Why don't people sing?

[Guitar]

I think the Magisterium should make parish choirs mandatory. Ha, ha! Now there’s progress!

When the gods wish to punish you, they give you what you pray for. Don’t go there, my friend. (Unless you live in a parish where you know the result would be bearable!)

I dunno. They sing their heads off at my parish, and they get quite assertive about the occasional whatever that might make it hard for them to do so (singer who pitches everything too high or accompanist that drags or doesn’t lead well, etc).

 

[wjp984]

There are some people who are so bad at singing that it is good they don’t sing but I’m still in favor of them singing in church providing they don’t sing anywhere else. I’ve noticed that sometimes if I sing others will start singing or if someone else is singing I might start singing. People do whatever everyone else is doing. So start singing and maybe wou will get others to join you. Oh, the other reason I think is because the people assume only the cantor or choir is supposed to sing.

 

[Markstorm]

Lifeteen is the only one where there is not a single song I sing. Full of pop-ish music and whatnot… ugh.

 

[Guitar]

There are some people who are so bad at singing that it is good they don’t sing but I’m still in favor of them singing in church providing they don’t sing anywhere else.

Maybe that’s the true meaning of “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” … swans sing before they die, 'twere no sad thing should some folks die before they sing …

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

Perhaps people don’t sing because they have come to understand that there are very few songs in the “Music Issue” that are appropriate for Mass. Lyrics in the voice of God or Jesus, for example, or songs that celebrate and praise the congregation - the people - are beautiful, but not for Mass!

Then why are there examples of official latin chants prescribed to some days that do exactly that?

Take, for example, the communion chant for the Fifth Sunday of Easter. It says (in english) “I am the true vine, and you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he it is who bears much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.”

As for music speaking of the congregation, this is not necessarily bad. Most often, these texts paraphrase scripture. For instance, what if a song were to say “We are the children of God! If we seek, we find, if we knock, the door will be opened to us.” This non-existant song text would be directly related to scripture, and is actually celebrating what God does for us.

 

[benedictgal]

As for music speaking of the congregation, this is not necessarily bad. Most often, these texts paraphrase scripture. For instance, what if a song were to say “We are the children of God! If we seek, we find, if we knock, the door will be opened to us.” This non-existant song text would be directly related to scripture, and is actually celebrating what God does for us.

The problem is that “we” become the focus and the actor, rather than God. We become the focus, instead of God. That is the big problem. The example you quoted pretty much says it all. The hymn is about us and what we do and what happens to us. God is secondary, which is bad theology.

 

[anamchara]

Hello,

Gregorian Chant is very, very, very easy to learn by ear. After hearing it about a half dozen times, the melody becomes learned. The text can also be easily learned. Same with polyphony and traditional hymnody.

you haven’t heard our parish yet then. We are hopeless. Our young orthodox priest is trying to have us chant the Lords Prayer and we struggle horribly with it! He is trying to be as patience as he can though. And we are trying.

I can say now with experience, it is NOT AT ALL EASY! We do sing out with all other music though. I attribute that to the choir and our music that helps us along and some Protestants thrown in the here and there.

 

[anamchara]

Oh, the other reason I think is because the people assume only the cantor or choir is supposed to sing.

Yes, I’ve seen this happen.

 

[Margarite]

I will tell you why my family and I do not sing. Because most of the songs are HERETICAL! I…I…I…I…I…That is the only word you hear throughout all these modern songs. Many of them are brought over by converts from protestant churches. (I love converts, but when you convert you need to realize that what your old church was teaching/singing was HERETICAL!)

Now singing is the best way to teach. Just think about how we teach children the ABC’s using a song…because it sticks better. Well even if Paul or Jesus said something that does not mean it should be put into a song in the exact form that they said it.

I mean “I am the Bread of Life…” NO! I am not the Bread of Life – Christ is! “He will raise me up on eagle’s wings…” Where on earth did this come from! I mean this is not true!

Why not sing “Oh, Lord I am not worthy…” or “Come Holy Ghost…” or “Jesus my Lord, my God, my all…” or “O Sacrament most holy, O sacrament divine…”!
These are songs that really speak what we as sinful people should be thinking and praying not I…I…Iing
Singing is praying twice. Do you pray “Oh, God I am the Bread of Life, I know you will raise me up on eagle’s wings…”
NO! At least you should not be praying this way. Did not Jesus complement the sinner who knelt at the back of the church and said “Oh, Lord I am a sinner have pity on me.” and Jesus rebuked the man who said “Thank goodness I am not a sinner. I know I am going to heaven.”
Does not “O Lord I am not worthy…” sound very much like “Oh, Lord I am a sinner…” I think so.

