What is the music at Mass like in other countries?

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I am wondering what your experiences are like with regards to Mass in other countries and what the music was it like? Have you heard contemporary Christian praise songs anywhere but the United States?

In Mexico City, Adoration was accompanied by Spanish contemporary Christian praise music. In Ireland there was no music at all and it was a quick 30 minute Sunday Mass. In Poland the music was very beautiful in every church we attended. The student Mass was a college quartet and other Masses featured an organ and cantor, which was very well done.

I have heard Catholic radio in Austria playing contemporary Christian praise songs in English and, in Poland, in Polish, as a kind of youth outreach.

What about you?
 
I think from the music lists I have seen that US Catholics have a bigger proportion of modern rather than traditional music. The music in the UK in Catholic churches has more balance between traditional and contemporary - especially in hymnody but congregational singing varies from parish to parish. In my travels across Europe, the Spanish and Portugese have - to my mind - quite awful music. Italy has bad choirs and even fewer sing. Germany has lovely music - a rich mix to match its splendid liturgies, authorised hymnals and liturgy all in one book - and everyone sings.
 
One has to assume the question here applies to the Novus Ordo. I’ve never heard contemporary “praise” style music used during rites of the Usus Antiquior anywhere.
 
Colorad007 said:
I am wondering what your experiences are like with regards to Mass in other countries and what the music was it like? Have you heard contemporary Christian praise songs anywhere but the United States?

In Mexico City, Adoration was accompanied by Spanish contemporary Christian praise music. In Ireland there was no music at all and it was a quick 30 minute Sunday Mass. In Poland the music was very beautiful in every church we attended. The student Mass was a college quartet and other Masses featured an organ and cantor, which was very well done.

I have heard Catholic radio in Austria playing contemporary Christian praise songs in English and, in Poland, in Polish, as a kind of youth outreach.

What about you?
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I’ve only been there on vacation, but in general, I’ve observed that Mass in the Philippines is highly inculturated. Depends on the parish, the choir, and the day you go to Mass, but from the ones I’ve attended, it’s been a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary praise music typically found in charismatic celebrations of the Mass. The same characteristic throughout though, is the strong faith and piety of the people. I would describe it as a living example of the Hermeneutic of Continuity. 👍
 
malphono said:
One has to assume the question here applies to the Novus Ordo. I’ve never heard contemporary “praise” style music used during rites of the Usus Antiquior anywhere.
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Nor in the Novus Ordo as celebrated at more traditionally inclined parishes. The Novus Ordo chanted in Latin (or even chanted in the vernacular), celebrated ad orientem, with generous use of incense, and all receiving at the altar rail - all options that still licitly remain - is far closer to the Roman Rite of the ages than it is to the typical contemporary parish liturgy. While I do love the Usus Antiquior, I have been blessed to also come across parishes that celebrate the Novus Ordo in a very traditional manner. The liturgies celebrated by then Pope Benedict, when I was in Rome a few years ago, while according to the Novus Ordo, were chanted in Latin and quite beautiful. My point being that contemporary “praise and worship” music need not be part of the Novus Ordo experience…I personally can’t stand it.
 
well i live in canada so it’s probably pretty similar to the united states. though i don’t encounter contemporary music too much in mass, depends on the time of day though and which parish though. my usual one has an organ, a piano and a full choir. and i guess it depends on what you mean by contemporary music. it’s really hard for me to tell sometimes. we don’t really do any like matt maher or chris tomlin stuff if that’s what you’re referring to
 
I lived in Europe for 3 years (I might be going back sometime as well). Mass at the churches I attended there were always gregorian chant all the way.
 
mcw013 said:
I lived in Europe for 3 years (I might be going back sometime as well). Mass at the churches I attended there were always gregorian chant all the way.
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That’s quite intriguing! I have lived in Europe for nearly twelve years and in my recollection have never attended a Mass with Gregorian chant. Either it’s traditional hymns with organ and cantor, traditional hymns with organ and choir, or contemporary praise music (and that could manifest itself in many different ways). The EF Mass I attend once a month is a low Mass during the week; there is no music whatsoever.
 
Depends upon the Mass. In my parish, we have several youth Masses per year that are aimed at the teenage and young adult crowd. The music at all of those tends to be of very recent composition (last 20-25 years). Ditto for the children’s Masses. The “normal” Masses generally have traditional hymns with organ and cantor.
 
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