Music Ministry

[robguitar]

I have been approached in an indirect way about playing guitar for mass. We currently have a pianist and a cantor. Sometimes we have a choir but the mass I usually go to just has piano and vocals.

Does anyone have any experience in this?

Thanks

[Nicole8223]

I've played guitar for Mass many times. It's important to know the difference between performance and ministry. That's the best advice I could give...

[Noel's angel]

I play violin at Mass every week. What do you want to know??

If you are choosing hymns make sure that they relate to the Readings and keep it nice and simple-there should be no preformances at Mass-we are there to serve not to show our talents

[franciscanheart]

My dad sings with our guitar choir at church. Right now we only have one consistent guitar player but there was a time when we had at least four each time. It is a very interesting addition to the Mass but not all appreciate it.

[Noel's angel]

if you have any questions, just ask and I'll try to answer them

[Noel's angel]

we have two guitarists and sometimes they can let their folk roots show a bit too much, just make sure that everything is simple so as the congregation can sing too

[Guest JeffCR07]

I don't play my guitar or bass at Mass, since pride of place is given to Gregorian Chant. In extreme instances, it is permissible to use "stringed instruments," but the only one mentioned is the violin. So it seems to me that whenever an organ/violin/etc arn't present, we can always do gregorian chant (which really should be first anyways). So basically, I can almost never see an instance in which it would be desirable, save some whacked out day when everyone has a sore throat and can't chant, there is no organ, and there is no piano/violin. But at that point, my guitar wouldn't be much help, would it?

Ahhh, now jamie is gonna come in and jump me

[Noel's angel]

there is nothing wrong with playing the guitar at Mass-it is the way in which it is played that people have the problem with.

[franciscanheart]

yeah im not sure why its so wrong to have a guitar at mass. *shrug*

[Noel's angel]

me either, as long as it is played so as not to show off one's abilities but to help the choir and congregation join in the singing. In our parish, more people sing along with the choir which has guitars than the one which has an organist

[Guest JeffCR07]

eh, in my humble opinion, we should always go with what the Church has on the books, rather than a hodgepodge of this-works-well-at-this-parish and that-works-well-at-that-parish. Most of the time, the Church knows whats best

[Noel's angel]

and the Church doesn't say that guitars shouldn't be played at Mass-it does say however that music should be sung which encourages the congregation to participate

[franciscanheart]

when did the Church say it wasnt okay to have guitars at mass? i guess i missed that.

[Guest JeffCR07]

Freelance musical changes are the first step to freelance liturgical changes.

Also, remember guys, I play bass and guitar. I love them to death. I just don't want them at Mass

[Noel's angel]

I direct you to the Catechism paras 1157 and 1158

[Noel's angel]

1157 Song and music fulfill their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected . . . with the liturgical action,"22 according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful:23


How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good.24
1158 The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate.25 Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources."26

[Noel's angel]

as long as the guitar is played in a manner which enriches the Mass, then there is nothing wrong with playing it

[Guest JeffCR07]

hahaha, I'm familiar with it, and nothing there contradicted my points. Moreover, I could point you to the respective documents from the Second Vatican Council in which Gregorian Chant is given pride of place in the liturgy, but honestly, I don't really want to get into it here.

[Guest JeffCR07]

[quote name='Noel's angel' date='Jul 18 2005, 09:36 AM']as long as the guitar is played in a manner which enriches the Mass, then there is nothing wrong with playing it
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[/quote]

Except that pride of place is given to gregorian chant, so if the Mass can be chanted, it should, and, moreover, the only stringed instrument (which are permissible in extraordinary circumstances) mentioned by name is the violin.

So, I agree, nothing is wrong with playing guitar at Mass, so long as there is no violin to use and it is an extraordinary circumstance in which the Mass cannot be chanted.

[Noel's angel]

yes, of course it is given pride of place in the Liturgy, but you shouldn't say that the guitar has no place in it. Maybe you have had a bad experience with a guitarist, I don't know, but don't slate guitarists who play reverntly and with respect, using their abilities to assist the Mass in any way they can. I understand that maybe some guitarists don't have respect and just play any random song because it is a 'nice song' but not all guitarists are like that