Church Music

[hedgehog]

What makes for good Church music? I have songs I really hate and I'm sure everyone here does. Someone mentioned the music director who put new words to the love song to Titanic and sang that at Mass. I thought about it, and I have to admit I kind of like the song. (I haven't tried it personally to see if it's actually singable.)

Do we pick songs because people like them or because music snobs like them? I know of a Protestant denomination that went through and purged the standard hymnal of all the old sentimental and liturgically out of date hymns. The local congregation dutifully bought copies of the new official hymnal and does use it. A second hymnal featuring the old favorites was also printed up.

Are we afraid of emotional songs at Mass? I would like to see some emotion as long as it's something beyond a kind of sappy sentimentality or self satisfied piety

[CBHagman]

1. I don't think we shun emotion.

It's not at all unusual for me to fail to finish a hymn because I am crying over a passage in it. That's happened with "Canticle of the Turning," among others.

At our church we sing a mixture of Glory and Praise, the traditional Worship hymnal (lots of French, German, Dutch, Welsh, and English melodies), and the Schola does classical works from a variety of composers. I look forward to the music on Sunday.

Some years back I belonged to a parish where the musicians, whatever their intentions might have been, managed to turn nearly every hymn into a dirge. It was as though they'd slapped any joy down.

[AngryOldDem]

2. Hymns into dirges

<<Some years back I belonged to a parish where the musicians, whatever their intentions might have been, managed to turn nearly every hymn into a dirge. It was as though they'd slapped any joy down.<<

I can really relate to this one. And it saddens me. A lot of these hymns are so full of hope and so joyful that when they are played at funeral speed, all their intent and uplift is lost.

"City of God" was the recessional last weekend at Mass. "Let us build a city of God, may our tears be turned into dancing..." It was played so slowly that we all just might as well have walked out hanging our heads and gnashing our teeth.

I've noticed that this particular music director favors the old, old hymns (think 17th century). That's fine, but there is a lot of good, relatively recent liturgical music out there -- I just wish she would get it right. I've also noticed that her choice of music often precludes the congregation from singing -- either the tune is too hard for most people to follow, or she doesn't have the lyrics available...this has happened too many times to be considered coincidence. That bothers me as well.

By the way...I cannot -- and I mean CAN NOT -- get through "On Eagle's Wings" without choking up. I love the song, but it gets me every time. "Lord of the Dance" is another one, and I can't for sure say why. (Song is set to the tune of "Simple Gifts" -- maybe that's it.)

[CBHagman]

3. LOL, AOD!

"It was played so slowly that we all just might as well have walked out hanging our heads and gnashing our teeth." :rofl:

We should probably have a thread devoted simply to musical jaw-droppers from the liturgy. (I'm still laughing over the teeth-gnashing comment.) You get a bunch of Catholics or Episcopalians together (and, for all I know, other denominations)and there will be complaints galore, plus a lot of funny stories.

After Thanksgiving dinner the other week, talk turned to music, and my hostess related the story of an organist becoming sick just before the vigil liturgy, which the bishop was to celebrate. A substitute organist was found and given the music, except for a processional. "Just play something seasonal," they suggested. Well, I can only imagine the look on the bishop's face when the organist began playing "Winter Wonderland" and then segued into "Silver Bells." :rofl:

[AngryOldDem]

4. LOL!!!

<<<Well, I can only imagine the look on the bishop's face when the organist began playing "Winter Wonderland" and then segued into "Silver Bells.">>>

:applause: :rofl:

That's the funniest thing I've read/heard in awhile. Wish I had been there!

Don't think I can top that one.

[CBHagman]

5. Well, we sang my favorite for Advent tonight at Mass.

Since first hearing "People, Look East" sung a few years ago in D.C. -- I forget whether it was at Saint Patrick's or Trinity -- I have looked forward to this tune every Advent. The metaphors are beautiful, and there's a certain tenderness to it.

http://hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/people_look_east.htm

1. People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

[Matilda]

6. Those words are lovely.

I don't know the hymn at all, but it sounds nice.

