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User: crossman
Name: Father Christopher J. Rossman
A Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in KS currently assigned as the Associate Pastor of Prince of Peace parish in Olathe, KS.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Music in the Mass...who is it for?

This is one of my few ranting blogs. Recently, I've had some difficulty understanding the reasoning behind music for the Liturgy. It seems to me that more and more, the music played at the Mass isn't geared to helping the congregation worship as much as it is an opportunity for organists, cantors and others in music ministers to put on their own mini-concert. In my mind, music selections should encourage the congregation to sing, not force them to sit there and listen while the organist plays their new song of the week. Occasionaly introducing a new song is important to helping the congregation enter into new ways of worship. Introducing a new song or melody every week (or in my case almost every day) is stupid. If the people don't know the song and haven't been properly prepared, then it really does become a mini-concert for the organist to show off.

I am not simply rambling by myself here. The National Association of Pastoral Musicians recently did a survey. The asked musicians as well as the average parishioner what helps in singing as Mass. The results parallel my argument very closely. For example, musicians said that their 1st focus was leadership of the organist/cantor. That seems, to me, to be self-centered and focused on "its all about me" rather than the ability and need of the people, which was fifth on the musician's list I might add. The parishioners, on the other hand, stated that 1st was a familiar melody (7th in importance of the musicians), 2nd was that it was easy to sing (8th in importance of musicians) and 3rd that it was a traditional song (11th in importance of the musicians).

These results seem to overwhelmingly show that musicians are focused on self while the people are focused on the music itself. It's really no different here at the seminary. We've learned 12 new music tones in the last 4 weeks - and that is just for chanting morning prayer!!! At least 3 times a week, we have a song that I have NEVER heard of before. Granted, we should be exposed to more variety than the normal parish, but that many "learning opportunities" is completely insane. How can one use Liturgy music to become more deeply involved in the Mass when the music is unfamiliar daily and not about glory to God, rather glory to the musician.

Enough of me ranting, today. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 15:57 | link | comments (4) |
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Comments:
#1  16 March 2007 - 07:35
 
You must be reading our minds!
Thanks for speaking out.

Randy & Tina
Anonymous
#2  16 March 2007 - 20:41
 
I respectfully disagree with you on this one. The assumption that you make is that one worships best when doing something like singing, stemming from the confusion of what is meant by "active participation." Yes, the organist may be playing a piece most people have never heard before, but it ought to raise the listener's heart and mind to God. Just because the priest prays the Propers of the Mass which one hasn't heard recently doesn't mean that it's somehow less legitimately.

Whatever the NAPM survey says, the only thing it reflects is a general lack of understanding of what the purpose of music is during Mass. Yes, there may be some musicians who are trying to make it about themselves which I agree is improper, but that again merely reflects a failure in catechesis. And isn't it a little self-centered as well for parishoners to desire music that is familiar to them, since it becomes about what they know and are familiar with? Having been involved in music ministry for 10+ years, from my experience, it's precisely the argument that music must be "familiar" that has prevented any change at all.
Anonymous
#3  23 March 2007 - 02:37
 
This definitely seems to be one of those times where over-stimulation comes into play. I've experienced this myself. It's an odd feeling to have so many new songs and tunes thrown at you. Most of the time it seems to deter me from wanting to sing to the song(s).

Vicky
Anonymous
#4  23 March 2007 - 17:40
 
God bless on your article regarding music at Mass. I've been an organist for 40 some years and if you want to hear the congregation singing then you have to play for the people to sing and not give a concert. I have attended one Mass where a group of grade school children played bells in the back of Church during the Offertory. .. It was beautifully done but what came next was quite disturbing ..a standing ovation from the congregation. That turned the Mass into a concert.

Keep up the good work, We keep you in our prayers.

Carol Cushing (Matt's mom)
Anonymous
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