Can You See Me Now?

Orchestras watch their conductor. Choirs follow their director. Marching bands keep an eye on the drum major. Football teams listen to their quarterback…and mass musicians need to follow their director.

Like any good ensemble, a typical music group at mass needs a director. Someone needs to lead. It’s more than just counting off the intro, and it’s certainly more than just picking songs and putting together folders. The director pays attention to every aspect of the music happening at any given moment. Are the drums too busy?  Is the bass too loud?  Is the flute out of tune? Are the singers too far away from their mics? Is something ‘not blending?’ Is it too fast or slow? Or even noticing that it sounds great!

Then, on top of all of that, the director not only directs the musicians but also the assembly. This is very unique to liturgy. Are people singing? Do they seem engaged, or bored?

Some of these things can be remedied ‘on the fly.’ A quick word or a simple gesture…even a look…can convey a lot to another musician. This is why it’s so important that the director is visible by everyone in the group. I, for one, sit at the piano the entire time. It has taken some trial and error to find the best arrangement/setup for everyone so that, at any moment, I can give someone ‘direction.’  See below:

If, for example, I need to tell the rhythm section that we are going to repeat a certain section of a song, or change a chord, or drop out…whatever…I can easily give them a hand signal or simply turn and tell them. I also have direct eye contact with all singers at all times. They can watch me if I want to hold out a chord at the end of a song, or repeat a chorus, or get quieter.

This is not a power trip, but rather a huge responsibility. It should be given to someone who has a strong sense of what liturgical music needs to be. They should also have a solid understanding of balance and blend of instruments and voices.

The director also needs to be able to honestly assess whether or not the music being chosen and played is both effective and appropriate for the Mass. What songs are working and which aren’t?  Why? Are there some areas that need to be addressed?

The director really has a lot of responsibility. The musicians need to be able to have confidence that their ‘leader’ will make good decisions. The assembly needs to be able to trust that you will lead them appropriately and effectively.

Be pastoral, be confident, be prayerful, be joyous, and be willing to try to make your music as effective as it can be.

But, be the director.

Some past posts that you might find useful relating to this one: (see the Blog Archive at the right)

                Ssshhh…you sound GREAT!

                Make Musical, Liturgical Decisions…Not Personal Ones

                How Often Should We Introduce New Music?

                1+1=11

                Music Ministry has its own goal…

                Chart Your Progress(ions)

                Excuse me, FLOw?

 

NOVEMBER 11, 2012 – 32nd SUNDAY in OT (B)

(These songs are off of my planning notes for this particular Sunday, which means I am strongly considering using them on these days. After each title I’ve added some thoughts to consider.)

(Click on titles for links to their respective pages.)

He Lives In Us by Amelia Acosta (WLP) – The verses of this new song can be done by a cantor/soloist, bringing in the assembly on “He lives in us” each time, though the choir and assembly could sing it all. There is a nice pre-chorus as well, longer than usual, so it might be a good idea to begin with the Refrain when singing this song for the first time. That is a technique I often use when teaching a new song. The assembly sings the Refrain, the cantor sings verse 1, and then…they already know the Refrain!  Beautiful song.

                Suggested use: Song of Preparation/Offertory, Communion, Second Communion

I Will Choose Christ by Tom Booth (OCP) – Classic Tom Booth. The gospel tells us that the poor woman contributed her whole livelihood to the treasury, even though it was a small amount compared to some. The refrain of this song challenges us to give our “hearts, lives, and all” to God.  Start simple, building as the song continues.

                Suggested use: Song of Gathering/Entrance, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

I Received the Living God by Brett Ballard (WLP) – Another great communion song with many verses. The refrain is simple… easily sung by the assembly. The verses can be divided among different cantors, or alternate between cantor and choir. Again, start simple, especially if used after communion.  Let the song build, adding instruments as you go.

                Suggested use: Second Communion

Offering by Paul Baloche (CCLI) – another great example of Paul Baloche’s fresh-sounding, singable music. Even though the rhythm is very syncopated, I’ve found that the assembly grabs hold of this song quickly. We have only the women sing and the band drop out (just piano continues) at “It’s only by your blood, and it’s only through your mercy…” and bring everyone back in on “Lord, I come.” It’s a nice musical moment. The Refrain begins on a pickup, so it can be tricky when repeating the Refrain, or doing a ‘double chorus.’

