Which sort of music would you rather hear at Mass?

[Sarabande]

And, I feel music is essentially emotional, and I don’t like having my emotions tugged on. I only want to feel the emotion I feel, and not have someone else’s emotional layer put on me (on my ears). Weird I know. I’m a weird person.
Its kindof like reading a book, and someone reading another book outloud beside you.

I think this is why you may actually like chant. It can be really beautiful, but it can also have that ack of emotion which you are talking about, especially with how a lot people do it. Actually, for at least the ones I know personally who are in the “chant-only” circle this is one of the reasons they prefer chant to all other kinds of music. They don’t like hymns or other kinds of music because it brings about too much emotion, whereas chant only focuses on the prayer for them - the spiritual trance. I hope you can find a mass which will incorporate at least some chant, just so you can experience it and see if it does work for you.

 

[Lisa44]

Thanks for explaining.

I’m afraid you’re probably just going to have to accept that many people prefer music and lots of it, and don’t mind if multiple layers are happening. You’re in the minority, so you’ll just have to yield to the majority. Sorry about that. It will be easier on you if you can just learn to accept that it’s the way things are, and they probably will not change.

Like I said, if you can, try to find parishes that offer Mass with no music. At my parish, the 6:30 AM. Sunday Mass has no music. The daily Masses vary–sometimes there’s music (usually pretty badly done), and sometimes there is no music. I think that the priest and many of the people prefer some music, so that’s why there’s music.

And please consider trying some of the things that I and also sarabande suggested. Use the songs as prayers throughout the Mass; don’t try to pray anything else but the songs. If you attend Latin Mass, check the translations and use them as prayers

**Above all else, cling to the verse in Romans 8 (vs. 26) that says that the Holy Spirit prays for us, since we don’t know how to pray as we should. ** I know you want to pray and be connected to your prayer, but don’t worry about it. The Holy Spirit has you covered!

I think the most important thing is to demonstrate love toward fellow Christians. If you know that many others prefer music, then the loving thing to do is rejoice for them, and be willing to sacrifice your own preference for theirs. I get the feeling that you already do that.

I hope this helps.

Hi, Yes, I realize that I am in the tiny minority. I’ve already made decisions regarding my me-ness and Church, for instance, I cover even though NO ONE else does Oh well.
And, I pray the rosary at home, instead of in the rosary at Church because I’m not 100% comfortable praying in public. And, if I sit by a man in church I try and deal with it even though I wish I didn’t have to because it makes me uncomfortable…I know…I’m a nut.
And holding hands and singing songs make me uncomfortalbe and I just try and deal with it. ect… One just has to deal with their inadequacies and I assure you I have no shortage.
And voicing my disgruntles online is also a Me-ness that probably isn’t good but its easier than trying to voice them to a Priest especially when they say they want you to ask your husband and not them.
Obedience isn’t a walk in the park. I’ll tell you that, especially when you’re trying to be obedient and the church or priest is making you feel like your a burden because you go to confession too frequently or whatever. Or your a burden because you have Celiac disease.
I’m basically confused as to where I fit in in the Catholic church and I’m TRYING to work it out as a new convert. Pray for me if you are so generous that you pray for silly strangers

 

[Lisa44]

I think this is why you may actually like chant. It can be really beautiful, but it can also have that ack of emotion which you are talking about, especially with how a lot people do it. Actually, for at least the ones I know personally who are in the “chant-only” circle this is one of the reasons they prefer chant to all other kinds of music. They don’t like hymns or other kinds of music because it brings about too much emotion, whereas chant only focuses on the prayer for them - the spiritual trance. I hope you can find a mass which will incorporate at least some chant, just so you can experience it and see if it does work for you.

Gracias senorita
Good suggestion. If I see a church that does this chant, then I will definately check it out.
I really do try to avoid emotions and so this might be better for me. Thanks for letting me know about it. I had never heard of it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I love the classic works most of all, but it takes a very good instrumentalist and even better choir to be able to handle them. Lots of parishes can’t manage that, and shouldn’t try.

I’m fine with Gregorian. Easy to sing. Inspriational in its own way. Older Catholic hymns I like a great deal. Singable. Good lyrics. Actual melodies.

