The first sin is wishing to suppress congregational singing. This is NOT the intention of Vatican II, whether EF or OF. The next is the notion that choir and congregation cannot sing together and keep the pitch and tempo. One of the several functions of the choir is to lead and support congregational song. This requires sure, strong, and steady singing from the choir and/or organ. These leaders must keep mercilessly to their tempo and pitch. The moment even one chorister breaks ranks and begins to sing with the congregation rather than following the choirmaster there will be chaos. The people follow and sing with - the choir leads and holds its own. This takes discipline and musicianship. The result will be the congregation and choir singing as one voice in worship of God. St Augustine of Hippo would be pleased.

You and the choir need to keep the pace going and the congregation will follow suit. This is something our MD reminds us of from time to time.

It’s also not prudent to suspend Sunday mass obligation indefinitely, or to tell Christians not to sing the praises of God.

If the organist keeps up the tempo, people generally can't get away with falling too far behind the organ... choisters or congregation.

There was a study that showed that singing doesn't produce much more droplets than speech of a similar volume.

Is there a point at which congregational singing is sufficiently bad that a choir alone should sing at Mass? A lay choir, or professionals?

Only if it's a concert.

Only if it's a concert.

Ha! A clever riposte! But congregations do not ordinarily sing at concerts - unless they are at a Christmastide Messiah singalong or the last night at the Proms.

Carol -

Begun by Sir Henry Wood in the late XIXth century, the Promenade concerts are a series of classical choral, symphonic, chamber, and solo instrument concerts which take place every year in Royal Albert Hall and are attended by thousands. The last night at the Proms is different - it is typically somewhat raucous and will include all the thousands in the audience singing traditional British folk songs, and, to cap it all off, "Rule, Britannia!' - which fills my heart with great glee.

Many of the Prom concerts may be heard on youtube and include everything from Bach's b-minor mass to the likes of Messiaen. Many of the performers represent the cream of the classical world's artists and ensembles.

Promenade concerts, because most people stand or walk about.

I don't see how this follows. If the congregation is performing in a concert, that's what they are doing regardless of how bad they are. The question on this thread is whether congregational singing at Mass should be suppressed on account of poor quality.

The only time that the congregation should not sing at Mass is when there is no congregation, ie when there is a concert performance of a Mass, rather than a Mass being celebrated as worship service.

I think we should also remember that the congregation is encouraged to sing the ordinary, not the propers. The director can get plenty of beautiful/artistic chanting in with the schola on the harder propers, which is... proper... to them to sing (no pun intended). Even VII asks every congregation to know simple ordinaries well. Perhaps they simply need to build up a repertoire starting with simpler settings.

And it takes congregations a very long time to stabilize with any mass setting. Perhaps part of the reason they are [currently] ill-suited chanting is because the practice is never encouraged and the rug is constantly being ripped out. I know many singers slow down when they are trying to laboriously read the notes... perhaps one stable setting, lived with for a good while, will continually improve to the point where dragging no longer becomes an issue.

It's also possible to get up in front of a congregation and teach them chants before Mass. I've rehearsed my parish on multiple occasions, particularly as we transition to latin settings for Advent and Lent. I go up and sing and conduct them and remind them about the nature of chant and how it is supposed to flow. Many people do not sing for the first few weeks as they listen. Eventually they join in and it's fine. I do keep them on track with an organ, however. I've also used the same setting for advent and lent for two years (ie- four seasons) to help them acclimate. (This is a NO parish that has not done any chanting in decades, however.)

I also feel compelled to mention "Jubilate Deo" promulgated by Paul VI as a small opus of chant every parish should know to sing. It's very clear, therefore, that the intention is for congregations to be singing.

Schönbergian - Yes, generally except

SCR Instruction 3 Sep 1958 De musica sacra et sacra liturgia:
25 c. In the third degree all those present are so proficient in the Gregorian chant that they can also chant the parts of the Proper of the Mass. One must insist above all on this full participation in the chant in religious communities and in seminaries.