Society of Saint Gregory

Has anyone got any tried and tested warm up exercises/songs/chants for use in parish music workshops that they could share?

I'm talking enthusiastic congregation singers rather than choirs/professional singers so nothing too taxing!

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Is it good for an animateur/cantor to announce hymns during Mass or not? I was wondering about this as some parishes clearly do and some definitely don't. What's the general consensus on this? Also, what about announcing sung parts of the Mass? Is it all down ...

I don't think I can rival Merseysider in terms of entertainment value but my 2p's worth is:

-One girl who I am ashamed to be related to hadwith a dress with a long train at the back (isn't it difficult enough keeping the dress clean?)

-The humiliation of sctreaming at them all to be quiet from ...

I always find the post Easter season run down to Summer very hard to be motivated about.

But it's the First Holy Communion season guys! How could you be bored? Time to ooh and ahh at those sweet and not so sweet kids in white dresses and bow ties (usually the girls wear the dresses and the boys ...

Maybe we should allow ourselves time to stop, draw breath and spend a few moments in prayerful contemplation before we begin. It might mean getting there a few minutes earlier than we already do, but I'm sure that if we made the effort, we could manage it.


I happened to arrive before the rest ...

Lots of interesting replies from everyone! Thanks.

I have noticed that I don't get nervous to the same extent playing in church as I do playing classically in e.g. a concert hall. I am not sure why. I can only think that it provides a clue to finding out what causes my nerves in the first place ...

I'm curious to know how other church musicians feel about 'performing' in church.

Which things terrify you the most? Have you found any magical cures for the dreaded nerves?

I find waiting in anticipation in an organ loft for cues or bells to ring quite disturbing, despite the fact that I ...

Anyone heard that delightful 'worship' song to the tune of 'La Bamba'?

No chance of congregations forgetting that tune.

A lot of it seems to depend on how outgoing and sociable people are and this seems to vary in different parts of the country. Anyone have any experience of this?

The church community often mirrors the regional community from which it is formed. There are differences between city, town, country ...

Weddings, let me see... 'surprise' bagpiper appearing at the back of the church and launching into Amazing Grace at top volume when you are poised ready to play the final Trumpet Voluntary.

I do recall a funeral which involved 'going out' to "Lord of the Dance". Bit too jaunty for my tastes ...

How to aim the Mass at everyone? I related to Tsume's comments that by looking and listening we get more out of the experience of Mass. I have found that the more I delve into the mystery of the liturgy the more stimulated I am by the experience. 'Going through the motions' without knowing what we ...

Your points about familiarity breeding contempt with prayers that we say regularly were interesting Tsume. It's something that bothers me a lot, being someone who finds themselves thinking a lot during the Mass (usually when I should be concentrating on the words of prayers!).

We had a youth ...

I agree with you, Organist, that we don't have enough silence in our lives. I was really glad to have the opportunity to watch in silence after Mass on Thursday - during what is a very busy liturgical season. It seems that we need to be told to be silent otherwise we just fill spaces with noises of ...

If anyone's interested, I have a no1 pet hate... and it's singing the Lord's Prayer.

Whenever I hear it in one of its horrid musical incarnations all I can think is 'make it stop'. It is a beautiful prayer so why make it into a yucky clichéd song?

To be liturgical about it, it is the one ...

The problems I see in connection with these sorts of issue are:

1. Reluctance to change, amongst clergy and parishioners. Although documents such as GIRM exist people don't have access to them or don't consult them and decisions are generally made based on "that's what we always do" or "that's ...