The Power of Music

[EmmaSowl]

But regarding lack of Mass attendance, I think the main reason people are not going to Mass is that the Catholic Church teaches too many difficult sexual rules,

I agree and disagree. I agree that the sexual rules are difficult. In fact, obeying them is part of the source of my anxiety - which is why, since I endure anxiety in obedience pertaining to sex, It seems only fair and merciful to be relieved of some of that anxiety with obedience at Mass. Instead, I get a one-two sucker punch.

I disagree that the rules are too many. Since they have to do with the holiest thing we mortals can do (participate in God’s creation), they are needed.

And while the Church teaches these rules, I do not think many parishes in my diocese do - or else they teach them badly. The Catholic kids I know have never heard of the theology of the body (which has given me reasons for enduring anxiety). And even the ones who are uncomfortable at the thought of abortion are uniformly of the opinion that Planned Parenthood is a wonderful women’s health organization which saves them money on birth control. (Obviously, they think free birth control is good).

In fact, my general impression is that Catholic schools in my area do not teach reasons for believing any of the teachings of the Church - effectively releasing their students into the insanity of college culture like lambs to the slaughter.

I have a still-forming theory in my head which I would love cradle Catholics older than I am (pushing 60) to chime in on. I have reasons for this theory which I won’t bore anyone with unless asked or if the reasons are confirmed/rebutted by the comments of those who lived as Catholics in America (can’t speak to other cultures at all) in the 50’s or earlier.

Here goes:

Catholic teaching in the 50’s worked for large, harried families which remained in Catholic ghettos, but it did not work for the increasing number of families who became mobile and isolated and smaller. This is because, while the teaching was solid, it was primarily repetition. Repetition may ingrain a belief, but it does not prepare one for unexpected challenges to it.

V2 happened. It is my understanding that, in part, it was a renewal of the Catholic pearl of reason and reasoning which had been under-emphasized in some places for some time.

But, 50 years later, there is still no emphasis on Catholic reasons and reasoning. Plus, there’s not even repetition. I don’t know what’s taught in our diocese, but it’s not keeping the youth Catholic.

Yipes - word count; more coming.

 

[EmmaSowl]

When I was in RCIA in 1992, the basic truths were taught, but no reasons. A sweet nun called me “A Doubting Thomas if there ever was one” and kept me in her prayers. Thank God, the parish bereavement counselor stuck Mere Christianity in my hands, because I was about to leave and I don’t know where I would’ve gone because not one sector of society could give me a satisfactory reason to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

I do not believe the fruits of V2 will materialize until we learn to reason like Catholics but speak like the secular when we’re debating in the secular world. Right now, it seems like we’re trying to speak Secularese at church and we’re not reasoning at all.

while many of the clergy don’t even live up to the teachings.

You’re preaching to the choir, sister. Definitely agree. But the solution is not to throw away true teaching.

Still, you’re right, the example of obedience goes a long way. That’s why I’d like to see it at Mass. If we can’t even obey stupid little postures or prohibitions during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, then how can we ask people to consider our other teachings?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m not big on “stupid little postures”. They’re like stupid little rules at work. When I’m at a Mass with multiple nationalities there, everybody will be gesturing a little different based on where they are from, some might be praying in their own language. We are still there for a common purpose, united and one. The point of Mass isn’t to have everybody in lockstep like an army on parade; if you’re reasonably in the ballpark of proper, that’s enough.

I’d like to see people follow at least some of the bigger stuff though. Especially whatever is hard for them personally. I know I am a terrible example of this. I have little trouble now with sexual rules because I broke them for years, despite proper pre-VII training, because they just seemed unworkable. I finally realized just how empty and stupid and unimportant the whole business was and also got old. Now I have trouble with other things.

 

[Shakuhachi]

I have been liking Psalms in Spanish chant.

 

[EmmaSowl]

My personal feeling is this–if someone doesn’t like the music, then step up and do it themselves, or seek out and bring in a musician who is trained and capable of doing the music that they like, and who is also a committed Catholic, and who is willing to play for NO PAY! Lotsa luck with that assignment.

I have stepped up for NO PAY for over a decade (I also don’t expect pay for lectoring or anything else the laity do at Mass). But when you step up for no pay, you are still at the mercy of those who are paid (many of whom, in my experience, look down on those who aren’t) - which is why I have quit choir/cantoring at three parishes due to being asked to do things my conscience won’t permit.

