Co-ordinating parish music

[Nick Baty]

Removed

[The original poster has removed his posts to this topic - Musicus, moderator]

[VML]

'They' is the alternative music leader, and most months since I have been taking family time once a month over the last three years we have had at least some co-ordination and continuity as far as Mass settings go, and I am a bit fussy about not using awful paraphrases. So my end note was a bit of a rant when I saw her planning list for next week.
I know lots of the standard Easter hymns need an organist, and I am the only one they've got. Actually her Y 10 daughter is getting quite useful and I'm encouraging her, and they came up trumps, (or oboe and vocal descant) at the Vigil, and sometimes we agree. Mum likes lots of Iona and social justice.
We do use Mass parts with very variable accompaniments: e.g.Coventry Holy with instruments or even a capella at last year's Maundy, etc.

Incidentally I am the original GWG: Granny With Guitar. : An organist at my first composers' group meeting happened to say how he hated grannies with guitars, -not having realised the guitar on the floor behind him was mine,and I wasn't quite a granny then. I have to say I agree about the guitars if they are consistently scrubbed dead string steel.

Ongoing formation of the whys and wherefores of Mass music is something I find hard to address with certain people, but I am working on it!

[johnquinn39]

Which – to my Virgoan mind – raises the issue of co-ordination.
Is it not someone possible for differing bands of musicians in our parishes to work together towards some common repertoire?

- This is certainly a good idea. Why is it not allowed to happen? - Is it true that young people only like CCM and Gregorian chant?

Why are the young forbidden from singing the Psalms and Acclamations?

I attended a diocesen music evening a while ago, and was informed by one of the tutors that young people do not like the pipe organ and choral music. Is this true?

[docmattc]

Is it not someone possible for differing bands of musicians in our parishes to work together towards some common repertoire? Or for someone in our parishes to co-ordinate music?

It would be nice. The gulf between our Sunday morning Mass and Saturday night one is growing. Saturday night has not had any new repertoire since the Mass of Creation- which they have sung every week for at least the last year. The music is not picked by the organist, and the (here nameless) person who does choose it clearly does not understand that music is integral to the rite.
I suggested that in Lent (when on a Sunday morning we sang the Missal tone acclamations), they might like to do the same. Suggestion was met with encouraging noises, and promptly ignored. Thus when we came to sing them last Thursday, half the congregation were unfamiliar. Possibly there was an argument for using a setting both Saturday night and Sunday morning knew, possibly this argument is the thin end of a wedge which ends in the Isreali Mass (or de Angelis?)

It frustrates me that I work hard to ensure we have suitable music that supports the rite, and this is appreciated, but noone else would be bothered to uphold this vision if I wasn't there. The four hymn sandwich mentality is lurking not far below the surface.

I attended a diocesen music evening a while ago, and was informed by one of the tutors that young people do not like the pipe organ and choral music. Is this true?

As with most "The young people don't like.." I very much doubt the've been consulted. I rather suspect they have as broad a spectrum of musical tastes as anyone else. Above all, they don't like music that seems to patronise them. Someone once tried to sell me the line that old people only like 'Soul of my Saviour', 'Sweet Sacrament Divine' etc. I think this is also untrue. In fact the old people in my parish feel a little short changed that I don't do more "Walk with me O my Lord" and "Our God reigns".

[oopsorganist]

Trying to co ordinate and plan music and Masses linked to our Confirmation programme last night and meeting with two problems, at least..
firstly the idea of children singing solos... recently brought up when our school arrived at the last minute to help us celebrate Passion Sunday ... I expressed disquiet over children singing solos for four hymn sandwiches. PP likes this and has suggested a Confirmee might like to do the same.... (yes and the same dratted song I fear, but everyone likes this song, and deer and pants seem to be where we are at)
Secondly, this is a bit strange and maybe my own fault........ we are sort of folding in on ourselves repertoire wise, and I could tell you the hymns chosen by a) the Confirmees and b) the PP and c) the music group and d) the parish.. without any effort because they will be
Walk with me, All that I am, One Bread One Body, Blessed are you Lord, As the deer pants, Amazing Grace, Do not be afraid, I the Lord of Sea and Sky, Freely Freely, and God's Spirit is in my heart. Have I forgotten any from this list? Maybe. Shiney Jesus and The Servant King. Bind us together. Come Lord Jesus Come. Be still for the presence of the Lord. We don't need a hymn book. Just a sheet with these hymns on. They will never tire of them. They will sing them. This is the ideal repertoire. These and a few traditional carols. And Lovely Mountains. And it is my fault. Because I have been shoving them in too frequently and the guitarists can do them, and I try to please everyone. I have rooted these hymns in this parish until the end of time. My fault.

Maybe this is good. It certainly got some money on that there plate on Passion Sunday. Nearly £800!

And, and, said shouting, if you please, ha! I was made to feel like a stick in the mud for bringing in any kind of guidelines whatesover..... "Who makes these rules?" was asked. Replying that it is Canon Law was probably not helpful in the circumstances, but really..............we had a longish debate over the current fad for dropping the last hymn.
It's not like they like singing anyway. Well, only the above.

Dear me, oh dear me. I need an ally. What is the point?

[Southern Comfort]

It seems to me that this is not so much about styles of music as about having someone who has a broad enough vision to be able to bring the whole parish together. What they need is a proportion of common repertoire - say the acclamations during the Eucharistic Prayer. It's got nothing to do with people's preference, rather with things that can (ideally) be done with different resources (e.g. works both with organ and with guitars - not so difficult these days) and so can unite the parish so that it can, when the need arises, come together and sing (and pray) with the same repertoire.

That's what the work of a parish music co-ordinator is, not trying to put out people's fires.

It may also be necessary to give that person some kind of clout so that they can work with (and if necessary veto) people from other constituencies (e.g. schools) who are in need of liturgical formation.

PS: Why on earth is Nick continually deleting his posts? Tell him to leave well alone!

[musicus]

SC, regarding your last point, please see my recent announcement, Editing posts (a revision), on the Liturgy Matters front page.

[docmattc]

It seems to me that this is not so much about styles of music as about having someone who has a broad enough vision to be able to bring the whole parish together. What they need is a proportion of common repertoire - say the acclamations during the Eucharistic Prayer. It's got nothing to do with people's preference, rather with things that can (ideally) be done with different resources (e.g. works both with organ and with guitars - not so difficult these days) and so can unite the parish so that it can, when the need arises, come together and sing (and pray) with the same repertoire.

At this year's Summer School, Mgr Tony Rogers will be giving a seminar about the liturgical diversity within his parish community where the different Sunday Masses seem to be celebrated using musical styles from from sung Latin to guitar and percussion. It will be interesting to hear if and how that parish tackles issue of common repertoire and how the big parish events are handled. (And please folks, let's wait to hear rather than prejudge on the forum)

Book within the next week or so to get your early booking discount. See the Summer School pages for details