painful

Can't MoC be replaced by something - anything - from Montani's Black List?

Amen, mwa. Same at St. John the Evangelist. I wonder: what is considered "safe" to ask the director of music what the plan is? She has told us nothing. Is asking her what the plans are okay? Or would it be best if us folks in the pews just waited and listened?

I'm sorry to have to put a spider in the punch bowl here, and Mike I especially feel your pain at the likelihood of ministerial laziness at your parish.
But, did you all listen to the propers and the readings yesterday???
How many times are we to forgive one another for a grievance? Three, seven?
Okay, tho' I'm not a MOC proponent and never have been, and never used it on Sunday's (just for weddings/funerals), its usage cannot possibly be seriously condemned as being a Catholic deal breaker, much less an assault or violence against our persons and souls. Yesterday was, if nothing else, a somber reminder that we church musicians shouldn't dwell only within the little petrie dishes of our professions.
If I recall, MOC has been excoriated here and elsewhere thoroughly quite regularly in the past, to what avail other than further alienation among those who should try to travel their pilgrimage in roughly the same direction?
Nothing to see here, move on.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa, miserere mei. Amen.

I miss my Gettysburg church, where we had 4 settings in rotation and everyone seemed to be fine.

Also, the revised settings are just a bad idea at this point.
Even if it's a good setting, and the revision is good (rare), if people know the old version, it's going to be hard for them to put new wine in their old wineskins.

On the other hand, if you just teach a new Gloria or a new Sanctus, no one is going to accidentally sing the wrong words.
In fact, a lot of people probably won't notice that it is a different text.

I miss my Gettysburg church, where we had 4 settings in rotation and everyone seemed to be fine.

Well, Mike, assuming you don't need income, you could come help me out here.
We're rotating (not on our thumbs):
Missa Simplex-Proulx emulant chant
Mass of St. Ann - Bolduc, surprisingly viable P/W
Mass of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Nickel)- local, Anglican style choral/chant
Mass of New World - Haas accessible
ICEL- mandated for all parishes last Sunday of each month at English Masses.

We may rotate the Steve Warner "Charity and Love" with the Nickel, as it might prove more accessible to congregation.

I'm not hearing any griping. 'Course, I'm a big guy and my general smiley face is scowl-like.

Ralph, I've shot my eye out!
Whattayousayin'?

You know, Mike, this may be the most cogent and worst observation I've ever let public in a lifetime on the intertube:
Job description: DM must possess qualities that clearly display s/he is the baddest predator in the jungle, and willing to go for the jugular of any presumptive know it all ego with or without funds that wants to mark territory in the musical rain forest, even if said threat wears a clerical collar.
Sorry, folks, that's my bottom line. Love me, love my dog (which is actually a wolf.)

Duly chastised.
But just having witnessed a sheep attack upon one of our friends, a CMAA member, which resulted in a clerical capitulation to such "influence" that Mike mentions, and my friend's abrupt, unexpected and undeserved dismissal, my demeanor above reflects years of being typified as a John the Baptist awaiting the arrival of the real Christ to both his chair in his office, and the chair from which he presides at Mass. And yes, I know how dificult a dedicated life as a priest must be. But as regards our role as stewards of musical worship, we need to be a "real" shepherd in all ways that term implies.

I know you can't run a church without money, but I do wish more pastors would trust the Lord to provide when they do what is right.

Word back from the Liturgy & Music person at the parish nearest to me:

... We just introduced and began using the Mass of Christ the Savior by Dan Schutte this past weekend featuring the new translation. The congregation seemed receptive and joined in the refrains and acclamations ...

As far as using the chants outside of the Gloria, Gospel Acclamation and Eucharistic Acclamations, that will be up to our presider. If he prefers to use them then we will use the chants that are included in our worship resource "Breaking Bread" from Oregon Catholic Press. ... Our community prefers contemporary music and participation may actually be hindered if we use the chants - our tradition has been to speak the dialogues and sing the Mass settings.

Personally, I do appreciate the chants and traditional music and enjoy the beauty and challenge of singing them. But I have done parish music surveys and found overwhelmingly that we prefer contemporary music. Participation by the assembly is the most important element when selecting the parts of Mass to sing and the choices of music. I must collaborate with the music ministry to promote a music style that fits best with our community and that they are willing to sing, as all our music ministers are part of our parish family as well. When selecting music, I use the recommendations from "Today's Liturgy" by Oregon Catholic Press and carefully consider the words of songs so that the theological or scriptural message complements the scriptures and celebration of the day - and if the song is familiar to the parish. Of course we incorporate new music and choral selections but primarily we stick to a familiar repertoire to enhance participation.

I don't even know where to start with that whole mess that Giffen posted...

Let me count some of the problems with that nonsense/copout CHGiffen posted:

"that will be up to our presider"
--You wouldn't want to influence him in any way, would you? No, no. It's completely up to him. Don't even bring it up. Ugh.

"'Breaking Bread' from Oregon Catholic Press"
--I'm not saying that a good, devoted, highly-skilled musician can't do a good job with OCP resources. I'm just saying that there are far better quality materials available. A good DLM would know this and move in that direction.

"Our community prefers contemporary music"
--Oh, goodness. It's all about what the community prefers, is it? I think they'd PREFER to do "On Eagle's Wings" and "Be Not Afraid" every week. The Good Lord knows that I get asked for them for 90% of all the funerals I do. It's up to the DLM to exert some influence over their preferences. Perhaps start to adopt a more "blended" style. They probably won't even know it happened. Furthermore, there's no need to do these chants a cappella. ICEL has provided organ accompaniments, and the chants are NOT that hard to learn. I do not think it will freak people out, once they've been in place for a few weeks/months.

"parish music surveys"
--What a good use of your time...*sarcasm*

"Participation by the assembly is the most important element"
--No it isn't. If they wanted to sing the Ordinary to the tune (I use the word "tune" loosely) of a Justin Bieber song, that wouldn't be appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, even if it would enable them to participate easily. No Britney Spears, no Aerosmith, no Willie Nelson, no Buddy Holly tunes for the Mass.

This person does not seem like a silly or frivolous person (based solely off of this one thing I've read), but this is a complete copout. They're abdicating responsibility, and that is the opposite of what we are called to do. It's disappointing.

I'm a young music director, 25 yrs old, M.Mus, in my second year of a full-time gig, and I take the responsibility of being a true leader and minister very seriously. It's disappointing that this director seems content to "go with the flow" and let the assembly and OCP dictate the music that is sung.

Frustrating.

"...let the assembly and OCP dictate the music that is sung."

They have to sing it, don't they?

charles
you were talking to irish tenor but you also spoke volumes to me.
thank you.