I am currently in a position in which the laity beg me to cantor whenever the garage band at our Mission Mass doesn’t show up. It’s a nerve-racking position to be in due to many forces which hate when the laity asks me to cantor. I will explain further in reference to a post farther down. If I can’t find that post, I’ll come back and explain better in an edit to this post.

What is the median age group of your parish? I ask because of your unfortunately negative chant experience.

I’ve belonged to three parishes (kind of 5 because my newest parish has two Mission Masses which are trying to build their own churches). I cannot speak to the Spanish Mission Mass, but all four of the other parishes sing with full throats on the rare occasions when chant is sung.

Maybe you were using intricate chant (maybe not). All I know is that, in the parishes I’ve attended, daily Mass is a haven for chant lovers. Many priests use chant and, even with only 30-50 parishioners, the faithful fill the building with their voices. Of course, none of the chant is new to them. Basic Kyries, Agnus Deis, Tatum Ergos, the Lord’s Prayer chanted in English, etc.

Please don’t think I’m a chant-only broad. Tons of hymns are great and the GIRM allows for hymns and I’m glad because I like many of them.

What I don’t like are songs (not hymns) which use the word “I” more than references to God or which have dubious theology or which are full of 16th notes, or which have completely different melodies for each verse, plus a changing refrain, plus a bridge, plus a range that only an opera singer or pop diva could manage. The technical things I mentioned make it nearly impossible for the faithful to sing.

And yet, all the liturgists I speak with claim to be angry (angry!!!) that the faithful don’t sing. One parish analysis of the problem came to the conclusion that it was the ushers’ fault for not forcing the faithful upfront. Seriously.

No one considered that perhaps part of the problem was that the songs sung were not in our hymnals. True, screens were pulled down which hid the statues of Mary and Joseph but gave the congregation the words to the new songs. But not the notes. And the words flip-flopped around depending upon how much attention the tech guy was paying.

But the parish word is not that there is a liturgical problem. No, it’s those blasted ushers.

 

[PetraG]

I didn’t want to be limited to guitar, so I taught myself by learning the chords first, then adding the melody. Yes, I play it like a percussion instrument (without the banging), but it works.

I have known people with chord sense who have learned to play the piano from guitar music. It is pretty rare to find someone like that who can accompany a group, although some of the better ones have a leg up on people who have only had lessons where they read sheet music and didn’t learn anything about how harmony works.

 

[EmmaSowl]

And I will stick to my guns from an earlier post–musicians who are gay (or some other alternative sexuality) want to be somewhere where they can up with each other and keep it a secret from the church if the church does not embrace LGBTQ-ness. Also, to be fair, many of the LGBTQ people feel afraid in small towns and small cities, and face some very real prejudice (or worse).

It is my experience that there are a decent number of musicians who are not gay.

To fend off insults that I am homophobic, I’ll repeat that I’ve been in choir and theatre (both school and community - then eventually church) since I was 5 years old. I naturally know many homosexual people. Heck, in my atheist teen years, I had crushes on some of them (note: in my teen years, no one came out gay; they came out bi). Life in the Big City.

If it is truly that difficult to find an organist or good a cappella cantor who is not at odds with the Church, maybe the Church could train a few promising Catholic musicians. I’m sure there is a significant number of talented Catholics who never considered that road but would find it more interesting than their current occupation.

One need only sit in the pews to hear voices far superior to those cantoring. They are humble singers who are not encouraged. Imagine if our parishes took the time to value their contributions over those who are just in it for the applause and money.

Also, if one were paid to learn, it would not take long to master enough chords to do the Mass justice.

Otoh, it might take a year’s salary to teach the person. But by my calculations, a $30,000 grant + the $100,000 current liturgical salary would quickly pay off within 2 years if the new liturgical salary was $30-50,000. (Obviously, my numbers represent LA salaries).

Seriously, even in LA, why does a choir director need more than $50,000/year? Especially considering the extra money made from funerals and weddings.

It’s no wonder that so many Catholics grow up unable to sing and dislike singing because it hurts their throat, makes them breathless, etc.

I cannot understand the reason for any song at Mass making a decent singer breathless - unless the song is a hyped-up diva number.

it would be even better if all Catholic schools hired a trained and certified music teacher who could raise up the children to be able to sing properly and read music. THAT would create a permanent “singing” population of parishioners.

