Choral Music in Program for Congregation
  • I'm playing the organ and directing the schola (but not the mixed choir) for an EF Nuptial High Mass, and the bride and groom have insisted on including in their wedding program the proper chants in Gregorian notation as well at the soprano line of Mozart's Ave verum corpus. For some reason, they've decided to include these but not the ordinary, Byrd's Mass for Three Voices. They want two congregational hymns, "O sanctissima" and "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," but the other things are intended for the choir alone, not the congregation. I have clarified this with them, but they still want the chants notated in the program.

    This seems very odd to me, especially when these things are preceded in the same program by a rubric stating, "The choir sings the following." They have not included notation for any of the responses, not even the preface dialogue. This is their wedding, not mine, and I'm in no way responsible for the programs, but they did e-mail me the draft to ask my opinion. I told them I wouldn't include those music inserts except for the two congregational hymns. The bride feels strongly about including the chants and Ave verum in the program. Has anyone else dealt with this before? If nothing else, I can't understand why they would want to waste the paper. They're also including all of the sotto voce prayers, so this will be more of a missalette than just a program.
  • I don't understand it...
    I'm not sure I understand married people though...
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    It would certainly make more sense to simply include the text (and translations for the Latin) in the program/missalette. Nonetheless, if you've already explained this and they want to do it anyways, I don't see anything wrong with it. Illogical, and a waste of money perhaps, but that's not your problem. Be thankful they are not demanding inappropriate music selections.

    Then again, you never know who's invited the wedding. Perhaps there will be some in attendance who will want to sing along on the propers!
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    I don't see anything wrong with it. Illogical, and a waste of money perhaps, but that's not your problem. Be thankful they are not demanding inappropriate music selections.

    Then again, you never know who's invited the wedding. Perhaps there will be some in attendance who will want to sing along on the propers!

    This. If it edifies even one person in attendance, then it is worth it.
    Thanked by 2Ben ClergetKubisz
  • At the Vatican they always notate the propers in the booklet, in chant notation.

    I have no idea how many people attending those masses read music, let alone chant notation AND have fluency in latin enough to just sing along from a program booklet on the fly - but they include them.
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700
    I include Gregorian propers in my worship aids sometimes, if there is extra space and I have no gorgeous line art. Why? Because it might inspire someone in the congregation to learn how to read it, learn to love it, and become a chant nerd and begin attending Star Trek convent-...err... Sacred Music Colloquia...
    Thanked by 1Ben
  • I agree with CH. it may also be a stab at increased participation by including those items so the congregation can follow along.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    MJM, are you by chance at the CES in Vegas? I thought so.
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700
    No, sadly I was in Vegas last week and missed it.
    Thanked by 1melofluent
  • When we are trying to get square notes in church mass aids, it seems strange to be concerned about people who....want to put square notes in a church mass aid...
  • My concern is that the square notes are for things the congregation doesn't sing (propers) instead of for the things they do (responses). There are also round notes for things they don't sing. Imagine baritones in the congregation attempting the soprano line of Mozart's "Ave verum" during Communion and you might understand my concern. Square notes, per se, have nothing to do with it. Active participation has nothing to do with it, as the objectionable music inserts in the program are prefaced with "the choir sings." In contrast, the responses the congregation is actually supposed to sing are printed in the same font as the servers' responses, without musical notation round or square. Perhaps the square notes will pique the curiosity of someone who's never seen them before. That's very good and well, but it would be better, IMHO, if those notes went with "Et cum spiritu tuo" or "Deo gratias" instead of the gradual or offertory.
  • Imagine baritones in the congregation bellowing the soprano line of Mozart's "Ave verum" during Communion and you might understand my concern.


    You are obviously well-named.
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,798
    Unlike most bulletins a Wedding program remains as a souvenir long after the ceremony. Does that have something to do with their point of view?
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen madorganist
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    The bride must not understand the Mozart "Ave verum" if she's printing the soprano line as if it were the melody line of the piece. But maybe she's a soprano and views it that way? :-)

    Instead of trying to take out unnecessary stuff, you might just try to include the dialogues of the Mass. Generally, they're not so necessary, but in a wedding congregation, they could help to keep people on track.

    Thanked by 1madorganist
  • Somewhat on topic, I cannot stand when PIPs sing with the cantor when he/she intones the Psalm or the Alleluia. Kind of like singing a choral piece with the choir.
    Thanked by 1madorganist
  • donr
    Posts: 971
    It's the same when the presider intones it right along with you, off time and off key.
    Thanked by 1madorganist