I grew up in the Bible Belt and back then gospel hymns were on the radio all the time. People even sang them in the strawberry patches when I picked. I grew to like them, and like to sing them because they’re easy to sing and have definite melodies. Besides, I grew up among country people and admire the real belief so many of them have, Fundamentalists though they are. Our parish has a lady who plays the hammered dulcimer sometimes at Mass. Plays the old southern gospel melodies. She’s very good at it, and I like hearing it. Her father was a Southern Baptist preacher, and I like the symmetry of her having converted and brought that music into our parish church.

The only thing I absolutely can’t stand are those imitation folk tunes written in the 1970s and early 1980s. Hard to sing. Weird melodies. Sometimes dopey lyrics. I just won’t sing the worst of them. “City of God” comes to mind in that regard. “…may our tears be turned into dancing…” What’s that? Never in my life have I ever seen a person crying who would then, because of something or other, start dancing. How bizarre! Liturgical dance people must have thought that one up.

 

[Principal8]

Oh my! That is hillarious.
That reminds me of this song they sang at a ordinary form Mass I went to. Afterwards the kids and I were laughing about the song. Anyways, the lyrics went “oh Mary, did you know your Son is the saviour of the world. Oh Mary, did you know?”

Yeah, I’m sure Mary had a clue

Funny story - I was asked to be the organist at a multi-parish, multi-cultural “hymn sing” to promote a merger in my diocese. There would be lots of different kinds of music to show the “diversity” of the merging parishes. I would be taking care of the “traditional” hymns on the organ. Anyway, right before we start a 12 year old girl comes up and tells me she’s going to sing a hymn but her accompanist (piano) didn’t show, so could I play her song so she could still go on. I couldn’t say no, and figured how hard could it be. Well, right before she goes up to sing, I’m handed the music for… you guessed it… “Mary Did You Know?” Well, I can tell you it’s an easy song to sight read - about four chords, however, as I was sight reading the music (adapting the piano score)/ half reading the words/ listening to her sing, it was all I could do to keep playing while while the whole time thinking to myself “Who writes this stuff!!”

Darrin

 

[Bluegoat]

Gracias senorita
Good suggestion. If I see a church that does this chant, then I will definately check it out.
I really do try to avoid emotions and so this might be better for me. Thanks for letting me know about it. I had never heard of it.

There is some music that is considered very intellectual, and structurally a form of prayer. Bach is often thought of this way, as intellectual even more than emotional.

I don’t know enough about musical theory to really use music in the service this way, but it’s not really a problem for me. But for you, perhaps learning about music in that context would be useful, if you don’t already have a background in it? I suspect it could be a lot of work, but probably very worthwhile - though I can see it creating problems with a lot of the garbage that gets played now. You might be worse off after all.

I have found that a sung mass is really the best for encouraging prayer without distraction. A number of the churches I have attended have sung the mass, often in Latin, sometimes in Gregorian chant or more often in polyphony. Since the words they are singing are actually the words of prayer, it becomes much easier to use them as a real vehicle for prayer, especially if you get to know the music well and can perhaps even sing along quietly. The Latin is actually quite easy to learn for the bits that are often sung.

I’m not sure why this kind of praying to music is no longer done in many places. Perhaps people think they need to be entertained.

 

[Lisa44]

Funny story - I was asked to be the organist at a multi-parish, multi-cultural “hymn sing” to promote a merger in my diocese. There would be lots of different kinds of music to show the “diversity” of the merging parishes. I would be taking care of the “traditional” hymns on the organ. Anyway, right before we start a 12 year old girl comes up and tells me she’s going to sing a hymn but her accompanist (piano) didn’t show, so could I play her song so she could still go on. I couldn’t say no, and figured how hard could it be. Well, right before she goes up to sing, I’m handed the music for… you guessed it… “Mary Did You Know?” Well, I can tell you it’s an easy song to sight read - about four chords, however, as I was sight reading the music (adapting the piano score)/ half reading the words/ listening to her sing, it was all I could do to keep playing while while the whole time thinking to myself “Who writes this stuff!!”

Darrin

Hi Darrin,
That IS funny. That’s what I was thinking too - who wrote this?

 

[Lisa44]

There is some music that is considered very intellectual, and structurally a form of prayer. Bach is often thought of this way, as intellectual even more than emotional.

I don’t know enough about musical theory to really use music in the service this way, but it’s not really a problem for me. But for you, perhaps learning about music in that context would be useful, if you don’t already have a background in it? I suspect it could be a lot of work, but probably very worthwhile - though I can see it creating problems with a lot of the garbage that gets played now. You might be worse off after all.

