Music Should Reflect the Emotion and Spirit of the Liturgy

I am pleased to welcome Jacob Israel Villalobos (pictured second from left) as this week’s guest writer. In addition to being a full-time youth minister at his home parish, Jacob is widely known for being a member of the Jacob and Matthew Band. He continues to write, arrange, and perform music with the band as well as lead music at his parish liturgies.

 

 

A good soundtrack

After many years of service in a liturgical capacity, I would like to reflect on just a few things. The music in liturgy, I think, is best related to that of a good movie soundtrack. Think about the most memorable movie soundtracks in history. Can you hum Darth Vader’s march or the theme from Jurassic Park? Of course you can. When I think about these soundtracks, I think about how they add to the movie. They push it from being good to being amazing.

The opposite of that is true as well.

So how does that apply to liturgy or mass? I think our place as liturgical musicians is much like that of creating a good soundtrack. Although not completely necessary, (Jesus shows up with or without music) it can bring life to a celebration. It can engage the community and help them focus on the mysteries we are celebrating. When people leave Mass, they can take those memorable music moments with them.

Music should reflect the emotion and spirit of the liturgy…

When playing music in liturgy, think about it from a soundtrack perspective. When I travel, I get to hear different music ministries from all over the place. I am amazed at how many times people start from complete silence and go immediately to 100% ‘rocking.’ Perhaps that is called for from time to time in liturgy, but think about how a [film score] composer would approach liturgy. There are high times and low times. You have seen it before where the composer or conductor is watching the movie at the same time he or she is conducting. In the same way, our music should reflect the emotion and spirit of the liturgy.

Think about the difference between a Good Friday service and Easter Sunday. When you start to dive into the readings, usually a clear tone or direction is set. If you can’t find the tone or direction, refer to a liturgical planning guide.
Focus on the different parts of the liturgy and what the emotion behind it is. The ‘Lord Have Mercy’ is very different from the‘Gloria.’ Similarly, I think special care should be taken for music during communion time. In my mind, this should not be the time to blast through a communion song. Rather, invite the community; maybe just start with a piano and a voice. Bring the bass and drums in later, even if it is half way through the song. This is especially hard with younger musicians. The “one volume” level of playing is sometimes hard to break.
 

Music should be dynamic and changing…

Music should be dynamic and changing, following the spirit of what is in front of you. For instance, the entrance procession song should end with a perfect ‘pass’ to the presider. The action should be one fluid movement. Many times we get into the mode of playing a cadence that says, “I’m done!” How about trying the last chorus of the entrance song with just the community singing? Or maybe the music starts to fade and die down when father reaches the altar area. My point is, there are many ways to pass the baton to father; no need to throw it; just pass it.

Performance vs. Prayer

I think many people in contemporary Catholic music struggle with the balance of performance and prayer. Having worked at quite a few churches that are not Catholic, there seems to be an emphasis on the performance or concert aspect of worship. In fact, I was at a church where the sound system alone cost 1 million dollars because they wanted the worship to be like going to a concert. Though there is nothing wrong with that, our Catholic liturgy calls for a different approach.
In the best soundtracks, the audience does not even realize that the music is present. Our job should be done so well that we don’t become distractions to liturgy but serve to enhance it. We should journey away from being in “concert” mode and understand that our role is to help the community focus on Christ who is present in the liturgy.

-JI

SIDE NOTE (from Ed)...

My friend, composer Tom Booth, just played for 7000 people from around the world at Vatican City for the sacrament of Confirmation. Here are a couple of recent pics of Tom Booth in Saint Peter's where Pope John 23rd prayed for a "New Pentecost" - Vatican II. Thanks for the pics, Tom.

 

 

 

May 19, 2013 – PENTECOST

 

This week’s song suggestions for the Feast of Pentecost come directly from the composers themselves!  I asked several of my friends and colleagues if they would humbly suggest any of their own pieces they thought would be suitable for the liturgy on this day.

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

Burning in My Soul by Brett Younker, Matt Maher, Jesse Reeves, & Daniel Carson (worshiptogether) - (from the new CD All the People Said Amen)
Suggested use: Offertory, Dismissal

Come, Holy Spirit by Aaron Thompson (WLP) - (from the CD 10,000 Angels)
Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Communion)

Come, Holy Spirit by John Angotti (WLP) - (from the CD Testify)
Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Communion

Come, Holy Spirit by Tom Booth and Robert Feduccia (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Captured)
Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Communion)

Come, Lord Jesus by Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Make a Difference)
Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory

Every Day by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) - (from the CD Every Day and the collection More Voices As One vol. 1)
Suggested use: Dismissal

Falling Into You by Steve Angrisano (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Inescapable Love)
Suggested use: Communion

Flowing River by Rita Baloche (Integrity) - (from the collection Voices As One vol. 2)
Suggested use: Offertory, Second Communion

Go Out, Go Out (Psalm 117) by Curtis Stephan (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Amid Passing Things)

Suggested use: Dismissal

Holy Spirit, Come Now by Jesse Manibusan (spiritandsong) - (from the CD The Commons: by Request)
Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Communion

I Will Follow by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) - (from the CD Every Day)
Suggested use: Offertory, Second Communion

Let the Weight of Your Glory Fall by Steve Merkel (Integrity) - (from the collection Voices As One vol. 2)
Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Second Communion

Let Us Stand by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) - (from the CD Every Day and the collection More Voices As One vol. 1)
Suggested use: Entrance

Lord, Send Your Spirit by Aaron Thompson (WLP) - (from the collection Voices As One vol. 2)
Suggested use: Psalm

Send Your Glory Down by Trevor Thomson and Tom Booth (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Christ in Me Arise)
Suggested use: Dismissal

There's A Presence by John Angotti (WLP) - (from the CD I Believe and the collection More Voices As One vol. 1)
Suggested use: Call to Worship, Offertory, Second Communion

Veni, Creator Spiritus by John Angotti (WLP) - (from the CD Testify)
Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Second Communion

Veni, Sancte Spiritus by Craig Colson (WLP) - (from the CD I Am the Way)
Suggested use: Entrance, Dismissal

Check out the CD on the right sidebar: Come, Holy Spirit. On it you will find many great titles for Pentecost from the Voices As One vol. 2 collection.

SOME OTHER MUSIC SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR:

FIRST COMMUNION:
Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament by Brian Flynn (WLP) - (from the CD Born Again)

WEDDINGS:
One by Matthew Baute (WLP) - (from the CD River of Grace)

The Greatest Gift by Brian Flynn (WLP) - from the CD Born Again)

LOVE ONE ANOTHER Collection (WLP) - music by various composers in various styles; guitar, keyboard, and C Instrument parts available for this collection of wedding music. (CD)