I can’t remember who it was that said singing is like praying twice, or something along those lines. Basically I guess the inference is that singing is almost like a higher form of prayer. I like a good old sing-a-long during Mass and it does add to the occasion when the congregation is in full voice. So I have no beef with singing in church.
However I do have a minor complaint with the music during Mass in general. Specifically the need to fill every almost moment of silence with some form of noise, be it the church organ, guitar, choir, miscellaneous, or a combination of everything. Oh and don’t get me started on liturgical dance. Is it too much to ask for a little bit of silence now and again during Mass. Maybe some silence so we can reflect on what’s going on, or what’s happening, or even to pray a little. But instead, if the priest takes a little too long to wander over to read the Gospel, or the communion line is getting a little long, the music starts flaring up.
This may not bother everyone, but I find it quite hard to concentrate if I’m either (a) humming along with the music (b) trying to silently recall what the song is and what event it reminds me of (c) wondering why organ music sometimes sounds so sweet, sometimes so out of tune. So please, if you’re a musician, give us a moment to breathe during Mass.
My Sunday Mass is pretty good in that respect, MB, although I have experienced the kind you write about.
My main beef is what I think of as too many feminised songs, where the thoughts expressed are drippy and, worse, they are pitched too high for a bloke to cope with.
Beardie, you make me nostalgic. I didn’t know there was anyone else in the world who remembered the longest – of somewhat repetitious – rock song in the world.
jj
I dislike musicians up the front and guitar strumming and tinny keyboards, pentecostal music.
There is a crisis of music in the Church.
The loveliest ‘little Church’ (not an all out musical Mass) music I experienced was in a Dominican parish in Prague. The organist played the same hymn tune throughout and so that hymn was sung at Procession, Offertory. The sung parts of the Mass were sung in chant with the organ accompanying. It was simple, seamless, sweet, smooth, prayerful, musical and enchanced the liturgy rather than competed with it. A very contemplative Mass.
I think one of the problems is the incessant demand for variation, as if everyone needs to be entertained.
I have played a parish organ for a number of years but not at the moment.