I hate to think of myself as a mercenary, but I pretty much do as Charles suggests. I often cantor at funerals at one parish that does sacropop songs in place of the Psalms and uses a Song of Farewell set to the tune of "Danny Boy". I'm so ashamed...

Yeah, it's a matter of accepting what is part of my job description and what is not.

Tempting thought. LOL. Generally, I charge the same. That doesn't mean you have to.

Whenever I have occasion to play at someone else's church I ascertain what hymnal is used there, what the hymns are, and what other music will be used. If it isn't music that I can conscientiously perform with a straight face (and the fee is not reasonably close to my standard stipend), I do not go there. Most people just know what I will and won't do. This doesn't mean that I don't or never have performed music that I didn't like (I have, many times), but each of us needs to have a threshold of musical and artistic integrity. Too, there really is a difference between what one doesn't like, and what is reprehensible, i.e., I don't especially like Vivaldi, but I would enjoy performing him just the same - something that is truly reprehensible, though, one should not think of doing. Doing reprehensible music is musical prostitution. So is consenting to perform texts that are liturgically illicit.

Participating in bad music and texts that are forbidden is being an accomplice to the bad liturgical praxis that we all know needs to be a thing of the past, it is to perpetuate illicit liturgical praxis for a fee.

Let every aspect of your musical ministry be marked and famed for your finest performance regimen, the integrity of the music you perform and the professionalism and artistry with which you perform it. Don't agree to participate in something that is compromising of your professional and artistic integrity. The Word is Integrity! The Other Word is Honour!

That is why it is important to ascertain the musical selections before agreeing to offer one's services, and if what has been ascertained is not anywhere near decent, one does not commit. So, there is no 'walking out' to be done: it doesn't get that far.

Canadash,

What the specific psalm they are wanting for the funeral?

My parish was much like what you were describing in your first post. When I arrived, my hands were tied as music director. I had a pastor who was stuck in his old school ways, wanted no musical changes, even though it was all wrong liturgically. They always used paraphrased haas and haugen psalms constantly even for weekend liturgies!! They also would use this is the day paraphrased psalm in place of give thanks to The Lord for he is good on the second Sunday. They were doing what was convenient for them and not being liturgical! It was driving me crazy. Anytime id make a change it would be a process of choir members complaining and then the pastor calling and saying "why are you changing this/that?"

With the arrival of the new pastor, I finally got what I needed for making all these changes! His first comment to me was "I fully 100% support your music selections for all liturgies taking place. Secondly, we pay YOU and only YOU to be music director!!" It has been a lively place and I've enjoyed my last two and a half years there!!

The fact remains that you are a hired employee of another parish and, if you'd like another gig there, I suggest you keep quiet, take the money, and run.

And musicman, praise God for your new pastor. It's extremely difficult to work in an environment where everybody in the parish feels they have carte blanche to put in their two cents. If your name is on the check, then YOU and only YOU make the selection decisions for the masses. If the priest has a problem with it, let HIM come to you and talk it over.

Thank You musicteacher56, with my pastor's support I have the old pipe organ in the loft being used after 15 years of silence. I have been able to get the choir back into the loft singing and using the pipe organ in the loft on a weekly basis now! This is all in part of the new pastor coming along and supporting me! :-) The old pastor had the idea "the choir loft is far away and their not part of the congregation if their all the way in the loft and the choir loft is odd, archaic and people can fool around up there mentality!"

I don't play guitar. Would HH Francis settle for a badly played ukulele? I also play a wicked kazoo. ;-)

Great job, musicman923. I remember when you were trying to get the pipe organ back into service.

"Settle" can mean many things depending on the context. It can mean to resolve a question or dispute, reach an agreement, adopt a more steady style of life, or move west and relocate among the heathen tribes in a pagan land.

One of my most embarrassing memories, pre liturgical-music-awakening, is of singing Shepherd Me as the responsorial psalm at Mass, self-accompanied on the piano.

It's a lovely song, though, so if you do sing it, enjoy.

Wonder if an old solution would work with the Pope? I was attending a high-level, but boring meeting at a university. I looked at several people at my table, and said, "are you as miserable as I am?" They agreed that they were and wished they had stayed home. Over the span of a few minutes, each of us excused ourselves and met outside the dining room. We walked into the kitchen and asked, "Is there a back way out of here?" A kindly cook helped us find a back door and we all left. I have often felt obligated to show up at functions, but I have never felt obligated to stay.

As if.
Then don't wear that scarf next time you're in Piazza Petra.
I'm not an organist nor decent keyboardist, but I wouldn't have the stones (pardon pun) to say "No, thanks." to the HF. I'd do m' best.
Mat-tieux, you're a holier man about town than I, but you knew that already.

O ye of little faith.;-)

Never say never. As a humble classical guitar player, I enjoy playing and singing “Stille Nacht” at midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

For that song, on that occasion, I would prefer a guitar be played.

I always ask my dinner party guests before they come whether they have any allergies or extreme dislikes. I usually get quite a few interesting answers, and always accommodate any of their allergies or dislikes 100%. Except once..

At my last dinner party thrown for CMAA members, one had the boldness to tell me he "dabbled in gluten free." Not that he eats a gluten free diet. Not that he is beginning gluten free. But that he DABBLES in it.

I filled that meal with so much gluten.