                Suggested use: Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

Praise the Lord, My Soul by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – written in a ‘gospel style,’ this psalm setting has a simple refrain in a comfortable key (F). The verses can be sung ‘as written’ or with soloistic improvisation. Just be careful with the tempo: too slow or too fast and really ruin a gospel feel.

                Suggested use: Responsorial Psalm 

Take My Life by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio (CCLI) – Using Frances Havergal’s classic hymn for the verses, Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio added a nice Refrain to this beautiful song. We’ve split the Refrain into women’s  and men’s parts. The men sing “Here am I.”  The women sing the echo/descant.  Alternate the verses between male and female voices.

                Suggested use: Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

The Lord Is My Shepherd by Josh Blakesley (spiritandsong.com) – a beautiful text based on Psalm 23 with a wonderful, easily singable melody for both verses and Refrain.

                Suggested Use: Communion, Second Communion

We Bring Our Gifts to Your Altar by Brian Flynn (WLP) – this is a new, contemporary song in a hymn-style format. Four verses with the same music (and a key change) make it easy to learn and sing quickly. As the name indicates, this is a great song for the Offertory/Preparation of the gifts.

                Suggested use: Song of Preparation/Offertory
 

Please share your song ideas with me and I will post as many as I can so we can all share our knowledge of resources. Remember, what works for one parish might not work for another. We should be open-minded to all styles and preferences of music. As long as the music serves the liturgy, it may be listed here.

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WELCOME BACK!!!

Welcome (back) to Setting the Tone…Musical Ideas for Liturgy.  It’s been a year since my last entry and it’s time to get back at it! This time will be a little different.  Aside from now being linked to World Library Publications new contemporary music website, VoicesAsOne.com, each week will consist of three main sections:

1. My thoughts or reflections on some aspect of music during the Mass…LOTS of options!

2. Musical suggestions for Mass (one Sunday added each week)
3. YOUR input and suggestions for Mass (one of the coolest parts!)

So let’s get started. Please feel free to search or peruse the archives of Setting the Tone for lots of postings on many different areas of music ministry.

Covering the ‘BASS’-ics

So, Sunday, as I’m driving in to play 7:15 am Mass (why so EARLY?) I remembered LAST Sunday how our 8:45 bass player told me he wouldn’t be here this week. I then recalled how I responsibly sent out a request for someone to sub for him. I then remembered that no one responded. I THEN thought ...uh oh.
The 8:45 mass has drums, bass, guitars, synth, piano, flute, and 7 singers.  All of that, especially drums, with no bass guitar will sound very empty and noisy. The bass is a critical part of the sound, especially when there are drums.  Drums and bass go hand in hand. If you have drums, you gotta have bass. No way around it.

So I start to tell the sound guy that I will be playing bass on a synth.  I’ll put it on the piano and play with my left hand. I’m dreading it because it leaves the left hand of the piano out of the picture. That’s not great either.  Just then, our synth player says, “Hey Ed, I can play bass.”

I said, “Really?  You mean synth bass?”
“Sure.”
“Have you ever done that before?”
“No, but I have tons of sounds on this thing!”
Our sound guy says, “Let him play bass.”

Well, I was a little nervous.  He is a great synth and piano player, but had he ever played synth bass before?  So we had a little discussion about some do’s and don’t’s.  Some principals to keep in mind if this ever comes up:

1. Find a good middle-of-the-road bass sound. Nothing too ‘slappy’ or too ‘synthy.’ Usually, a General MIDI Fingered Bass will be close to the target. You may have some better sounds, but start there.

2. Plug into the bass guitar channel, NOT the synth channel.  There are several reasons for this:
                - The soundman will know where to look on the board for the instrument playing bass.
                - The monitors will already be set. Everyone knows which knob to turn for bass.
                - The channel will already be EQ’d for bass, not strings or pad or something else.

