away’, and He in His wisdom came even closer to her heart… thank God!

love,
Saoirse

 

[tom.wineman]

Our new “music director” surprised us this week with a new Our Father setting that is not only un-singable with no natural flow but just plan ugly music. So difficult and distracting that it cancels out the entire purpose
of the prayer. Then too it goes on forever until there is a audible sigh of relief when it is over. When she goes home after Mass I’m going to see if I can find out the name of it.

Music should not distract from the liturgy.****

 

[Saoirse]

Our new “music director” surprised us this week with a new Our Father setting that is not only un-singable with no natural flow but just plan ugly music. So difficult and distracting that it cancels out the entire purpose
of the prayer. Then too it goes on forever until there is a audible sigh of relief when it is over. When she goes home after Mass I’m going to see if I can find out the name of it.

Music should not distract from the liturgy.****

I am sure not everyone dislikes that particular version of the music, or why would your choir director have chosen it, or your choir agreed to sing it?

I know for a fact that if every person, or even half the people, in the choir I sing in did not like a song, it would not be sung even if it was supposed to be planned for a particular day. If enough people say they don’t like it, then the choir director is generally flexible enough to find something different or at least to keep that song amongst others that are rarely sung. Our choir director is also humble enough to sing songs in MASS that she herself absolutely does not like, because enough other people do enjoy it.

If you personally dislike a song that was chosen, why don’t you talk to the choir director about it? Let her know you didn’t think the selection was effective, and also let her know why… don’t expect the song to disappear entirely, if at all… but at least then she can take your opinion into account when choosing the music each week…

I would not encourage going behind the choir director’s back to criticise her choice in music or anything else about her leadership… You would run the risk of offending her if it got back to her, and if you ask members of the choir about it, it likely will get back to her.

Instead, if you have anything - even a complaint - to say about the music, make sure you say it directly to her. Make sure that you also remember to compliment the music - to her - as well, or you also run the risk of being seen as simply a wet blanket.

love,
Saoirse

 

[tom.wineman]

**I’ve already expressed my opinion of this music but like many “professional” music directors a mere parishioner’s opinion is not **solicited and of no consequence.

I am sure not everyone dislikes that particular version of the music, or why would your choir director have chosen it, or your choir agreed to sing it?

I know for a fact that if every person, or even half the people, in the choir I sing in did not like a song, it would not be sung even if it was supposed to be planned for a particular day. If enough people say they don’t like it, then the choir director is generally flexible enough to find something different or at least to keep that song amongst others that are rarely sung. Our choir director is also humble enough to sing songs in MASS that she herself absolutely does not like, because enough other people do enjoy it.

If you personally dislike a song that was chosen, why don’t you talk to the choir director about it? Let her know you didn’t think the selection was effective, and also let her know why… don’t expect the song to disappear entirely, if at all… but at least then she can take your opinion into account when choosing the music each week…

I would not encourage going behind the choir director’s back to criticise her choice in music or anything else about her leadership… You would run the risk of offending her if it got back to her, and if you ask members of the choir about it, it likely will get back to her.

Instead, if you have anything - even a complaint - to say about the music, make sure you say it directly to her. Make sure that you also remember to compliment the music - to her - as well, or you also run the risk of being seen as simply a wet blanket.

love,
Saoirse

 

[Cristiano]

I am sure not everyone dislikes that particular version of the music, or why would your choir director have chosen it, or your choir agreed to sing it?

I have seen directors that get in arguments and make fun of the priest because the homily is too long. The same people that get scolded by the priest for singing songs that are not liturgically correct. The same people that are not there for the ministry but for themselves. It is easy to spot that kind of people, and they do not care of the Mass but they only care about putting on a self centered musical show.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Well our newest priest, who appearently studied in Rome, likes to chant The Lord’s Prayer. No cantor, no choir, no music just him and the congregation. I kind of like it, my wife dislikes it.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Greetings from a long time reader and first time poster. You are all such awesome posters that I know that I will find resolution to this issue.

Today, my family and I went to Mass and experienced the “Our Father” sung by the choir and very few of the congregation. This is a new change to our parish and quite shocking. Is this to be expected in the future?

The Our Father can be sung, but it should be sung by the people not just the choir.

 

[Elzee]

Well our newest priest, who appearently studied in Rome, likes to chant The Lord’s Prayer. No cantor, no choir, no music just him and the congregation. I kind of like it, my wife dislikes it.

Our Bishop chants it - I love it. I prefer it be chanted or spoken. My preference is spoken - very slowly as Father Larry Richards recites it as his Mass. It feels uncomfortable at first because he says it SOOOO slow, but once you’ve done it once, you realize how it helps you really focus on the words.

 

[porthos11]

Here in the Philippines we have too many “Our Fathers”.

My choir sticks to only two tunes: a popular one and the Gregorian tone from the Sacramentary. How come nobody ever uses that one?

 

[Traditional_Ang]

Our Bishop chants it - I love it. I prefer it be chanted or spoken. My preference is spoken - very slowly as Father Larry Richards recites it as his Mass. It feels uncomfortable at first because he says it SOOOO slow, but once you’ve done it once, you realize how it helps you really focus on the words.

Elzee:

I think I know what you mean - It makes the prayer a meditation. That’s the way EWTN does the Rosary, and the way I like to do all of my prayers.

I think that it keeps me from just saying the words by rote, but helps me to mean what I’m saying.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[Traditional_Ang]

**I’ve already expressed my opinion of this music but like many “professional” music directors a mere parishioner’s opinion is not **solicited and ****of no consequence.

Tom,

I’m sorry to hear about the problem. I believe the music director should be submissive to the pastor and to the needs of the congregation.

Since taking with your music director hasn’t helped changed his actions, I think you will need to talk with your pastor, telling him when you spoke with the music director and the result of the conversations. It’s very important that for this that be done after you’ve made an effort in good faith and that you accurately represent to your pastor what happened. Because of that, you might need to talk to the music director again, and, if you do, you should try to be gracious and loving when you talk to him. You are trying to change his mind and behavior here, and that your conduct is beyond reproach even if you should fail.

I hope this works. Meanwhile, remember that this music director may be your “hairshirt” or your “cross to bear”.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael