Praise and Worship, and School Masses
  • francis
    Posts: 11,183
    @mbwittery

    My prayers and condolences
  • PolskaPiano
    Posts: 255
    I just came from a meeting with my pastor with him asking (again) for me to use some P&W music once a mass a few times a month. I understand where he is coming from, but I would like to incorporate more chant instead. This is a struggle, because when we attempt to "balance" by using both chant and PW and 70s songs and old hymn tunes, it doesn't sound cohesive as a whole. I have attempted and not been impressed with Adoro Te Devote then "Lift Up Your Hearts to the Lord." It's just plain silly to put those two side by side!

    I will say that the pastor's suggestion to incorporate slowly with a communion or "meditation" song a few times a month makes me feel a little better about scheduling the Spirit and Song or Praise and Worship. Perhaps you could "incorporate" the PW by using one piece as a prelude or "meditation hymn" or even a closing hymn?

    That being said, Spirit and Song has a few pieces that could fit well in a children's mass. If you discard the pieces with sentimentality or schmaltzy chord progressions or tired lyrics, there are some decently crafted pieces- pieces I could see being used better outside of mass, but when your back is against a wall. . . Another option i looking into the Saint Augustine Hymnal. There are some P&W-esque hymns that are better suited to the liturgy.

    Vent: I hate that we have to fight so hard to use what the church has repeatedly said is "pride of place." Children are the perfect group to teach chant to- they don't have a preconceived negative notion and they can pick it up quickly! It would not be too much work to teach our children so the next generation could execute sacred music in the liturgy much better than their parents' and grandparents' generations.
  • PolskaPiano
    Posts: 255
    I see I had posted without reading your update.

    Re the Advent hymn- what about this one- less cheesy, more appropriate for liturgy. Downside is so.many.words. Upside it is from their beloved S&S https://dh8zy5a1i9xe5.cloudfront.net/shared/pdf/preview/30108802.pdf

    Another is Ambrosetti's Emmanuel. Kids would catch on to the refrain quickly.
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Polska,

    What you're calling P&W is never appropriate for Mass, least of all at a Children's Mass or a Mass with a large number of children.
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 927
    Back in my parish days, we were using this children's hymnal for the school Masses. It certainly has it's problems and was basically an abridged version of Gather Comprehensive. Still, it was a step up from "Hi, God" which is what they were using previously and was easier for the younger children to hold than the regular hymnal (which was Gather Comprehensive). The leader/catechist guide at times presumed a philosophy at odds with most here on the forum, but it did make some good points and since it's target audience was catechists, it might be helpful in your situation. I no longer have the book at my disposal, but I recall reading a quote that said something like: "we should teach children music they can grow into and not out of".

    I'm not endorsing the hymnal, nor the content of the catechist guide, but that quote has always stuck with me, and I often used it when debating the school teachers who all professed to know more about liturgy, music and education than I did.

    https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/singing-our-faith-leadercatechist-guide-hymnal-g5550l
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,677

    I just came from a meeting with my pastor with him asking (again) for me to use some P&W music once a mass a few times a month. I understand where he is coming from, but I would like to incorporate more chant instead.


    I hope you have other sources of income.
  • NihilNominisNihilNominis
    Posts: 1,068
    For All-School Mass (grade and high school) this morning, with a HS student population of about 80, we had 38 of them in the loft. About 22 singers, and 16 instrumentalists (there are crossovers).

    Conservative priest, but fairly ordinary community, and not a "self-selecting" group by any means. We have an EF Mass, but the sequestering is mutual between the groups, so not a huge influence from that quarter.

    Sang some solid hymnody, as well as polyphony of Byrd and Mozart. The students chant the Proper in a very basic way at the moment, but we do it.

    I won't pretend the formation is perfect, but the students are engaged and involved with a choral music program.

    All a rock band would mean, is that fewer students would take an active part in music making.
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen Carol Earl_Grey
  • francis
    Posts: 11,183
    no compromise... no... compromise.
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