[enchantmentadm]

Earlier today, I posted a music track on Your Favorite Music Tracks, which was an example of the use of Gregorian chant in popular music in the late 1960s, which was when the Church was throwing it out. The virtual elimination of Gregorian chant was in direct contradiction to the Vatican II document on the liturgy. Apparently, the world saw the value of chant even at a time when many in the Church saw it as outdated. Then I went to mass at a parish that is not my regular parish. The mass started out with a song (I am hesitant to call it a hymn), which is an obvious rip off of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." The song borders on plagiarism, except that you cannot plagiarize a 5/4 time signature. I found the use of drums in the song not to be conducive to creating a proper environment for prayer. Fortunately, when the mass began, the priest used Gregorian chant for the Gloria and many of the responses. This was certainly a positive. However, it was too soon back to the mediocre music and the irritating drums. The use of the drums in the Communion hymn was especially irritating, since it made it hard to focus on prayer. Ironically, the best contemporary music in the mass today was a hymn written and originally sung by a Protestant, "He Is Exalted" by Twila Paris. There are parishes that do the mass reverently and maybe the solution is just to avoid this mass at this particular parish in the future. Do any of you struggle with mediocre music and inappropriate instrumentation at mass and, if so, what is your solution?

[ezdays]

Our solution was to register at a different parish. The church for the parish we just moved into was less than five minutes away. It was in a temporary structure and folks treated it like a garden party. People moving about, some even pushing baby strollers and chatting like they were in the park. Over in one corner the band was practicing, complete with drums, guitars and brass. Distracting at best when we wanted to say the rosary and our novena, but even more distracting during mass when the hymns sounded like rock music. I haven't a clue what they were playing and it was so annoying that we went to the next parish over in Sun City and registered. A longer drive, but no band practice and hymns were accompanied by an organ and a cantor.

Music is not an issue in the parish I go to now, the 7:00 is the quiet mass, ever since Covid, there is no music, no singing except when one of the priests decides to chant a prayer.

[Elizabeth]

Luckily I live close to a church that has Latin singing during one Mass on a Sunday so I am spared from all the bad singing. I truly like gregorian chant so I am aware of how lucky I am.

Just today I was thinking about bad instruments and bad singing because I like to tune in to a daily online service from another country because I like the preaching and the rhythm. The format is one of praise and worship followed by preaching and prayers. The thing that irks me ( too many things irk me hahahah) is that the worship leader plays the keyboard during prayers and while some people like music when praying I don't. Also, he plays it too loudly that it becomes a source of distraction to me.

[English Rose]

I tend to go to a Mass with no music.

There's a church in Oxford called Corpus Christi which has a lovely music group. It complements the service, rather than jars against it. I go there sometimes if I want a change or am in the area on a Sunday.

[susanb]

the mass we sing at has plenty of Gregorian chant and hymns of
the 18th and 19th century......hope I can always get to a Mass like that

[Elizabeth]

I tend to go to a Mass with no music. 

There's a church in Oxford called Corpus Christi which has a lovely music group.  It complements the service, rather than jars against it.  I go there sometimes if I want a change or am in the area on a Sunday.

Awww, English Rose, you have brought back fond memories of Corpus Christi.

Although the Oratory was hands down my favourite place in Oxford followed by Black Friars, I used to go to Corpus Christi for daily Mass and I also took part in Easter plays for 2 years. The director of the plays was a brilliant and talented lady. I have very fond memories of those days as all of us were amateur actors from every colour and creed. Some people had never been to a church before but came to act. I remember one lady asking me what collection bags were and what we do with them. Thanks for the memories.