I am sorry if you are offended, but I am tired of the Church being filled by heretical songs, songs that indoctrinate the untaught congragation with heretical thoughts. This is WRONG! Please read “Why Catholics Can’t Sing” It is a very good book.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Part of the problem, I think, is that so many of those 1970s pop/folk tunes are not conducive to singing for a lot of people. Melodies that sort of wander aimlessly, too demanding of range, particularly of male voices, uninteresting or just plain embarrassing lyrics. “Yahweh, I know you are near” is an example of the last. Who says “Yahweh” in his/her prayers? That’s so artificial. Another example: “…let our tears be turned into dancing”. I’m sorry to be this way, but that’s just a trifle gay-sounding to most men. It’s just embarrassing to sing it.

In my parish, the songs that really get belted out are the old protestant hymns; not because people admire protestantism, but because they’re familiar, singable, have melodies you can remember and lyrics that are uplifting, not embarrassing. Just about the only remaining Catholic song is “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”, which is also sung loudly and well by most, despite the reach at the end. But if the organist wants to hear a pin drop, all she has to do is play “On Eagles’ Wings”.

It just amazes me that after all of these years, the hymnals are still almost exclusively those awful old 1970s and early 1980s bogus folk songs. The evidence of their writers’ lack of talent is demonstrated Sunday after Sunday, but they’re still part of the bill of fare.

For myself, I sing the ones that are singable by a male other than the Irish Tenors and stay mum for the others. That pretty much limits me to the old protestant hymns and “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”. And I am a person who loves to sing!

 

[Margarite]

My family sings, and sings out , when there is a song that is not heretical, but when there is a heretical song we just pray for the Church. Why do they always play the worst songs right after Holy Communion? And why do people clap :clapping:
I mean clapping brings glory to the choir who should not want glory because they should be singing for the sole purpose of praising God. So…

Have y’all heard of the Adoremus HymnalIt is AWESOME:thumbsup:

 

[Joannm]

I

I mean “I am the Bread of Life…” NO! I am not the Bread of Life – Christ is! “He will raise me up on eagle’s wings…” Where on earth did this come from! I mean this is not true!

I am sorry if you are offended, but I am tired of the Church being filled by heretical songs, songs that indoctrinate the untaught congragation with heretical thoughts. This is WRONG! Please read “Why Catholics Can’t Sing” It is a very good book.

I am the bread of life - John 6

He will raise you up on eagles wings - based on Isaiah 40:31

Hardly heretical

 

[Jennifer_J]

These problems are not unavoidable, nor are they only the concerns of those in the choir. I think a big problem is the lack of even basic music education for the past few decades so that many are aware of these things.
.

I think you’re on to the real reason people don’t sing (bad songs, notwithstanding)–we aren’t a singing culture anymore. Oh we have our ipods, cds, headphones, occasion bad karaoke, etc. but when was the last time you sat around the piano/guitar/violin and sang songs with your family and friends? We just don’t do this anymore AND the basic music education (I used to teach music) in many places, is often inadequate or nonexistent.

So, while certainly poor song choices and bad composition may be a problem, the greater problem is the change in society that says that singing is only for those “trained” when it’s really for everyone!

Jennifer

 

[Phemie]

I mean “I am the Bread of Life…” NO! I am not the Bread of Life – Christ is! “He will raise me up on eagle’s wings…” Where on earth did this come from! I mean this is not true!

While neither of those hymn are favorites of mine there is nothing heretical about them. “I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall not hunger” is not singing about us. I doubt that anyone who sings this thinks they are talking about themselves. “He will raise me up on eagle’s wings” is based on Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”
Ok, they’re musically bad songs but they’re not heretical.

 

[Margarite]

I am the bread of life - John 6

He will raise you up on eagles wings - based on Isaiah 40:31

Hardly heretical

It is heretical because people don’t know the Bible and they take what is said litterally. Besides as I said singing is praying twice and I think it is pretty terrible that people are praying
“I am GOD.” = “I am the Bread of Life.”
I know quite a few Catholics who say that when they sing “I am the Bread of Life” they think they are saying that they are Catholic and that means that they are part of Christ’s body. This is not true the song is sung from Jesus’ point of view and he is the Bread of Life.

Songs drum unforgettable messages into a person’s head. Just think of songs that taught you lessons and you will be able to remember the key words. If a song is drumming “I am the Bread of Life” into your head then it is teaching you something that is not true and thus it is heretical.

Most Catholics are ignorant about the Bible and their faith. Most will not know that the “I” referrs to Christ speaking about himself. Most will think that they are referring to themselves and this is wrong. In the Bible it says “Jesus said…” or words to that effect, but in the song there is no preface saying “Jesus said…” so it is heretical.

 

[Margarite]

““He will raise me up on eagle’s wings” is based on Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”
Ok, they’re musically bad songs but they’re not heretical.”

