All that popcorn is going to make us thirsty. I’ll bring some beer. And to keep it in the spirit of praise and worship, I’ll make sure it’s Belgian Trappist beerLots.
Happy to oblige.
I thought they became Trappists so they wouldn’t have to sing.All that popcorn is going to make us thirsty. I’ll bring some beer. And to keep it in the spirit of praise and worship, I’ll make sure it’s Belgian Trappist beer
Wow!!! I thought this thread was dead. That is so wonderful to hear, Beautiful!!! Sometimes that can work really well, like in your experience. Sometimes it doesn’t. When I’ve been in congregations where there were no instruments or singers and the priest couldn’t sing and no one was really going at it, I’d just sing full-voiced from the pews and then others will join. Then, other times, I’d end up being a “soloist” as a congregant in the pew singing with the priest because no one will sing. I’ve found that it really depends on the congregation and the priest. God bless you. I’m happy you had that experience.I sang at Mass!
I sang at Mass!
I sang at Mass!
I sang at Mass and felt long forgotten joy in my heart.
It has been so long since I actually sang …it all.
I sang it all!
I can’t remember exactly when I stopped singing so long ago but I can tell you why I did sing this weekend.
There was no choir, cantor or musical instrumentalist. Everyone took the lead of the priest and I heard more people sing at that parish than ever before.
It was amazing!
It was beautiful!
Let the priest lead!
Let the people follow and sing!
You are a musician?
What it means is that the instrument can be used to help the singers stay on note. Although chant, for example, is meant to be sung a cappella, that sometimes is a bit tough for newbies so the organ is played softly to keep the musicians on note. The tendency for newbies, in chant, is to let their voices drift downwards in pitch. The organist gives the musicians the pitch.
Yes, the organ can be helpful with chant, but I’ve seen the organ make it very dreadful. Some organists play every… single… note and it keeps the chant from flowing and makes it sound as if each note was this plodding through mud. Then I’ve heard other organists do it so well where they might play a very simple chord or even just a single note at the beginning of the chant and then plays other chords or single notes at certain parts of the chant to be sure everyone is still in the same key. It helps the congregation AND the priest be able to get in a flow when chanting rather than plod along.
Yes, it’s pretty unclear, isn’t it? I play violin at my parish many weeks of the year (except during Lent and Advent). Luckily, I am not the one who has to try to interpret that instruction from GIRM. From what I read at CMAA forum, most of those music directors interpret it to mean, subdued organ only (no guitar, no other instruments), no prelude music, no postlude music. Focus on vocal music as much as possible. The parish might just respond with the joy that “Beautiful” did!
My memory recall of music during Mass is characterized by voices of various individuals, instrumentation of individuals and even distortions of certain songs by entire choirs.
or assign one individual/instrumentalist to start song in the most simple way and not a dominating way.In my experience, Catholic congregations RARELY sing when contemporary music is used. I see the congregation standing still staring at the front as the choir sings. Not saying this is universally true, but it has been my experience in a number of different parishes. On the other hand, I’ve been to parishes with much more traditional music where the congregation does join in.
I hate to say but I think these reasons are true.
Do you know anything about the history and tradition of organ use in the Catholic Mass throughout the centuries?Yes, it’s pretty unclear, isn’t it? I play violin at my parish many weeks of the year (except during Lent and Advent). Luckily, I am not the one who has to try to interpret that instruction from GIRM. From what I read at CMAA forum, most of those music directors interpret it to mean, subdued organ only (no guitar, no other instruments), no prelude music, no postlude music. Focus on vocal music as much as possible. The parish might just respond with the joy that “Beautiful” did!
I understand the long history of organ music at Catholic Mass. Some organs are quite impressive in sound and appearance. Organ music goes quite beautifully at particular times. Generally, simplified music for average singers is more spiritually beneficial for all. I like to sing the Holy, Holy, Holy and hear myself and others around me instead of a big booming organ and/or choir.
These are the ones we need to encourage to join us in song. We should sing at a level even a child feels welcome. Music should be encompassing at all levels.Really - - it goes against all history and tradition? To use the organ sparingly** during Lent**? That may be - - what I read in general is along these lines: (from CanticaNova Publications)
All I know is how music directors are trying to interpret GIRM today.Yes, of course there are different guidelines for Lent when it comes to the Mass music, and I know what they are and follow them.
In our city, it’s not likely. A deseg lawsuit in the 1980s all but destroyed the arts in the public schools. The children in public schools in our city have a half-hour of chorus per week.I understand the long history of organ music at Catholic Mass. Some organs are quite impressive in sound and appearance. Organ music goes quite beautifully at particular times. Generally, simplified music for average singers is more spiritually beneficial for all. I like to sing the Holy, Holy, Holy and hear myself and others around me instead of a big booming organ and/or choir.
If you are an organist at church, have you ever had the delight of hearing a young child near you try to sing the Our Father with everyone? Probably not. Probably not many have that pleasure these days because of the domination of instrument, choir or individuals.
Given a chance, children will sing/pray too! Their voice is most precious of all! Little ones generally are not singing to the beat of a church choir and organ. Take a look.
So you like it when the organ accompanies the entire Mass? When the priest and the congregation wait for the organ to finish the multi-page introduction to each prayer and response?