A funny thing happened at my AmChurch parish last Sunday.
  • Scott_WScott_W
    Posts: 468
    Background: Your average American parish. Post-60's modern architecture featuring an enormous bas-relief of ascending Lord (i.e. doing the "touchdown" pose), no less than twelve EMHC's, everyone pleasantly chatting in the nave before Mass, a big hand-holding love-in behind the altar at the Our Father followed by the Pew-lunge of Peace. And of course the usual musical selections of Haugen/Haas/Schutte, etc. ditties sung by about eighteen women beyond retirement age and two, maybe three men.

    On Corpus Christi Sunday however, the choir offered Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus. It was shaky, the ladies employed vibrato so thick it could slice hard cheese, and they choked on the in mortis at the end (in fairness, I've seen pro-quality choirs blow this), but it wasn't a train wreck and overall it was about as good as could be expected. After they are finished our young, very hip (but dedicated and lovable don't mistake me) priest and celebrant looked over at the choir in stunned silence. Then he said (and he's never done this before), "Wow. That was...beautiful." Thunderous applause from the congregation.

    Yes, yes. I, and imagine a number of CMAA regulars, have a beef with applause during Mass, but I think it is understandable like the gratitude of the thirsty man who has been wandering in the desert a long time and given water. The main point is that the congregation got a glimpse: that one second-rate execution of Ave Verum made the usual fare look like so many tchotchkes in a discount bin at Wal-Mart.
    Thanked by 13jpal WiesOrganista Kathy Daniel Bennett Page CHGiffen marajoy gregp MarkThompson Steve Q hcmusicguy Wendi JulieColl veromary
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    I don't think most of us who have a "beef with applause during Mass" would have minded the comment or the applause -- since it would have been even the smallest glimmer of recognition of how things ought to be, amongst the otherwise-cesspolic swill. Yes, Our Lord was truly there (assuming...) and yes, applause usually has no place at Mass, but ....... Do send our thanks to the choirmistress who attempted the piece --- and I say this as one who is not a fan of the music of Mozart.
  • Jani
    Posts: 441
    Yeah - the applause was probably appropriate. My big deal with applause is when the priest acts like an MC giving kudos to the entertainers at the end of the show - that's when its inappropriate and uncomfortable.
  • Steve QSteve Q
    Posts: 121
    Scott - thanks for the story. Makes me feel a little better about my own choir's "second-rate execution" of Ave Verum Corpus last Sunday.
  • cmb
    Posts: 86
    In this case, I think the applause can be forgiven. Perhaps the warm reception and encouragement from the priest will lead them to do more pieces like this and less stuff from the "discount bin."
  • donr
    Posts: 971
    However if every time they do a traditional piece they clap. It would not be appropriate.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    "beef with applause during Mass"

    I'd rather have beef with broccoli, Szechuan style, at lunch after Mass.
    Thanked by 4Gavin Wendi JulieColl Aristotle Esguerra
  • Scott_WScott_W
    Posts: 468
    However if every time they do a traditional piece they clap. It would not be appropriate.


    I have made the joke during the 2010 World Cup, that music directors would incorporate the vuvuzela in worship to go along with those infernal djembe, but then I thought maybe we could hand them out to the congregation and when the hymn is the usual fluff, protest with a long drone to drown it out.
    Thanked by 2JulieColl Gavin
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    "Infernal" is just the right word. Whenever my son watches soccer I want to throw something at the monitor.
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