3. Play like a bass guitar player would, not a piano player. In other words, ONE NOTE AT A TIME!  No chords, no thirds, no octaves. Try to duplicate what a bass guitar would do.

4. Start simple…nothing too fancy. Play the chord changes (focusing, of course, on the letter AFTER the slash, if there is one). Try to match the pattern that the drummer is playing with the kick drum, if possible. That will really tighten things up.

5. Experiment with adding a little space (let go of the note) before the next change if you want to make it sound ‘punchier’ or ‘tighter.’

Our synth player had a blast, and did great!  We now have another alternative if we are out a bass player.  Of course, I really missed the strings and pads…  L

NOVEMBER 4, 2012 – 31st SUNDAY in OT (B)

(These songs are off of my planning notes for this particular Sunday, which means I am strongly considering using them on these days. After each title I’ve added some thoughts to consider.)

Love the Lord Your God by Al Valverde (OCP) - a very simple melody and easy chords. It’s sort of a bridge between traditional sounding and contemporary. You don’t really need to do much to it, just build it up and do it well. The assembly will sing it.

                Suggested use: Entrance/Gathering, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

More Love, More Power by Jude DelHiero (CCLI) – a little more contemporary feel than the Valverde. Consider the key, though, because I’ve seen it set too high for assembly singing. Voices As One volume 2 has it in Gm which is as high as you’d want to go. I’ve also heard the verse melody sung with different rhythms and inflections, so figure out your plan before you play it!

                Suggested use: Entrance/Gathering, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

I Love You, Lord by Matt Maher (spiritandsong) – very simple refrain…easy for the assembly. It might be nice to have a cantor or soloist sing the verses.  Not too much of the band at first; build it up.

                For Psalm, consider using the refrain. Proclaim or chant the verses from the Lectionary.
                Suggested use: Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

Love the Lord by Lincoln Brewster (CCLI) – very upbeat setting of this text from today’s first reading and gospel. Don’t go too fast or it will be too difficult to sing! Remember: it’s about the singing!  Still, practice the rhythm of the chord changes with the rhythm section to get it tight. Play along with a good recording to make sure the tempo stays put.

                Suggested use: Song of Thanksgiving/Dismissal/Sending Forth

Beautiful One by Tim Hughes (CCLI) – Great ‘love song’ to our Lord. Check the key to make sure the top note isn’t too high. ‘F’ seems to work well, especially with a female voice leading the verses. Full 3-part harmonies on the refrain! Plan your map for this song as there are verses, a refrain, a bridge, and a Coda…all different.  Maybe don’t do them all?  (Last time we left out the Bridge and ended with the Coda.)

                Suggested use: Song of Thanksgiving/Dismissal/Sending Forth

Hold Us Together by Matt Maher and Steve Wilson (CCLI) – Really speaks about loving one another. The Refrain (“Love will hold us…”) and Bridge (“This is the first day…”) are the most assembly-friendly in both text and melody, and a recessional song can be made out of just these two sections if necessary. ‘A’ major seems to be a good key for both the verses and refrain- both easy to play and comfortable to sing.

                Suggested use: Song of Thanksgiving/Dismissal/Sending Forth

Jesus, Messiah by Carson/Tomlin/Cash/Reeves (CCLI) – really speaks to the second reading on Jesus as our high priest forever, without sin, above all.  A beautiful, singable melody for the assembly.  Let the song build. The recording is a great tool for reference, but make it work for the liturgy.

                Suggested Use: Entrance/Gathering, Offertory/Song of Preparation, Communion

I Am the Bread of Life by Tom Kaczmarek (WLP) – many verses…helpful when used for Communion. Different cantors/soloists can switch off singing the verses. The refrain is very memorable and assembly-friendly. When used at Communion, consider starting simply- one or two instruments. At Offertory/Preparation of the Gifts, it could have a little more energy from the outset.  This song works great nice and slow or even a little faster.

                Suggested use: Offertory/Song of Preparation, Communion

Please share your song ideas with me and I will post as many as I can so we can all share our knowledge of resources. Remember, what works for one parish might not work for another. We should be open-minded to all styles and preferences of music. As long as the music serves the liturgy, it may be listed here.