Music at Masses

Mrs OBumble

Ok, so I'm a visitor to Ireland, possibly for a few months.

What I want to know is, is there ever music at Masses here? Not special ones (schools and the like), but ordinary Sunday Mass at a regular parish.

Ideally, I'd like to find a parish where the people, not just the choir, actually sing - probably accompanied by instruments other than the organ, which I find nigh-on impossible to sing to! (Guitar, piano, flute, violin etc). I'm in Cork at the moment, but may move to somewhere else later on.

Also, if I'm visiting a town, and see that the Masses there are at, say 8am, 10am and 12noon, which one is most likely to have music at it? At home I'd expect the 10am to be the main one, and the other two to be quite small and quiet. But I'm wondering if it's different here (like no one gets up until 11am, so the 12-noon will be the main one)?

Thoughts?

cailinoBAC

I would say 12 would be the big one. Whereabouts in Ireland are you? A lot of churches are probably without music during the summer (everything stops for the summer, you know?) but the music might start up again with the academic year about to start.

Talliesin

Definitely. If I'm at a Christian ceremony as a guest (Christmas, wedding etc.) it's about the only thing I really notice (music is music).

If you say where in Ireland you'll be and what denomination you are of/which denominations you are happy to worship with, then there's a good chance someone would be able to help you out.

Mrs OBumble

cailinoBAC wrote:

I would say 12 would be the big one. Whereabouts in Ireland are you? A lot of churches are probably without music during the summer (everything stops for the summer, you know?) but the music might start up again with the academic year about to start.

Cork this week. Meath next week. Maybe Galway after that. Maybe somewhere else

But sooner or later, I need to either to home or get a job, and one of the factors will be whether I can find a nice parish somewhere: everywhere so far has been so austere! Any suggestions for good parishes in Cork or Galway cities?

I can understand things toning down a bit for the summer, but stopping completely seems a bit OTT, given that the vast majority of people aren't students. (Anyways, the rain certainly hasn't stopped).

smdweb

I am in a choir in Waterford , and we play at the 6:15 mass on Saturday evenings.

It really adds to the mass !

We do stop for the summer, in June and then restart in September.

cailinoBAC

Well I think often choirs are held together by a few key people and with most people going on holidays during the summer and at different times, it's easier to take a break. It's amazing the number of things that run by the academic year even though there is no obvious association.

Music really does make a difference though. I went to services 2 hours long in Orthodox churches and you wouldn't even notice the time because the music was so beautiful.

I'm in Dublin so unfortunately I can't comment on the other areas.

Michael G

cailinoBAC wrote:

I went to services 2 hours long in Orthodox churches and you wouldn't even notice the time because the music was so beautiful.

Lucky you. The music is usually appalling (and because I travel around a bit I go to Masses in Wexford, Cork, Dublin and Drogheda). Usually dreadful "folk" hymns that were cutting-edge in the 1970s, or inept playing and singing, or musicians so pleased with themselves that they are putting on a performance for the audience. Apart from the Latin Novus Ordo Mass in the Pro-Cathedral on Sundays, or Tridentine Masses, I prefer Masses without music. They are less painful.

PDN

Michael G wrote:

Lucky you. The music is usually appalling (and because I travel around a bit I go to Masses in Wexford, Cork, Dublin and Drogheda). Usually dreadful "folk" hymns that were cutting-edge in the 1970s, or inept playing and singing, or musicians so pleased with themselves that they are putting on a performance for the audience. Apart from the Latin Novus Ordo Mass in the Pro-Cathedral on Sundays, or Tridentine Masses, I prefer Masses without music. They are less painful.

As a very rare visitor to masses (funerals about twice a year) I've noticed a lot of the 70s folk stuff. It reminds me of the music on the 11890 radio adverts. Is this common in masses, or am I just appallingly unlucky to be subjected to these nauseating dirges every time I darken the door of a Catholic Church?

JimiTime

I've been to various denominations masses and experienced the music. I have found it very sombre. I think the singing should be joyous and from the heart. I think the baptists are closer, and I'm sure God thinks so too. Instead of mumblings and organs, a true joyous spirit, praising Jesus and our Father, our salvation through the son. Its supposed to lift our hearts, invoke our emotions so that we sing the abundance of our hearts! IMO.

Michael G

JimiTime wrote:

I've been to various denominations masses and experienced the music. I have found it very sombre. I think the singing should be joyous and from the heart.

Sometimes it should be joyous, on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day for example. At other times it should be confident, reflective or solemn. During Holy Week it tries to express things that cannot be rendered except in the most sublime music. It depends on the time in the Church's year. It should of course always be from the heart – or the soul – which is not easy with the 1970s stuff written by some tone-deaf nun in an anorak.

JimiTime

Michael G wrote:

Sometimes it should be joyous, on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day for example. At other times it should be confident, reflective or solemn. During Holy Week it tries to express things that cannot be rendered except in the most sublime music. It depends on the time in the Church's year. It should of course always be from the heart – or the soul – which is not easy with the 1970s stuff written by some tone-deaf nun in an anorak.

I suppose different people have different tastes in music. Once its honest and from the heart.

po0k

Death Gospel anyone?

Acid-House Hymns?

St. Paul's Letters to the Skatalites II

Mrs OBumble

Well, it seems no one has an suggestions for me ...

In response to the question about 70's folk: I've been appalled to discover howl little the modern christian folk works are used here in Ireland - but yes, they are out there!

Red Alert

I think a lot of parishes (such as Dundrum) which used to be great for congregational singing aren't so anymore - a lot of it is down to inappropriate use of cantors and a questionable choice of hymns. Some hymns and songs are easier for the congregation to sing, many aren't.

Flukey

The Sunday evening mass in Dublin's Gardiner Street has a very good Gospel Choir. Generally speaking, choirs die because no one gets involved. If you can sing, even if not so well, or can play an instrument, and you go to a mass where there is a regular musical presence, then offer your services.