Amen! (With reservations about “certification”; there are many talented people who didn’t take the certification road but would be excellent teachers).

 

[EmmaSowl]

Prodigal1984:

At my Church a woman sings on the altar at a podium as if it is some musical theatre. I get annoyed by it. I told my priest she needs to get back in the choir loft because she’s a distraction.

Does that matter?

In case it does, know that I cantor.

When I cantor, I do everything I can to make myself invisible except in directing when it’s time to join in or when announcing the hymn title/number.

I sing straight. No fancy trills. It is the cantor’s job to help the faithful sing, not confuse them with impressive gymnastics they cannot possibly imitate.

And the Master of Ceremonies cantor gives me neck cramps. Please, announce the hymn number, it’s title, and the number again. Then STFU, no offence.

 

[EmmaSowl]

This is true. All online Catholic forums seem to skew pretty heavily towards those who are dissatisfied and usually towards those who are more traditional, looking for people who think like they do.

That is because we are shunned in our parishes and, like abused lambs pushed to the edge of the field, we are desperate to find people who are kind and likeminded.

If we lambs are wrong, it would be nice if someone kindly explained our misconceptions. Instead, we are mocked in our own home.

 

[EmmaSowl]

And I’ll raise you and make my own politically-correct statement by saying that I think a lot of boys don’t do choir or any kind of music because they think it’s “gay.”

I think it’s cultural. In my parishes, there’s been no shortage of Filipino or Latino men in the choir. I guess white boys can’t only jump - they can’t sing. (Unless it’s Rock).

 

[EmmaSowl]

Le_Crouton:

Personally I wish we had a bluegrass mass

I agree that different styles speak to different cultures. Personally, I’m hoping that “Them Bones” (them bones, them dry bones) will be sung at my funeral. But funeral Mass plans rarely happen because everyone’s an understandable mess when death comes.

However, I strongly object to forcing the culture of one group onto the culture of another. No matter what group is doing it, it is imperialistic. And impractical. And counter productive.

 

[VanitasVanitatum]

plus a range that only an opera singer or pop diva could manage.

Like what? Our parish doesn’t have a hymnal so I’m not to sure about the pitches.

 

[EmmaSowl]

I’m not big on “stupid little postures”. They’re like stupid little rules at work.

I do not think they are the same. Stupid little work rules are imposed by stupid little people. Liturgical directives sanctioned by Rome (which, yes, I called “stupid little postures and prohibitions”) are the result of 2,000 years of reflection.

Trust me, I loathe stupid work rules. They were bad enough when I worked in the poker industry, but now that I work for the government, I want to tear my eyes out.

At our last County cheerleader meeting, we were told that the County had improved on the Golden Rule. Instead of treating others as we would like to be treated (in my case, with respect, truth, and kindness), County employees must now treat people as they themselves wish to be treated.

In other words, County employees are now supposed to be psychic. And I guess, if we encounter a masochist, we’re supposed to beat him.

I would never wish to force Mass goers into obedience. However, as someone who once stood outside all religions, I will say that uniform worship was always more attractive to me than anything goes worship - which usually made me lose respect for the emotional religious.

As to cultures, we may be in agreement. As far as Catholic global culture goes, to each his own - as long as it does not conflict with Church teaching.

For instance, I live in walking distance of a Catholic Mission Mass. I tried to attend it regularly because I’m an Agatha Christie fan who loves the idea of the Village Green and walking around town.

It didn’t bother me that the Mass was in Spanish (I learned the responses). Plus, for over a decade, the only way I’ve been able to converse with adults in town is through child interpreters. Plus, my husband’s from Mexico City.

But I couldn’t take the Mariachi music. I can’t stand it. I understand that my husband and many, many others love it, but even the most professional Mariachi music sounds off key to me. Plus, it hypes me up, which is the last thing I need.

I would never attempt to take Mariachi music from a Spanish Mass. It’s none of my dang business.

But I will fight to keep it from being forced upon an English Mass. Appreciation of culture does not mean appreciation of every culture except your own.

I have little trouble now with sexual rules because I broke them for years, despite proper pre-VII training, because they just seemed unworkable.