I have found that a sung mass is really the best for encouraging prayer without distraction. A number of the churches I have attended have sung the mass, often in Latin, sometimes in Gregorian chant or more often in polyphony. Since the words they are singing are actually the words of prayer, it becomes much easier to use them as a real vehicle for prayer, especially if you get to know the music well and can perhaps even sing along quietly. The Latin is actually quite easy to learn for the bits that are often sung.

I’m not sure why this kind of praying to music is no longer done in many places. Perhaps people think they need to be entertained.

Hi Bluegoat,
I will go to a sung Mass if ever there is an opportunity to do so.
I am not knowledgable in music theory by the way.
It makes sense to focus on the prayers I think, isn’t that why we are there?

 

[Cat]

Funny story - I was asked to be the organist at a multi-parish, multi-cultural “hymn sing” to promote a merger in my diocese. There would be lots of different kinds of music to show the “diversity” of the merging parishes. I would be taking care of the “traditional” hymns on the organ. Anyway, right before we start a 12 year old girl comes up and tells me she’s going to sing a hymn but her accompanist (piano) didn’t show, so could I play her song so she could still go on. I couldn’t say no, and figured how hard could it be. Well, right before she goes up to sing, I’m handed the music for… you guessed it… “Mary Did You Know?” Well, I can tell you it’s an easy song to sight read - about four chords, however, as I was sight reading the music (adapting the piano score)/ half reading the words/ listening to her sing, it was **all I could do to keep playing while while the whole time thinking to myself “Who writes this stuff!!” **

Darrin

And more than likely, the answer is, “Someone who loves Jesus and is doing the very best work they can to please Him.”

Do you have children? Has your child ever made something for you? How do you respond? Do you say, “What a piece of banal junk! I can’t stand looking at that. I refuse to have it in my life.”

Or do you say, “Wow, honey, that’s really nice of you to make that for me.”

You may not lie and say, “I love it! It’s beautiful!” But you do recognize the effort that went into the work, don’t you, and you do say something nice to your child about his hard work and effort? I hope so.

Well, I believe God does the same with composers, and I believe that we, as His chidlren, should try to do the same.

I have written around 70 songs, all “Christian.” Two or three of them are really good, the rest are pretty mediocre, IMO. The kids’ songs are excellent, better than most of the stuff that Christians write for kids.

You might disagree entirely and think that everything I write is total junk, unworthy of the Lord.

The fact is, when I wrote them, I was trying my very, very best to write good songs that would glorify God and encourage His people.

If I failed to write amazing, beautiful, sublime, utterly perfect songs, well, it’s too bad. But I’m just a human, with all kinds of human failings. I have more to learn.

I suppose you could tell me that as long as my songs aren’t perfect, then stop writing them. That’s exactly what I’ve done since becoming Catholic. I haven’t written one single song. I’ve tried. I’ve sat down at the piano and tried, but nothing. I think I’m too afraid of not being perfect. And maybe God just doesn’t want me to try at this point.

I’m certainly open to learning. I’m not really sure how practical that is, though. IMO, the best way to learn to write songs is to write songs. And I’m not exactly sure how Catholic musicians “learn.” I have never seen classes in Catholic music offered by my diocese. And even though I always ask for seminars on Catholic music whenever the St. Joseph Catholic Family Conference is in our area, I’ve never seen it. (I think they’re afraid of a shouting match ending in a huge fight and arrests.)

C’mon, everyone, ease up on musicians. We aren’t monsters, deliberately producing the worst songs ever written to torment everyone with delicate ears. We’re honestly, truly, trying our best to serve the Lord. Remember your own children and their ugly little ashtrays.

Darrin, If you have to ask a question about the music, wouldn’t it be more appropriate and productive to ask, “Who approved this song for Holy Mass?”

 

[Shin]

We aren’t monsters, deliberately producing the worst songs ever written to torment everyone with delicate ears.

Are you sure? Are you really sure about that Cat?

lol.

I approve of the waiting until perfect. Someone is happy and approving of the humble silence composerette.

 

[Sarabande]

There is some music that is considered very intellectual, and structurally a form of prayer. Bach is often thought of this way, as intellectual even more than emotional.

That is true for almost all of his music. I personally find his compositions extremely intellectual, way ahead of his time, in fact. As my husband’s former composition and theory teacher said once in regards to some of J.S. Bach’s work, the next logical step is Hindemith who was a composer in the 20th century. The intellectual complexity of the music, especially when you look at the score while listening to the music, is what makes it so beautiful and awe-inspiring that God gave a single man that kind of mind to create intellectual beauty. That’s a hard thing to do and rare to experience. That said, there are some works of his which are so incredibly gut-wrenching and emotional.

