What Kind of Music Do You Prefer at Mass?

[marymagdalen]

Just curious, particularly for those of you who've been in the Church for a long time, what you think of the various styles of music at Mass. At our local parish we have organ music, piano music, or a praise and worship band.

What kind of music do you prefer when you go to Mass?

Cheers,

Serena ;D

[evanescence]

Ohh how I wish they could have evanescence music ;D

lol well Guitar and piano as well as singing is good

don't know, but the music at my church isn't very good....

Evanescence

[marymagdalen]

Just what is Evanescence music? Sounds new age-y, like Enya!


Serena C.

[heretic]

Evanescence said:

...as well as singing is good

hehe - reminds me of the church I used to go to - nobody ever used to sing!

We're a bit more rowdy in the Anglican church where I worship now We use a mix of organ and music group - all kinds of instruments.

We'd be well suited to evanescence music!!

[furlan1985]

I play brass occasionally with a few others for mass. We're not the best but it's a sure improvement to the old lady wailing along with the old piano...
I also like Gregorian Chant music during mass.

Furlan

[hippo393]

Evanescence, I have sung the male vocals many times in karaoke to Evanescence's song "Bring me to Life". Perhaps that'd be a nice exit song for Mass, lol.

I used to oppose the contemporary movement in the church hymns, but not any more. The words in each hymn touch me deeply, and now I have a difficult time making it through without choking up often...no matter what the style of music playing is going on. As a regular singer anyway, I'm very humbled when trying to sing songs like "Prayer of St. Francis", or "Blessed are They", or "Be Not Afraid". I can't make it through! Is that wierd? One Mass all three of those songs were sung, and I was a big blob of a weeping mess, LOL. Anyway, the point is that it matters less to me the style of melody, for that's quite secondary compared to the meat & potatoes of the lyrics.

[heretic]

I used to be in our church choir and I loved singing the Latin - both the Mass parts (because back then we weren't allowed to have a full Latin Mass without permission) and also the 'pieces' - my faves are Panis Angelicus and Ave Verum.

Overall, I think a mixture of different musical styles was best - maybe a 'traditional' hymn at the start, a contemporary one at the end and a Latin piece by the choir during Communion time (as most of the congregation don't tend to be singing then)

[dtbrown]

Just got to say...

The music I'm used to is totally different. To see and listen to an example:

www.byzantines.net/realaudio/liturgyvideo.ram

(You have to have Real Player to see this.) We're Byzantine Catholic and our Liturgy (Mass) is done a bit differently. You've got to like incense, however.

I'm not against hymn singing. We now attend a Roman parish here where we live since there aren't any Byzantine Catholic parishes in our area. As an ex-JW, I find it ironic that Roman Catholics sing to Yahweh while JWs avoid that name. (As in "You are Near" or "Sing a New Song.")

Dave

[saintless]

Today I went to a new parish. They barely sang at all, and chanted most of the parts I've gotten used to singing. It was strange. I'm dissatisfied with some aspects of my parish, but I do really appreciate the music. It's beautiful and easy to sing with. A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Chapel, and they have a choir school and everything there. But, I didn't find the music very inspiring. It also wasn't easy to sing with. Next week I'm going to a Maronite parish, and I'm not sure what to expect there, except that I won't understand anything.

- Misty

[evanescence]

Just what is Evanescence music? Sounds new age-y, like Enya!

Never heard of Enya... Yes evanescence is a modern Band, they are a rock band, more Gothic rock.

Evanescence, I have sung the male vocals many times in karaoke to Evanescence's song "Bring me to Life". Perhaps that'd be a nice exit song for Mass, lol.

I love Bring me to life and I think the guy in it sounds great! I sang "Breathe No More" several times *don't think it would qualify as church music *
Oh that would be soooo cool having Evanescence songs at mass! I will be there front row center

Found a Jehovah's Witness song d21c.com/ljesun/song113.html

hehehe

Evanescence

[mamamull]

I have to say the contemporary music brought me to the Catholic. When I heard the contemporary hymns that took Holy Scripture and breathed life, light and love into it, I was hooked.

I kind of like to compare what the CAtholic music did for me to trying to learn to read Shakespeare and then hearing it spoken by a great actor. That is just how it seemed to me.

I love the old Latin hymns, but our parish is not exactly over veing in an area with a less than faithful Bishop. He is one of those who promote the "Barney Catechism"

Frankly good music is essential to me -- although these days, I don't sing around Communion time unless I am part of the music providers that day.

I don't sing at my parish right now -- I am a Mom with young kids. However, I sing that school mass. I usually don't recieve Communion then since I can't really pray and be a humble servant because of my focus on providing my best skills for the Lord and the kids.

My two cents worrth.
Grace Happens,
Mamamull

[marymagdalen]

mamamull said:

I love the old Latin hymns, but our parish is not exactly over veing in an area with a less than faithful Bishop. He is one of those who promote the "Barney Catechism"

My two cents worrth.
Grace Happens,
Mamamull

What is the Barney Catechism?

[credo]

Evanescence,

Enya is an Irish singer. Her brothers and sisters are singers/musicians who form 'Clannad'.

Getting back to the discussion, I love Gregorian Chant. There is nothing on earth that can compare to being at a Tridentine High Mass in all its glory, splendour and reverence and hearing chant too.

[deni]

Interesting subject. It appears that in many parishes there has been a loss of the sense of sacred in all aspects, music included.

CHIROGRAPH OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II FOR THE CENTENARY OF THE MOTU PROPRIO"TRA LE SOLLECITUDINI'ON SACRED MUSIC

3. On various occasions I too have recalled the precious role and great importance of music and song for a more active and intense participation in liturgical celebrations[9]. I have also stressed the need to "purify worship from ugliness of style, from distasteful forms of expression, from uninspired musical texts which are not worthy of the great act that is being celebrated"[10], to guarantee dignity and excellence to liturgical compositions.

n our day too, careful thought, as I emphasized in the Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, should be given to the fact that not all the expressions of figurative art or of music are able "to express adequately the mystery grasped in the fullness of the Church's faith"[14]. Consequently, not all forms of music can be considered suitable for liturgical celebrations.

7. Among the musical expressions that correspond best with the qualities demanded by the notion of sacred music, especially liturgical music, Gregorian chant has a special place. The Second Vatican Council recognized that "being specially suited to the Roman Liturgy"[17] it should be given, other things being equal, pride of place in liturgical services sung in Latin[18].
. St Pius X pointed out that the Church had "inherited it from the Fathers of the Church", that she has "jealously guarded [it] for centuries in her liturgical codices" and still "proposes it to the faithful" as her own, considering it "the supreme model of sacred music"[19]. Thus, Gregorian chant continues also today to be an element of unity in the Roman Liturgy.


www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/2003/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20031203_musica-sacra_en.html

God bless

[Meagan]

Ok now that I've been to a fairly traditional type service and a contemporary, I really like the contemporary. The traditional type music however brings a certain feel of sacredness to the service.
I'm sorta weird though, I went out of my way a few months back to purchase a Gregorian chant type recording from Amatea's here in MI (a Catholic supply shop). And we listen to that in the car.

So contemporary is really cool, but trad has it's own beauty.