It was workable (though difficult) for me. The Church training (not parish, but official, global documents) I got made sense intellectually and, when I fell, left me with the same guilt I felt as an atheist (but wouldn’t admit).

Again, I agree the sex teachings are difficult. However, I believe they would be much easier to follow if we were given the gift of liturgical obedience by those who have control of the liturgy and, more importantly, given the gift of Church wisdom in Catholic classes and homilies. In my 26 years as a Catholic, I have yet to hear a homily on the beauty of the proper role of sex.

Thank God for Janet Smith!

 

[EmmaSowl]

Like what? Our parish doesn’t have a hymnal so I’m not to sure about the pitches.

Yipes, don’t ask me to define a pitch - I don’t have that knowledge.

What I meant to reference was songs with a huge range of notes. Songs sung so high that only a gifted Soprano (or Tenor) could pull off. (Mariachi aside, I love that Spanish music is written in the key of the Average Joe).

No one in our garage band is a gifted Soprano/Tenor - let alone anyone in the fold-up, auditorium chairs (it’s a Mission Mass which rents out a school auditorium).

Omg, you have no hymnal in your parish? Gosh, what do you do?

 

[VanitasVanitatum]

Omg, you have no hymnal in your parish? Gosh, what do you do?

The lyrics for the song are put up and people follow the choir. Most songs are played often enough for the regular parishioners to know by heart.

Yipes, don’t ask me to define a pitch - I don’t have that knowledge.

Don’t worry I learned things like that a while ago I just need the name and I can see if they have any scores and I’ll figure it out.

 

[EmmaSowl]

Since I started this thread, I have tried hard (when I have time) to thoroughly read each post and respond in order.

Some posts I just liked because there was nothing to add.

Some posts seemed to be dialogues between other people which did not need my two cents.

But there was one post which, in a second read through, I couldn’t find. The gist of it was that no music is disobedient if approved by X (can’t remember if X was bishop or pastor). But more than that, I think the post referred to an approved list of music.

As to the first point, I think it depends on whether or not the individual bishop or pastor is thumbing his nose at his superiors (the USCCB in union with Rome). I am unaware of any teaching that allows a lone bishop (and certainly not a pastor) to reject the rulings of his superiors.

But it was that approved list of music I was really interested in because I’m hoping the poster knows something I don’t and can explain it to me.

The primary Mass I attend is a Mission Mass in a school auditorium. The choir is a married team (choir director wife, drummer husband) plus a keyboardist and three teenager girls who come and go.

Things I hate most:

1. I walk in and hear the drummer playing The Stripper’s Riff (take it off, take it off, take it aaaaall off)
2. I walk in to hear Kinks songs ( I LOVE The Kinks - but not before Mass)
3. I walk in and hear marital arguments over the microphones
4. I walk in and hear the teenagers being admonished
5. There is NO silence before Mass
6. Every word out of the cantor’s mouth sounds like a Pep Squad Leader
7. It’s all off key
8. We use a white book (hymns) but mostly a green book (Christian Rock)
9. The weekly Alleluia Verse is never sung because it doesn’t fit the chosen Mass music

The garage band takes a lot of time off. When it does, the parishioners ask me to cantor. They ask me because I’m the only one outside of the choir who sings (the songs are too fast for the old fogies at the Mass).

I wouldn’t mind if I were given a heads up to choose appropriate songs which I could practice. Instead, I’m asked spur of the moment and given a list of songs on some sheet I’ve never before seen in all my years in the choir.

Finally, I went to the pastor and asked if I could be given prior notice and allowed to choose my own songs. He directed me to the Main Church director of liturgy who (after two attempts) never bothered to reply.

So, I said “Sorry, my anxiety is too strong to help out under these circumstances.” Now, when the garage band takes one of its many vacations, the Mass has no music. It is a great improvement.

Big question in next post…

 

[EmmaSowl]

My big question is this: Is anyone aware of some music sheet which is The Word at Mass? My pastor never heard of it which is why he referred me to the Director of Liturgy (who did not bother to respond).

I do not know why our pastor bowed to the DL.

I do not know why the DL felt the pastor’s question was beneath a reply.

I do know that the DL once worked at a parish full of Hollywood Catholics. I guess he’s considered a Big Cheese.

His connections with the Big Time led to a concert in the Main Church by John Angotti who was trying out a musical called “Job: The Now Testament”.

