I know I often fall into the habit of always choosing a “Communion Meditation” song or “Song of Meditation,” or “Song After Communion,” or whatever name we give it. Lately, however, we have been doing something a little different at my parish. Instead of choosing a different song for that moment, we have been reprising one of the earlier songs we’ve sung that morning. It might be the gathering song, the offertory song, or maybe even the Psalm. Usually, the instrumentation is lighter, at least at the beginning, and it usually ends with the assembly singing unaccompanied. It’s often NOT the entire song–maybe just the refrain, or one verse and the refrain. (Perhaps we’ll sing a verse or a bridge that we didn’t sing earlier.)
I’ve found that this is particularly effective when you’ve introduced a new song that morning...one the assembly hasn’t quite learned, yet. This does two things: 1) It solidifies the melody in the assembly’s memory, and 2) It solidifies the text (lyric) as well. What we sang earlier still applies now! It’s a great way to bring back a theme, or a point in the gospel that was addressed in the homily. It really helps to tie things together.
Don’t be worried that it’s some sort of a ‘cop out’ or a way of avoiding having to choose another song. Instead, think of it as an effective means of engaging the assembly. Remember that our job...our role...as music ministers/leaders is to lead the assembly, not sing for them.
Sometimes leading means getting out of the way! Instead of having the whole band/group play the song as they did earlier, just use guitar and piano, or just one instrument along with a few voices. Let’s let the people hear themselves sing. It’s a wonderful, prayerful, moving sound.
Might I add to this great subject. We like reprising a gather song or offertory song for another reason as well. It also gives us flexibility in timing. If we finish the first communion song, and still need a couple minutes, instead of getting into another song and having to cut it short and making it sound rushed, we reprise as you described to use the time more effectively. This is especially cool when that song is perfect for the reading(s) or mass theme, like you said as well. It stresses the message. However, it's not something we plan or do every week. The length of the first communion song determines whether we plan a complete second song, reprise an earlier one, or just do one song. And if we find there are just not a lot of quality song options we'll reprise as well. This is all specific to our assembly size and timing of communion in a particular mass. It is a very cool option. Good stuff, Ed.
ReplyDeleteA similar practice here at St. Thomas More/Glendale AZ: After a short period of silence after communion, the priest or deacon invites everyone to "stand and join in a Song of Praise to God for the gift we have received in the Eucharist." We sing one or two verses of this song, then the instruments softly vamp as the priest says "Let us pray" and does the prayer after communion. He blesses the assembly, the deacon dismisses us, and we bring the instruments up and all sing the rest of the "Song of Praise" as our closing song. The singing of this song is often louder than singing during the communion processional because it is a ritual action unto itself, rather than music to accompany a ritual action (receiving). The "Song of Praise" is suggested in the General Instruction and the Sacramentary. It makes a nice tie between what we have received in the Eucharist and our mission in the world. Thanks for the opportunity to share, Ed.
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