Too much choir

[DeniseR]

Before mass three of us have continued taking turns leading the Rosary as was the practice of the sister who retired over the summer. Father asked us to begin about 15 to 20 minutes before mass.

I have arrived when it’s my turn to find the cantor or the organist practicing the Responsorial Psalm for the mass or other new hymns. I’ll try to jump in at the right time and begin the rosary in order to get it done in time.

Last week Father said that the choir director asked that we begin the rosary earlier because they like to sing a song before the start of mass. I’m not sure if it’s for practice or for the “benefit” of all in the pews. However, I’m becoming a little frustrated with the choir director and the organist.

They do a wonderful job and have built the choir from a few out-of-tune wannabe’s to a beautiful-sounding choir. Everyone compliments them and the compliments are well-deserved. My problem is that there is no quiet time at all before, during, or after the mass for comtempletive prayer.

After the Rosary they are now singing a hymn or two; after the offeratory (when the priest is preparing the gifts) if all the verses of the hymn are completed the organist (pianist) will continue playing and many times the priest has to wait for him to get done performing before he can continue on; the same with the hymn after Communion, he keeps playing until the priest returns to the chair to give the final blessing. There are times I just want to turn around and yell “WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP FOR A FEW MINUTES SO I CAN THANK JESUS FOR COMING INTO MY HEART!!!” (Something tells me I wouldn’t be taken seriously. LOL)

I’ve tried hinting at my frustration to the priest but he’s not one to make waves although he is very orthodox. If the truth be told, I think he’s afraid of the choir director. She’s a spitfire. I know her pretty well and have considered saying something about what a great job they do but that I’m confused about the practicing before mass as I thought they usually had choir practice after mass. I certainly don’t want to offend anyone, including the organist because he is a wonderful and talented young man.

There are others in the congregation who feel the same as I do (although I’m sure just as many come to be entertained by the beautiful choir). Has anyone else had this problem and how did you handle it?

 

[SeekerJen]

Does the choir normally rehearse in the church? If not, could they use their normal rehearsal space for pre-Mass warmups and rehearsals?

Our music director generally doesn"t like to warm up in the church, because a lot of parishoners come early to pray before Mass. We usually use the parish hall for rehearsals, so most Sundays we’re in there before Mass unless there’s another function in the hall. In those cases we’re stuck working in the church and try to be as unobtrusive as possible, and cut the rehearsal to a short warmup and maybe one song. Sometimes it can’t be helped.

Another option- moving the rosary to a different Mass time (assuming your parish has more than one). If the choir only sings at one Mass per Sunday, perhaps one of the “quiet” Masses would be a more appropriate time. At our parish, the choir only sings at the 10:30 am Mass, and there is always quiet before the other Masses (and even a 7 am Mass with no music at all). Those of us who are cantors for the “quiet” Masses know to either do our warm-ups in the music director’s office or in the car on the way over.

Good luck. Parish politics sure can be fun, especially at this time of year. Maybe after the Christmas season is over and things are calm, you and the others who lead the rosary could sit down with the choir director, organist, and pastor and work something out.

 

[pnewton]

DeniseR:

… My problem is that there is no quiet time at all before, during, or after the mass for comtempletive prayer.

After the Rosary they are now singing a hymn or two; after the offeratory (when the priest is preparing the gifts) if all the verses of the hymn are completed the organist (pianist) will continue playing and many times the priest has to wait for him to get done performing before he can continue on; the same with the hymn after Communion, he keeps playing until the priest returns to the chair to give the final blessing. There are times I just want to turn around and yell “WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP FOR A FEW MINUTES SO I CAN THANK JESUS FOR COMING INTO MY HEART!!!” (Something tells me I wouldn’t be taken seriously. LOL)
?

How much quiet and where it needs to be inserted in the Mass is largely a matter of opinion. I personally like a time of quiet prior to Mass for at least a few minutes without music or the rosary.

Since what you point out is such a pervasive problem, our diocese had to lay down specific guidelines. A time of silence is to be observed after the homily. Also, following communion, no more that one verse of a hymn is to be sung followed by a time of silence. This has really helped give more time for prayer and contemplation.

 

[dustrunner]

SeekerJen:

Does the choir normally rehearse in the church? If not, could they use their normal rehearsal space for pre-Mass warmups and rehearsals?

Our music director generally doesn"t like to warm up in the church, because a lot of parishoners come early to pray before Mass. We usually use the parish hall for rehearsals, so most Sundays we’re in there before Mass unless there’s another function in the hall. In those cases we’re stuck working in the church and try to be as unobtrusive as possible, and cut the rehearsal to a short warmup and maybe one song. Sometimes it can’t be helped.

Another option- moving the rosary to a different Mass time (assuming your parish has more than one). If the choir only sings at one Mass per Sunday, perhaps one of the “quiet” Masses would be a more appropriate time. At our parish, the choir only sings at the 10:30 am Mass, and there is always quiet before the other Masses (and even a 7 am Mass with no music at all). Those of us who are cantors for the “quiet” Masses know to either do our warm-ups in the music director’s office or in the car on the way over.

Good luck. Parish politics sure can be fun, especially at this time of year. Maybe after the Christmas season is over and things are calm, you and the others who lead the rosary could sit down with the choir director, organist, and pastor and work something out.

 

[gloryb]

As a member of a church choir I hope I can give you the other side of this. I do not know the size or layout of your church or whether there are rooms where practicing or praying can be done. We have a very large round church where there are not places available for the choir to go before Mass. We do have places where people can go to pray. While the rosary is prayed corporately during the weekdays I am not sure if they have a time to do it on Sundays.

The choir and musicians must prepare. This cannot be avoided. In our case we have a new sound system and all the microphones and sound levels must be checked. We do that early so that the last minutes before Mass are quieter. There does not seem to be a way for corporate prayer to take place unless people go to a specific section to do it.

Is your church layed out such that a group can go aside for prayer? Can you go to another room? I understand you love to pray the rosary but it is something that can be done by anyone any time of the day. Could it be that before Sunday Mass is a difficult time for this? I don’t know how the nun managed to do this but you can always talk to your pastor or music director to see if there is a compromise.

I hope you can find a way to do all that you need.

Gloria

 

[m134e5]

Be greatful you have a music program that is improving. Could you pray the rosary after Mass? I’ve been to enough Masses where the attitude is “if it doesn’t have to be sung, why make the effort?”. I’ve heard enough organists who play so slow even I cannot sing along (and my major is voice performance). I’ve gone to enough Masses where the songs are slapped together 5 minutes before Mass then everyone’s like “well, that’s over with, time for coffee and doughnuts”. I have dreaded going to Mass sometimes because the music is so bad so often. Now I go to a parish where the music is respectful- thank God.

“Whoever sings well prays twice”- St. Augustine