DrJS

Attendance to Choir ratio
My choir, to my delight, is very dedicated and they sing well. They're also few in number, and I'm wondering if that's normal in a Catholic parish.

Comment by DrJS September 1 permalink
Petrine Hymn?
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going with "Give Glory to Saint Peter" from the Saint Andrew hymnal. We'll sing it to "Aurelia." The Saint Andrew hymnal gives a nice tune by S. Wesley, and maybe we'll try to learn…

Comment by DrJS August 19 permalink
Petrine Hymn?
Thank you for the list. I checked four Catholic hymnals and found nothing on the Petrine office (not ecumenical enough?).

Comment by DrJS August 17 permalink
WWYD? To give feedback to the pastor or not to? Terrible “substitute” accompanist
In general, as a music director, it is very hard to find good subs in any situation. It's even harder in a Catholic church because the liturgy is complex and sometimes the church won't pay enough for a qualified musician. The mistakes you…

Comment by DrJS August 3 permalink
which version of the psalms?
If your goal is to get as many parishioners singing consider using the same resource provided to parishioners. I have switched to the version on the USCCB website. I'm new at this parish, and at my last one they used the version in Worship 4, …

Comment by DrJS July 25 permalink
A Mighty Fortress/ EIN’ FESTE BURG
I think it would be, objectively speaking, okay to sing that hymn. Luther wrote the hymn to be the hymn of the day for Lent 1, the gospel for which is Jesus' temptation. He intended it as a hymn of comfort, and not a bombastic anti-Catholic ant…

Comment by DrJS July 23 permalink
Heat and humidity and organs - need advice
You often have to forego the reeds under those conditions, because the reed and flue pipes will be out of tune with each other. Sometimes, one division will also go out from the rest if it sits closer to an exterior wall that gets direct sunlight.

Comment by DrJS July 17 permalink
Are you still in the AGO?
It's worth it if you have a good local chapter and/or if you would like to view the job postings.

Comment by DrJS July 17 permalink
which version of the psalms?
Are the NAB psalms, Grail Psalms, Revised Grail Psalms, and Abbey Psalms all approved for use at Mass?

Comment by DrJS July 12 permalink
which version of the psalms?
NAB psalms, thank you.

Comment by DrJS July 12 permalink
I gave up and became a truck driver.
Thank you for the update. I'd seen your previous posts and I'm glad to see that you're living a better life. May God bless you and your growing family. I feel your pain. Like you, I have a DMA. I desire to provide beautiful music for…

Comment by DrJS June 15 permalink
When does priest/director interaction become micromanagement?
The "one Mass per weekend per singer" rule sounds like mismanagement to me. I wonder if the current director could gently suggest to the priest that having the children's choir sing at the main Mass every week, while a worthy goal, ta…

Comment by DrJS March 2 permalink
Whose Mass is it anyway? Some critical observations on the Novus Ordo liturgy
I think there's a psychological or sociological effect from the priest standing front and center (on a raised platform) with a microphone while facing the people. In any other context, I think we would interpret this as a passive presentation,…

Comment by DrJS January 3 permalink
Walking the Baby and the Diddly Music
Thanks for the short Alleluia. With this and the other serious suggestions on this thread, I at least have a toolbox of better ideas to gently suggest.

Comment by DrJS December 2025 permalink
Walking the Baby and the Diddly Music
I will try to have a reasonable conversation with him about this. He's an emotionally immature person, so I have to be careful how I express disagreement. He's not from another Rite, this is just something he made up.

Comment by DrJS December 2025 permalink
Walking the Baby and the Diddly Music
I am relieved that this is not a standard part of Catholic culture, and that your reactions match mine. Our electric organ has a theatre organ suite that seems appropriate to this sort of moment...

Comment by DrJS December 2025 permalink
Legal Letters from the USCCB
I like the idea of a large-scale petition or perhaps a curated collection of letters explaining the reality of church music in the 21st century and the need for better compositions and the freedom to make them. In the 20th century, published music …

Comment by DrJS November 2025 permalink
printer or musician?
@GerardH, I'm glad your employer understands the difference and the need for separate compensation. Balancing helpfulness with professionalism is always difficult, especially when working in a church setting.

Comment by DrJS September 2025 permalink
printer or musician?
@Gamba. I worked with Sally the secretary at a previous job. I spent a lot of time helping her use her computer so that she could "help" me put the service booklets together. Funny story: she once heard me use the word "pagination&quo…

Comment by DrJS September 2025 permalink
New USCCB Guidelines on "Publishing" Ritual Texts (incl. Psalm settings)
On page 15, #54 it says that the Secretariat does not review one-time worship aids, and that the ICEL will not require royalties on one-time aids printed for a particular congregation or institution so long as they are not sold.

Comment by DrJS August 2025 permalink
The Church's ONE Foundation
Where I grew up, it was sung, intended, and expounded in sermons about how it is specifically a rebuttal against petrine, papal, and traditional authority. That's exactly my dilemma as well. I'm from the same synod, so maybe we should st…

Comment by DrJS July 2025 permalink
The Church's ONE Foundation
That makes sense, and I do intend to continue using the hymn. I'm a convert from Lutheranism, so I'm still working through my personal theological baggage.

Comment by DrJS July 2025 permalink
Hymn Translation - "Come after me! the Savior says," / "Mir nach! spricht Christus unser Held"
I grew up singing this in the Lutheran church. Angelus Silesius is the author's confirmation name from his entry to the Catholic Church. You can find the public domain version from Lutheran Service Book on the hymnary website if you want to co…

Comment by DrJS July 2025 permalink
New arrivals
Our small town parish welcomed 13 into the church (10 baptisms), including myself.

Comment by DrJS April 2025 permalink

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About

Username: DrJS
Joined: February 2025
Visits: 181
Last Active: September 16
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