I don’t know enough about musical theory to really use music in the service this way, but it’s not really a problem for me. But for you, perhaps learning about music in that context would be useful, if you don’t already have a background in it? I suspect it could be a lot of work, but probably very worthwhile - though I can see it creating problems with a lot of the garbage that gets played now. You might be worse off after all. .

hahaha! I find this funny because so much of what you say rings true with me and especially with my husband. We’re both musicians, although I do it professionally and he doesn’t. I’ve been studying it since I was 4. My husband didn’t formally learn until he was a young man, although I am incredibly amazed at what he has learned and accomplished. He went further than me and studied composition for a few years. One of our older friends, who is a remarkable classical musician and a very well-respected musician in the city feels that my husband is actually quite brilliant with music and if he pursued it more, he’d be incredible.

Anyway, sometimes being more of a musician can “ruin” one’s enjoyment in the music you once thought was incredible. You begin to realize how bad some of that stuff actually is. On the opposite end, when you listen to a complicated, intellectual composition, such as something by Bach, it can sometimes have you analyze the music without actually taking it in as a whole and for the beauty that it is. That can be distracting. For me, I’ve had to learn to use different minds when listening to music. There is some music which I know is poorly composed or just mediocre in terms of composition, that I actually do enjoy. When I don’t listen to it with an ear of a musician I can enjoy it. When my brain is fried from hours of study and practice of classical music, sometimes I just want to listen to some rock music or very simple-composed classical music or just other kinds of simple music because my brain just can’t handle hearing anything too heavy and complicated.

 

[Cat]

Are you sure? Are you really sure about that Cat?

lol.

I approve of the waiting until perfect. Someone is happy and approving of the humble silence composerette.

I’m sorry, Shin, but I find this hurtful. Did you intend it to be? I hope not.

 

[Shin]

I’m sorry, Shin, but I find this hurtful. Did you intend it to be? I hope not.

Don’t be so sensitive! Of course not. Artists. Honestly.

 

[Principal8]

And more than likely, the answer is, “Someone who loves Jesus and is doing the very best work they can to please Him.”

Even though it may have sounded like I was bashing this song, I agree with you on this. I also believe that the little girl that sung it was doing her best to please Him, which is exactly why, whether I “like” the song or not, there was no way I wasn’t going to accompany this song so she could sing it. Afterwords, I told her what a great job she did, I also told her mom how proud she should be for having a daughter with the “guts” to stand up there in front of everyone and sing her heart out to and for Him. Had she done even a mediocre job with the whole thing, I still would have said the same. BTW, she actually did a great job.

My dislike for this type of music comes more from the publishers and managers who push it just for the dollars without looking at quality or content, not from composers and the original intention of the song. So maybe the comment should be “… I wonder whose getting the royalty for this?..”

Well, I believe God does the same with composers, and I believe that we, as His chidlren, should try to do the same.

I have written around 70 songs, all “Christian.” Two or three of them are really good, the rest are pretty mediocre, IMO. The kids’ songs are excellent, better than most of the stuff that Christians write for kids.

You might disagree entirely and think that everything I write is total junk, unworthy of the Lord.

The fact is, when I wrote them, I was trying my very, very best to write good songs that would glorify God and encourage His people.

If I failed to write amazing, beautiful, sublime, utterly perfect songs, well, it’s too bad. But I’m just a human, with all kinds of human failings. I have more to learn.

I suppose you could tell me that as long as my songs aren’t perfect, then stop writing them. That’s exactly what I’ve done since becoming Catholic. I haven’t written one single song. I’ve tried. I’ve sat down at the piano and tried, but nothing. I think I’m too afraid of not being perfect. And maybe God just doesn’t want me to try at this point.

I’m a composer too! And I hope God loves me for it. Some of my music is probably pretty bad to some ears too. But I try, just like you. Because of how we all try our best, I think none of it is unworthy. And I think God wants us to try. It may turn out that some of what we write isn’t suitable for certain things (like mass parts) but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Like you said, none of us are perfect, and we all have something to learn. If every composer wrote like Bach, wouldn’t music get a bit boring anyway?? Keep writing Cat!

I’m certainly open to learning. I’m not really sure how practical that is, though. IMO, the best way to learn to write songs is to write songs. And I’m not exactly sure how Catholic musicians “learn.”