We tend to have all the standards at our masses, especially Midnight - Hark the Herald Angels Sing,
O come All ye Faithful, etc. They're great, but there's a much wider range than our organist
seems to know, even some Australian carols (can you imagine a carol called "Out on the plains, the
brolgas are dancing"?) It's actually okay!

[CBHagman]

7. That's a new one for me, Matilda.

I must confess to having NO IDEA what brolgas are, though I have my suspicions as to why they might be dancing. :-)

"People, Look East" is sung to a French tune, Besancon, if I recall correctly. A fair number of pieces in the Worship hymnal (We use that, plus Glory and Praise) have melodies from the Irish and Welsh folk tunes, or perhaps from Dutch or German hymnals, plus a lot of settings from Holst, Vaughan Williams, and the usual suspects. I love this stuff.

Glory and Praise is fine with me, too, as the lyrics are more often than not right from the Scripture, and the melodies are pleasing.

[shrike]

8. My favorite is still "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

something about its minor key; I hear the pageantry and sadness of life in it. But I look forward to Advent each year, if only because I get to hear my favorite hymn.
I've even thought of asking that it be played at my funeral mass. (Which, considering the longevity in my family, is a long, LONG way off.) How weird is that?

[hedgehog]

9. What a wonderful idea!

That's always been one of my favorite hymns, and I think the sentiments entirely appropriate for the occasion. It might also save my survivors from hearing "When Irish eyes are smiling" which seems to have become the standard at Irish funerals these days.

[shrike]

10. Nice to know I'm not weird

Well, not completely.

Yeah, the song's melancholy fits in with the end of life. Can't imagine "Irish Eyes" at a funeral, but I'm not Irish.

[CBHagman]

11. There's also the longing for a savior.

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is about the yearning for the arrival of the Messiah, for freedom, for His grace. I can scarcely imagine anything more appropriate for a funeral!

I'd be interested in hearing more about what other people have heard at funerals and/or would prefer at their own.

Oh, and Christmas/Advent comments are also cheerfully solicited.

[shrike]

13. Yes, that is true.

Hence the melancholy key of the song: the universal human longing for deliverance.

[Matilda]

14. Just for fun ....

I found the words to "The Carol of the Birds":

Out on the plains the brolgas are dancing
Lifting their feet like warhorses prancing
Up to the sun the woodlarks go winging
Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.

Down where the tree ferns grow by the river
There where the waters sparkle and quiver
Deep in the gullies bell-birds are chiming
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.

Friar birds sip the nectar of flowers
Currawongs chant in wattle tree bowers
In the blue ranges lorikeets calling
Carols of bush birds rising and falling
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.

It's not brilliant, but I guess I like it simply because it paints pictures that couldn't be
anything other than Australian.

on edit: "Orana" is an aboriginal word meaning "welcome".


And I too love O Come O come Emmanuel; one of my favourites.

[CBHagman]

15. This may be my only new Christmas experience this year.

Thanks for printing that, Matilda. It's a whole new outlook on celebrating Christmas!

Our more traditional hymnal, Worship, contains at least one hymn written with Native American listeners in mind. I think it's called "In the Moon of Wintertime" and has text from the Jesuit missionary Jean de Brebeuf.

[shrike]

16. Not exactly sacred music ...

But I've always thought "The Last Farewell," by Roger Whittaker, would be great for a memorial service, though not for a church.

Personally, I'd like a lot of Bob Dylan at mine (though perhaps at the wake, not the mass.) "Tangled Up in Blue" and "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." (And maybe "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts" just to have some fun. Bet ya can't tell I'm a "Blood on the Tracks" fan.

In terms of hymns, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is another one for the mass. (I do a lot of inappropriate thinking, on subjects like funerals.) Even if it is Martin Luther-penned, I think it perfectly expresses the hope of Christians that the goodness of God will triumph over evil in the end.

[CBHagman]

17. True story.

The mass of Christian burial of my father, a devout Catholic, concluded with "A Mighty Fortress." I don't know whether it was his request, my stepmother's, or someone else's, but I liked it. Besides, his father was a Lutheran who later converted to Catholicism, so it covered all the bases. :-)

I remember when we just didn't sing "A Mighty Fortress" because it was associated with THAT MAN. :-) At least that's what they told me.