“He will raise me up on eagle’s wings” is very different than “They shall mount up with wings as eagles” This sounds like when you go to heaven you get wings like angel wings not God is going to bring you up to heaven using eagle wings.
This is not even close to the Bible, so don’t quote something that is not quoted in the song. It is not even the same.

And since singing is praying twice why would you pray “God is going to…” and not “Lord please…”

 

[Sarabande]

I think you’re on to the real reason people don’t sing (bad songs, notwithstanding)–we aren’t a singing culture anymore. Oh we have our ipods, cds, headphones, occasion bad karaoke, etc. but when was the last time you sat around the piano/guitar/violin and sang songs with your family and friends? We just don’t do this anymore AND the basic music education (I used to teach music) in many places, is often inadequate or nonexistent.

So, while certainly poor song choices and bad composition may be a problem, the greater problem is the change in society that says that singing is only for those “trained” when it’s really for everyone!

Excellent point - both you and JMJ_Coder!!! My family has always been a “singing” family, so we tend to sing at mass. But like you said, the majority of people don’t gather around the piano or the camp fire and really sing any longer.

I used to teach basic music theory to kids as well and it’s amazing how many don’t even know how to “hear” a melody or pitch. You have to start from scratch and really work hard to get them familiar with the western music scale and simple melodies. A lot of my students listened to lots of Rap. Not putting it down, although I don’t personally like it, but they don’t really sing a melody. So the kids learn how to speak in rhythm, but not how to actually sing in rhythm. And then even popular pop musicians can’t even really sing on pitch, either, so there’s another thing that’s hurting that generation.

 

[MustangBoop]

At my church, we all sing. You can hear the voices outside in the parking lot. One of the main reasons I don’t think people sing is that they don’t know the words or it’s to high a note. In our parish, they have the words projected on the walls on either side of the alter. All our cantors, male and female, sing in a note that most people don’t have a problem with. I, personnally can’t sing a note but I sing anyway and loudly. Our cantors always tells us, if we can’t sing then sing louder … the Lord loves to hear us sing.

Not to be rude, but maybe if you stop complaining about people not singing or the songs, maybe if you start to sing, like someone else said, others will sing also. And, how can anything you sing to or about the Lord be gayish?

Next time you’re at church ask the Lord to help you sing to Him.

Yvonne in Miami and loving to sing to the Lord

 

[Joannm]

It is heretical because people don’t know the Bible and they take what is said litterally. Besides as I said singing is praying twice and I think it is pretty terrible that people are praying
“I am GOD.” = “I am the Bread of Life.”
I know quite a few Catholics who say that when they sing “I am the Bread of Life” they think they are saying that they are Catholic and that means that they are part of Christ’s body. This is not true the song is sung from Jesus’ point of view and he is the Bread of Life.

Songs drum unforgettable messages into a person’s head. Just think of songs that taught you lessons and you will be able to remember the key words. If a song is drumming “I am the Bread of Life” into your head then it is teaching you something that is not true and thus it is heretical.

Most Catholics are ignorant about the Bible and their faith. Most will not know that the “I” referrs to Christ speaking about himself. Most will think that they are referring to themselves and this is wrong. In the Bible it says “Jesus said…” or words to that effect, but in the song there is no preface saying “Jesus said…” so it is heretical.

Do you really think people are that ignorant? Besides, we are the Body of Christ…haven’t you ever read the letters of Paul? I don’t know anyone who thinks that when they sing “I am the Bread of Life,” that they think they are singing about themselves. It is scripture they are singing. They are singing the words of Jesus.

 

[Jennifer_J]

““He will raise me up on eagle’s wings” is based on Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”
Ok, they’re musically bad songs but they’re not heretical.”

“He will raise me up on eagle’s wings” is very different than “They shall mount up with wings as eagles” This sounds like when you go to heaven you get wings like angel wings not God is going to bring you up to heaven using eagle wings.
This is not even close to the Bible, so don’t quote something that is not quoted in the song. It is not even the same.

And since singing is praying twice why would you pray “God is going to…” and not “Lord please…”

You know, there is such a thing as poetic license, even in Church music. While I agree that you shouldn’t change the words so much that it obscures the meaning (or renders it dogmatically in error), On Eagles Wings is not heretical–it is a poetical rendering of the verse and infact if you go to usccb.org/bible and look up the verse, it’s translated :
Isaiah 40:31
31
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

Which is quite close to the song’s version of the verse.

Now as for I am the Bread of Life, well, it probably could be clearer. I think the original form of the lyrics were a bit clearer:
audiblefaith.com/pages/sg853104
but it has been tinkered with and made to be less clear. The tunes not that great either.

I do agree that there are much better songs out there to choose from and I wish many of the bad ones would just go away.

Jennifer