Volunteer Choir leaders needing guidance
  • dranzal
    Posts: 1
    I have been in my parish choir for 23 years, and other choirs for years before that. I have been the leader for the last 3 years and the music I choose is more "traditional/neo-traditional" than any of the other choirs I've been in.
    That said, a "trained" liturgist suggested to me this morning that most of what parishes do, musically, is NOT liturgical and incorrect.

    1. I agree that most parishes (ALL parishes I've been to) do not know the propers/antiphons and, instead, do hymns of varying quality. How much of a problems is this "four hymn sandwich" type of planning. That's literally all I've ever experienced, even in the most conservative parish I've visited. This is all I experience at any nearby parish and even the Cathedral I visited in Idaho and the traditional Catholic college my daughter graduated from.

    2. Is it appropriate at all for a choir to sing a choral piece, such as "This is My Word" by Pepper Choplin or "Surely the Presence" during or after Communion? I've seen some better choirs do this, but the liturgist I saw today very much frowned upon it, even if the words of the piece are explicitly Scriptural.

    3. I saw mention of "Three Days" in another thread. The only one I know (recently learned) is Thaxted. I agree that the theology is a little soft, so I wrote an additional, theologically meaty, verse. Is this the one that everyone dislikes?

    Sorry for the randomness. I'm new.
    Thanked by 1probe
  • Don9of11Don9of11
    Posts: 860
    @dranzal, welcome to the forum. After nearly 50 years as choir member I dedicated myself to doing a hymnological study of my parish of St. Mary's, it's called A Parish Inheritance

    It contains a definition of Catholic hymn in the Church’s own language and presents the hymns we sang past and present in my Parish, and how the repertoire changed overtime. I established a four fold classification C1-C4: liturgical, devotional, Protestant origin, and not suitable. Along with other resources that can help pastors, pastoral council, musicians, choir members, determine and identify if hymns are appropriate for Mass. I think this can help you as it covers some of your concerns.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • probe
    Posts: 195
    Welcome to the forum, from a recent member thinking about the same things.
    I look forward to the replies from the experienced members.
Add a Comment