IMO, it seems most Catholic musicians end up learning with the “trial by fire” or “throw you to the wolves” methods. That’s what happened to me. Knowledge of the official documents regarding music seems very limited. In my case, I kept asking around and google-ing until I could get some answers. I’m still finding out new stuff all the time. Some of which contradicts what I thought I already knew.

(I think they’re afraid of a shouting match ending in a huge fight and arrests.)

I’ve been to seminars like this!!

C’mon, everyone, ease up on musicians. We aren’t monsters, deliberately producing the worst songs ever written to torment everyone with delicate ears. We’re honestly, truly, trying our best to serve the Lord. Remember your own children and their ugly little ashtrays.

Like I told the congregation the week I was hired, “…I don’t mind if you tell me you don’t like what I’m doing, but don’t end it there. Tell me what you DO like or WOULD like, and we’ll figure out how we can all praise God with our music and all serve the Lord together…”

Darrin, If you have to ask a question about the music, wouldn’t it be more appropriate and productive to ask, “Who approved this song for Holy Mass?”

Agreed! And had this been a Mass instead of a hymn sing, I would have followed up on the appropriateness of the song for a Mass. Since it was a hymn sing, that little girl had every right to sing whatever she wanted to (well almost anything) for Jesus, and I’m glad she did.

Darrin

 

[Pat_the_elder]

Should be room for all types of music in the church. Wasn’t it St Augustine that said “He who sings, prays twice”? Son #2 plays organ at Saturday vigil. The congregation at this Mass is mainly elderly so the music is traditional. He also loves Bach and needs no excuse to play his compositions. At Sunday evening Mass he plays flute along with a very talented bunch of mainly teens (flutes, violins, guitars, keyboard, vocals). The music at this mass is modern but very well executed. Sometimes it gets a wee bit happy-clappy but better that than nothing.

Pat
P.S. Sometimes they even have DRUMS at Sunday evening Mass! Cue for old fogeys to have a communal head shaking session LOL.

 

[Cat]

Don’t be so sensitive! Of course not. Artists. Honestly.

Thank you.

 

[Cat]

Should be room for all types of music in the church. Wasn’t it St Augustine that said “He who sings, prays twice”? Son #2 plays organ at Saturday vigil. The congregation at this Mass is mainly elderly so the music is traditional. He also loves Bach and needs no excuse to play his compositions. At Sunday evening Mass he plays flute along with a very talented bunch of mainly teens (flutes, violins, guitars, keyboard, vocals). The music at this mass is modern but very well executed. Sometimes it gets a wee bit happy-clappy but better that than nothing.

Pat
P.S. Sometimes they even have DRUMS at Sunday evening Mass! Cue for old fogeys to have a communal head shaking session LOL.

Actually in the parishes where I play, the elderly people prefer the contemporary music–gospel especially, with hand-clapping. They tell me so!

I think the age group that’s hardest to read is the 30-40-year olds. These are the ones who are most likely to stand silently during ANY kind of music. Because they grew up in the OF, they don’t know the chants and responses, so they never respond during that. (My personal feeling is that either the pastor or the cantor should LOUDLY sing the responses along with any Latin chants, so that everyone can learn them. A few older people in the pews just don’t sing loud enough to help others in the pews learn.) They don’t seem to like hymns, perhaps because they grew up listening to rock and pop. They don’t really seem to like the folk music much. It’s really hard to know what they DO like. I’ve had some success with the Sandy Patti/Steve Green type music sung as a Communion Meditation by a good cantor, but that’s not the kind of music that a congregation can sing along with. Hmmm…

The young people are the same way. So many people on this board say that say that they like traditional and classical music. I don’t think so. I think they just like GOOD music of any style–what they seem to dislike is wimpy, puny, poorly-cantored, poorly-played music that dies in the pew. The teens at our parish (several hundred) seem to favor the rock music, but then our city has Willowcreek within driving distance and a Willowcreek plant right down the road from our parish, as well as a CrossCurrent group that attracts a thousand teenagers on Wednesday night to listen to the local Christian rock bands. There is also a schola (Latin, chant) for the TLM in our city, but very few teens get involved.

Hmmm…I don’t envy music directors in Catholic churches! What a hodge-podge of people! IMO, the best approach is to offer several Masses, each with a different “style” of music, and hopefully everyone can find a happy home! That’s what our parish does.

 

[Sarabande]

Actually in the parishes where I play, the elderly people prefer the contemporary music–gospel especially, with hand-clapping. They tell me so!

