Thanks chonak. I read the discussion but it doesn't state where I can find some music for LifeTeen masses. If anyone knows, please share! Much appreciated.

Somebody observed in the other thread that there really isn't a prescribed style of Life Teen music, so one director taught the teen choir to sing chant and they thought it was cool. Most places probably do "praise 'n' worship" (which is praise but really not worship) because they don't know any better.

1. People who talk about wanting youth to "feel more involved" and describe them as preferring music that is "lively" (as opposed to what?) is symptomatic of people who are out of touch with youth. Young people, like any other group of people, are a diverse group. Some will prefer Praise and Worship music. Some will prefer old hymns on the organ. Some will prefer chant and polyphony. Exactly like any other age group.

2. Asking someone who is not familiar with "Contemporary" Praise Music to plan and lead it is a recipe for inauthentic mediocrity. One of the few things that really does set young people apart from older people is their complete impatience and intolerance for the inauthentic and the mediocre.

3. If your teenaged parishioners are disengaged and hostile toward coming to liturgy, P&W music is not going to change that. If they are engaged and interested in liturgy, P&W music is not needed.

4. Out of context, P&W music programs seem awesome, with engaged youth and everything. But that is not in opposition to high quality traditional music programs; it is in opposition to crappy, semi-contemporary/pseudo-traditional music programs where folk songs and Protestant hymns are played slowly on a bad organ or a hum-n-strum guitar. It isn't the music that makes the difference- it's the care taken with it, the quality of performance and (most of all) the clear message that the adults care about the kids and their needs. All the things that make a good P&W successful can be done in the context of a program of actual Sacred Music.

Soapbox ended.

Obviously I don't know your situation, your parish, or your pastor.
But if I was asked to do what you are being asked to do, I would have a serious talk with that pastor, and I would also make sure I had spent some time talking with the best and brightest among the youth.

I am not here to judge anyones thoughts and visions, just trying to do what is being asked of me. It is our pastors wish to do this, I merely have to follow directions. Simple as that. I know that IF I do not like it, the door is open for me to go somewhere else. Just wanted to know if people know where I can find this music.

Right, theloniouslopez, we realize that's the situation you are in, but you should be aware that by coming here and posting on this particular forum, you are not going to get any actual support for what you are trying to do. (This is not the forum for people who appreciate that style of music/liturgy...)

As a campus minister, I typically make my first battle the texts. At least find songs that have good texts; you can quibble about the musical style later. If you're selective, you can find some useful stuff from Spirit & Song and from GIA's counterpart, Cross Generation. A good number of the younger songwriters (stuff written in the past ten years) take their lyrics from writings of the saints, etc.

Another suggestion is to do some traditional hymns with contemporary instrumentation. Something along the lines of Fernando Ortega's recordings. No one will know the difference.

And didn't someone start a project of contemporary-styled propers awhile back?

I think I was actually thinking of this. Not Propers, but Responsorial Psalms: http://www.modernpsalter.com/

@Wendi: Proud to say that my whole choir is all teens! But they all have mixed feelings about the LifeTeen mass.
@MikeR: Thanks for the reference! I Will browse more thoroughly the GIA books. I think that is the safest bet on what I will do. I think once I add drums and some type of bass guitar they will all be content.
@Gavin: I have a choir that is all teens. Its 8th-12th graders, I have about 20 singers and I play piano. They are all involved and I have to say I've been lucky with these kids. They appreciate Chant and work from books from OCP, GIA, and WLP. I have brought up the idea of LifeTeen Mass and they do not feel so comfortable, they feel they will be more like entertainers to try to keep everyone "awake" instead of being more of the music to solidify the message of the readings, which they like.

These changes are coming from the Pastor at the request of the Communion and Confirmation Directors.

@CharlesW: My choir members are a minority. The teams built in these two programs (Confirmation and Communion) are filled with teens and they have been pushing for a LifeTeen Mass for years now.

Its not about me wanting to get rid of it. My concern is that I do not know where to get music for it. But thank you to the people that have contributed! I have some point of reference!

The best series of contemporary (as in Ensemble-based) Introits to my knowledge are the three or four editions at GIA by Ken Macek and Paul Tate. I have only one of those volumes, the Advent/Christmas, but they are sequential, persuasive and have aesthetic merit. What I mean about sequential is that as the antiphons are repeated, Macek/Tate alters the textures in interesting, compelling ways for both vocalists and instrumentalists. I find that very attractive, much the same way as when we first encountered Taize arrangements.
YMMV.

My pastor is very involved in Life Teen. He is often one of the speakers at many of the Life Teen events nationwide so I have a bit of experience with this. This is how a Mass works: Don't go all contemporary. Incorporate some of your traditional hymns as well; even chant is fine (not too much chant though). WorshipTogether.com is where you go to find the contemporary music. The spirit and song website is also an option. Usually when I incorporate a contemporary song it is as a communion meditation or an adoration piece after communion. Find a song with a refrain that can be easily learned by all, because that's what they'll be singing. See " Lord, I need You" (mentioned below). Be sure to have a cantor that has that contemporay sound to their voice. Our Life Teen director is a young guy and has a wonderful voice for this style. I also happen to have the right style of voice for this music, so I'll lead sometimes too. Some of my other cantors have great voices, but it just doesn't fit with this style of music.

Some good contemporary pieces that your teens will know are music by Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher or Hillsong for example. You can even take a traditional piece and make it contemporary sounding. "All Creatures of our God and King" done by David Crowder is a very good opening and has been done at Life Teen Events. I am also partial to Fernando Ortega. He will sometimes take a traditional hymn and add a bit of twist to it. A new one that was done recently at a Lifeteen event that my teens like is "Lord, I Need You" by Chris Tomlin. Matt Maher also has some new Mass parts, which you can find on the Worship Together website that were also used at this event.

I know, I know this is all the music that people may be flinching at, but if you truly want to follow the wishes of your pastor this is what a Life Teen Mass incorporates. But as I said just don't go overboard with the contemporary. You need to find a nice balance between the different styles of music, which I know can be hard especially when it's not what you're used to.

I find the main problem with much contemporary music (ie P&W) is that it is entirely unsuitable for liturgical seasons of Lent and Advent. There was a huge todo at my parish last year on Palm Sunday when the priest had to explain that because Palm Sunday marks the start of holy week they could not have a huge jubilant recessional.

I used to have the same problem when in another parish I assisted as a member of the youth group to co-ordinate the 3rd Sunday of the Month Youth Mass. There were certain things that were just wrong, and they didn't understand liturgical seasons and didn't want to hear a thing about it.

Strange as it might sound, I have had success with college age and high school groups when I schedule Psallite and BFW antiphons, led by college age and high school male cantors and psalmists, all a-cappella, no amplification, in a chapel setting with good acoustics and less than intense lighting. Male peer leadership inspires male and female participation. A snug space with people close together is far better than a grand space with people spread all over. The call and response style of Psallite and BFW seems to expect participation; and no one can hide behind instrumental accompaniment, especially of a performance-model kind. Candlelight and fewer lumens create an intimacy on which young people seem to thrive. And who doesn't sing in the shower (when all the surfaces seem to support your voice)!

I really appreciate all the help. You have all given me a sense of direction on how to go about this. Thanks for the redirection to music and suggestions. All very appreciated!

Earl, was that a rhetorical question? ;-)

It's been my experience that everyone else is a music expert and the professional musician with a master's degree is always "out of touch". Especially when he is in line with the teaching of the Church.

no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Not everyone like what Jesus had to say either.