For a long time I wanted Robbie Robertson's "The Weight" played at my funeral. :-) Now I'm thinking more along the lines of Loreena McKennitt's "Dark Night of the Soul," or perhaps "Africa" by Billings, or "Canticle of the Turning" (tune: "Star of the County Down").

"Africa" (Billings)

Now shall my inwards joys arise,
And burst into a Song;
Almighty Love inspires my Heart,
And Pleasure tunes my Tongue.

God on his thirsty Sion-Hill
Some Mercy-Drops has thrown,
And solemn Oaths have bound his Love
To show'r Salvation down.

Why do we then indulge our Fears,
Suspicions and Complaints?
Is he a God, and shall his Grace
Grow weary of his saints?

Can a kind Woman e'er forget
The Infant of her Womb,
And 'mongst a thousand tender Thoughts
Her Suckling have no Room?

Yet, saith the Lord, should Nature change,
And Mothers Monsters prove,
Sion still dwells upon the Heart
Of everlasting Love.

Deep on the Palms of both my Hands
I have engrav'd her Name;
My Hands shal raise her ruin'd Walls,
And build her broken Frame.

[Matilda]

18. I used "A Mighty Fortress" as the Processional when I was married.

I wasn't sure if they'd allow it, but there was no problem. I have thought that perhaps it would
be fitting to use it as the Recessional when I leave my church for the last time.

[Matilda]

12. A brolga is a bird with very long legs and neck.

Think ostrich, but prettier. The ostrich is actually closer to the emu, our native bird, but the
brolga is prettier, soft white/grey feathers and a red head and they do dance! Not just when
they're mating, but anytime except when nesting. I'm pretty sure they can fly too, unlike the
ostrich or the emu.

We mostly use an inter-faith hymn book, One Voice, which I think fails to be very inspiring because
it's trying to be all things to all people. We also use a very slim book (which we just call the
purple book) produced for our parish, and it has all the great old Catholic hymns, but it isn't
used as often as One Voice, which is a great pity. Many years ago, we used to have an excellent
musical director and a good choir, but our last parish priest wasn't really into music, and the
choir dwindled to just one man (who does have a good voice, very well trained), but if he's away,
we have nobody to lead. Our new priest was hired to get the finances into order, and music's not
a priority with him either. Sad.

[TrogL]

19. Having some problems in my congregation right now

We've just got a new priest and he's not up to speed on our rather obscure musical traditions so he's got another member picking the hymns and she's going for the old sentimental and liturgically out of date hymns.

I'm giving it a few more weeks, then I'm putting my foot down. I'm not going into Lent playing crap.

[hedgehog]

20. Why is it that when a new pastor comes in, all too often he

treats the parish and the church as his personal doll house? Our new pastor didn't have time to hold a single pastoral council meeting from September through to January, but so far he's altered the opening processional, changed several wall hangings, installed a new podium, brought back the old confessionals, and changed the entire Lenten/Easter liturgy!

[CBHagman]

21. I've hit the wall.

Tonight I went to the 5:30 mass and again concluded that I need to make sure I hit an earlier mass, because the opening hymn ALL THROUGH LENT is bound to be "God of Abraham." At least it was last year and is shaping up to be this year. I would enjoy it if I just heard it once in a while, instead of for six weeks. :banghead:

And the same goes for "Come to the Water," which I recall singing A LOT up in Buffalo. Our extremely good vocal group at mass sang it tonight...and I felt as though fingernails were scratching a blackboard. I do not care to hear that song again.

Yes, I know it's based on Scripture, but so are a lot of other selections.

Oddly enough, I am not sick of "On Eagle's Wings" or "Glory and Praise to Our God" and a number of selections from the Glory and Praise hymnal.

Generally, though, the music is fine at church -- well, more than fine; I am impressed with the organist and with the Schola. But I fear I'll run screaming out the front door or at least plug my ears if they earnestly warble "God of Abraham" or "Come to the Water."

[hedgehog]

22. Think of it as your Lenten penance

[CBHagman]

23. Oh, joy.

:cry: I've got all kinds of FUN things going on these days. Now even church isn't safe...