I find that the old people in their 70s-80s were of the same generation who encouraged the “new” music for Mass back in the 60s and 70s. Of course, there are elderly people who do like the traditional hymns, but when you think about it, these old folks were in their 30s/40s forty + years ago when all of this started and encouraged the young people of the time to take it up, so it wouldn’t surprise me that your congregation of older people like that stuff. I have done so many funerals for people in this age range and most of the time the hymn requests are for the popular, broadway-like and ballad-like hymns in most parishes. As I am starting to do more funerals for those who passed away in their 50s and 60s, there is more of a mixed bag - traditional and newer. And for the few funerals that I’ve cantored for young men and women in their 20s and 30s the requests have been more traditional, once in a while even classical and sometimes with Latin. But thankfully, funerals of this age range isn’t the norm and perhaps these people were the exception - I don’t know - but I found that interesting. One thing that is asked for through all these generations are Schubert “Ave Maria” and either the Lambilotte or the Franck “Panis Angelicus”.

I think the age group that’s hardest to read is the 30-40-year olds. These are the ones who are most likely to stand silently during ANY kind of music. Because they grew up in the OF, they don’t know the chants and responses, so they never respond during that. (My personal feeling is that either the pastor or the cantor should LOUDLY sing the responses along with any Latin chants, so that everyone can learn them.

I would agree that they probably don’t do the chants and responses because they didn’t grow up with it. Some parishes did do the chanted responses in English. I grew up with some priests doing it, so I knew them in ENglish and then learned the Latin when I got to college. We do Latin OF masses every other week at our parish. What helps is the repetition and priest encouragement. For these masses, we have the choir, the cantor and the priest sing out for it. Our parish is heavily visited by people from all over the diocese, the country and many times from people all over the world, so you need that kind of bolstering. You also have the parishioners and the regulars - usually college students and young professionals. I recently went to Mass where the priest encouraged everyone to chant the Credo (which was everyone’s first time) and I was actually floored at how practically everyone in the pews chanted it. The older people and traditional people knew it, I sight-read it and then everyone else just went along. I think it was because of how the priest mentioned how beautiful it was when he was living in Rome and how at the Papal Masses people from all over the world, speaking different languages could chant the Credo in the language of the Church. I think it actually inspired the people in the pews here. It was encouraging. So, yeah, encouragement by the priest or pastor would help.

 

[Nanaann]

Hi folks!
I was reading numerous responses to the music issue and find it fascinating. Bottom line is: DO YOU LIKE MUSIC?

We are fortunate at our church to have numerous approaches to the Mass music. (Location, location, location.) I’m sure the part of the country in which you live can lay the foundation of the music you’ll hear. Gregorian chant is heavenly, the the untrained should not be asked to read music in the original notation. Be fair.

Catholics frequently have 2 to 5 Masses over the weekend, and maybe more, which can allow for different approaches. When I lived in Massachusetts, the parish to which I belonged and in which I grew up had upstairs and downstairs Masses. Believe it or not, over the weekend there were eight Masses if I remember correctly. The Pastor, new to the parish, hired a professional which increased proficiency of the choir, the beauty of the Mass, and the joy of the congregation. Not all parishes can hire pros, nor are there a sufficient number of pros to go around. But also not all Masses had music. It didn’t work well when there was music both upstairs and down. Competition doesn’t blend.

Some of us need personal communication with Christ while we pray. What we need to say doesn’t always blend with what the choir is singing.

Anyway, sing in your heart – whatever song gives you joy.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Hi, all. I come from an Episcopal background, but went to a Catholic high school, and have been attending the Catholic church exclusively for 2 years in preparation for conversion to the faith. In my former churches, I was accustomed to hearing hymns sung by a choir and congregation, accompanied by organ, brass, and very occasionally other orchestral instruments. When I went to my first Catholic Mass 7 years ago, I was struck by how different (almost starkly secular were it not for the obvious references to the Bread of Life and so-on) music performed in many parishes, complete with barely any congregational singing, piano and guitar accompaniment, and frankly very folkish lyrics.
I later learned of the Traditional Latin Mass and the Gregorian chant, polyphony, and other music therein, much of which is more satisfying, and feels more reverent to me than something like “On Eagles’ Wings”, “We are All One Bread”, “You Are Mine”, etc. And I’d love to know your preferences on same.

i prefer wihtout any doubt the Chants of the old. it is torturous to me to listen to modern songs in the Church.