does your congregation SING?

martinedwards

I go to a church where the folks sing.

we have hymns led by the organ and a contemporary praise band which leads modern songs.

yesterday I was leading the service and we happened to have some visitors from Clonnard Monastary.

one of the guys said he was amazed at how well our people sing and that in HIS opinion Catholics wont.

I told him not to be so down on his denomination as there are loads of prod churches I've been to where the singing has been very lack lustre.

i suppose we live in a society where communal singing only happens at sports matches.........

I find that if there is an amplified lead vocalist, its easier to pick up a tune of a new song than if it's played on an organ.

any thoughts?

homer911

I agree with you over having one/two lead vocalists (with good voices!)

I go to a church with pretty good singing and love hearing hymns and songs sung with gusto, even if not in perfect harmony! (I'm probably talking about myself here!)

Singing should be a key part of every service and we are all called to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" Enthusiastic singing is joyful to God and uplifting for those who take part in it.

I wonder if churches with choirs suffer with lack lustre singing from the congregation?

neemish

Yes, our congregation sings.. and it is Catholic. We sing every day, and at most Masses at Sunday.

All you need is the hymn words and a bit of encouragement. IMO can take up to six months for it to take off, but usually successful

Snappy Smurf

Irish people are very self-conscious. That is one reason why they don't sing.

music producer

We sing both hymns and contemporary songs, about 7 songs per service.

Onesimus

We sing the whole way through the Liturgy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAF6Ajt1WkE

PDN

We sure do sing!

Seaneh

PDN wrote: »

We sure do sing!

Yeah you do!

music producer

Our congregation (Protestant) enjoys the songs of Paul Wilbur; they are not as keen on the hymns, but the great ones must not be lost, so we sing them, so they will not be forgotten, and because they provide a link to the past that is desperately needed in many protestant congregations.

Slav

martinedwards wrote: »

I go to a church where the folks sing.

we have hymns led by the organ and a contemporary praise band which leads modern songs.

yesterday I was leading the service and we happened to have some visitors from Clonnard Monastary.

one of the guys said he was amazed at how well our people sing and that in HIS opinion Catholics wont.

I told him not to be so down on his denomination as there are loads of prod churches I've been to where the singing has been very lack lustre.

i suppose we live in a society where communal singing only happens at sports matches.........

I find that if there is an amplified lead vocalist, its easier to pick up a tune of a new song than if it's played on an organ.

any thoughts?

When there is no dedicated choir the congregation sings its part instead (although historically it's the other way round: the choir sings for the congregation). A volunteer or two with good voice and good knowledge of liturgical music and the service usually take the lead role as it goes alone. When there is a choir the congregation usually sings only Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed and Our Father. No organ in Orthodox churches never mind a band, just human voices.

Personally I prefer a choir (provided the chorister has a good taste of course). Congregation singing is rather limiting.

Onesimus wrote: »

We sing the whole way through the Liturgy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAF6Ajt1WkE

In this video it's only the choir singing, not the congregation, isn't it?

totus tuus

Yes we do, especially the Sanctus, when we join myriads of angels present adoring Jesus immolated on the Altar! Love this version!

philologos

martinedwards wrote: »

I go to a church where the folks sing.

we have hymns led by the organ and a contemporary praise band which leads modern songs.

yesterday I was leading the service and we happened to have some visitors from Clonnard Monastary.

one of the guys said he was amazed at how well our people sing and that in HIS opinion Catholics wont.

I told him not to be so down on his denomination as there are loads of prod churches I've been to where the singing has been very lack lustre.

i suppose we live in a society where communal singing only happens at sports matches.........

I find that if there is an amplified lead vocalist, its easier to pick up a tune of a new song than if it's played on an organ.

any thoughts?

In all of the churches I've attended singing has had a role in the service both traditional and contemporary. Singing Biblical truths in particular can be very useful to help us think of the Gospel we proclaim and also to thank God for the best news the world has ever heard. Christ Jesus came to set sinners free by His death on the cross, and to bring eternal life through His resurrection.

Onesimus

Slav wrote: »

When there is no dedicated choir the congregation sings its part instead (although historically it's the other way round: the choir sings for the congregation). A volunteer or two with good voice and good knowledge of liturgical music and the service usually take the lead role as it goes alone. When there is a choir the congregation usually sings only Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed and Our Father. No organ in Orthodox churches never mind a band, just human voices.

Personally I prefer a choir (provided the chorister has a good taste of course). Congregation singing is rather limiting.



In this video it's only the choir singing, not the congregation, isn't it?

Yeah we have a choir in Dublin albeit a small one, but when there is none then we all sing. But choir or no choir I like to join in if it is in English ( which is almost never is grrr ) or I join in on the Ukrainian parts I do know because I can sing :pac:

skooterblue2

My congregations sings but they are all getting so old and they cant make it up to the Balcony. Arthritis is setting in. New blood is needed, but no doubt they can sing. We are also in need of a Folk group.

Onesimus

skooterblue2 wrote: »

My congregations sings but they are all getting so old and they cant make it up to the Balcony. Arthritis is setting in. New blood is needed, but no doubt they can sing. We are also in need of a Folk group.

What county is your parish located in?

martinedwards

Choirs?

I've seen choirs go both ways........

a good choir can be great to sing along with.

One Cathedral I know the congregation were told to shut up and let the choir do thier bits because they'd learned them.........

If you have a congregational culture where everyone sings out then it's a lot easier to keep it going, rather than start from a culture where no-one but the choir sing......

Slav

martinedwards wrote: »

a good choir can be great to sing along with.

True but some liturgical music is not suitable for congregational singing even if it all consists of trained singers. At least the parts need to be coordinated between the singers and you need to have the director in front of you; apart from that it's a hard work that needs concentration on music and this is where the idea of dedicated church choirs come from I think - to let the congregation concentrate on praying while the choir is concentrating more on singing.

neemish

ALL liturgical music should be sung! There is no point in having beautiful liturgical music all present cannot take a full and active part in the Liturgy. Of course, there may be times for Choir-led singing, such as at the Preparation of the Gifts, but in general all music should be fully accessible. To sing is to pray twice, as St. Augustine tells us

Slav

neemish wrote: »

ALL liturgical music should be sung! There is no point in having beautiful liturgical music all present cannot take a full and active part in the Liturgy.

Liturgical music is not really for singing but for prying. Also liturgical music does not have to be beautiful, the beauty is totally irrelevant. It has to be suitable for prying and it does not always equate with "suitable for singing by all congregation" as far as I can see. If it cannot be sung by all but at the same time is preyed by all then I see no problem here.

Of course, there may be times for Choir-led singing, such as at the Preparation of the Gifts

What's wrong with it being sung by all?

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Greaney

I go to a Reformed Presbyterian Church. The congregation sing. There is usually a 'presenter' (someone who leads because they're loud and know the most music).

They sing psalms exclusively and without music. The 'no music' thing means you just have to go for it:D I've found when I visited other churches for a 'do' and they didn't have their worship band sometimes they got awful shy.

Remember folks, we're told to make a joyful noise unto the creator.... not necceseraly a tuneful one.... so just go for it;)

music producer

Greaney wrote: »

Remember folks, we're told to make a joyful noise unto the creator.... not necceseraly a tuneful one.... so just go for it;)

Agreed! It does seem that the congregation should be participating, not observing. Active, not passive.