Seriously, please, please consider how “The Now Testament” sounds to our youth. Even in the 70’s when I loved Jesus Christ, Superstar, I would’ve considered the term lame.

Naturally, no young people came to the concert. The only young people were those roped in to play Job’s kids in the production. The pews were barely filled, and I think everyone was either a parent or a grandparent of the kids used in the production. More than a few people left early. Maybe because they couldn’t take the character of God screeching all over the altar.

That’s my liturgical world. I’m guessing it’s not the world of the average Catholic. But I implore those of you who are free from the horror to be on your guard. The change can happen faster than you think

 

[Tis_Bearself]

That is because we are shunned in our parishes and, like abused lambs pushed to the edge of the field, we are desperate to find people who are kind and likeminded.

Sorry, I don’t buy into this victim mentality. It’s not only unhealthy, but I meet traditionalist Catholics in RL all over the place, and they are quite visible and not being shunned or anything else. People do not always agree with the traditionalist person’s view, especially when it’s coming from the 1917 Code of Canon Law, but that doesn’t equate to shunning, and an adult should be able to handle the fact that not everybody agrees with them.

 

[OraLabora]

I cannot understand the reason for any song at Mass making a decent singer breathless - unless the song is a hyped-up diva number.

Gregorian chant will, unless you are trained in it and learn where to breathe (and do it discreetly). Not the simpler settings of the Kyriale obviously, but definitely the longer melismatic antiphons and in particular Graduals and Offertories but also some of the more complex introits and communion antiphons,

Which is why you’ll almost never hear these sung at a parish unless you’re fortunate enough to have a trained schola, or one that is visiting. To be able to handle the entire repertory of the Graduale Romanum is a skill that will likely never be found in a parish and is the preserve of trained scholas in monasteries, the Vatican, etc. Even our schola which has been singing for over 20 years (I’ve been a part of it for 17) can’t handle the entire repertory. With the time, talent and resources at hand we prefer to concentrate on a part of the repertory and do it well, then do everything with mediocrity.

The monastery I’m associated with can handle the entire repertory. But, as they age (average age over 70) they are starting to make some simplifications, such as replacing a complex offertory with an organ piece.

People who ask for “Gregorian chant” in a parish usually have very little idea on what’s involved.

Here’s one that we’ve worked hard on, for Holy Week (this isn’t one of us performing).

Trust me it took a lot of training to get this one down pat. Note the long melismas, and also the change of key at the verse and then back again at the repeat of the antiphon.

 

[Peeps]

What is the median age group of your parish?

Thanks for a thoughtful post.

There doesn’t seem to be a median age. I would say an even mix of teens who come without their parents, a lot of young couples with young children (some with large families of 6 children or more), a lot of parents of teens who may or may not be attending the same Mass as their parents, a fairly large number of boomer couples (me and my husband are in this group), and a goodly number of senior citizens with a mix of couples and singles. There is a scattering of Hispanics , Asians, and Africans in every Mass.

Maybe you were using intricate chant (maybe not).

We were definitely not using an intricate chant. We only chanted the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei, both in the Gather Hymnal (and the page numbers were posted for those of us who read music, but that is a definite minority in our parish, possibly due to the loss of music in our public schools throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s.

One parish analysis of the problem came to the conclusion that it was the ushers’ fault for not forcing the faithful upfront. Seriously.

Baptists and other Evangelical Protestants, who sing with great enthusiasm, are notorious for insisting on sitting in the back of the church! Our pastors used to joke about it all the time! So that’s definitely not reason for non-singing congregations!

a range that only an opera singer or pop diva could manage.

Be careful–I did a study several years ago in which I compared the “modern” hymns/songs in Mass with the traditional hymns. None of the modern hymns had a range above D above the C above middle C. The alto range is low G to high D, and the bass range is even higher–up to the E above middle C. So this higher D should not be out of most of our singing ranges.

But the traditional hymns often had high Es and even high Fs and high Gs, which are generally notes for the sopranos and tenors (although trained altos and basses should be able to hit these notes in a head voice).

So it’s not the hymns are written too high–it’s that we don’t know how to sing properly to hit the notes.

But not the notes

Itotally agree! THIS is so irritating!!! The problem is that a lot of P and W songs have a very complex rhythm and melody line (typical rock/pop) because they are meant to be sung with improvisation, which is beyond most of us.