A LOT to consider

Each weekend I am responsible for choosing the music for many different liturgies. For me, it’s always a lot more involved than simply selecting music where the lyrics match the theme of the readings. There are a LOT of factors to consider:

The readings of the day, of course.
This could be an entire blog alone. Suffice it to say that the main thrust of the readings should be reflected in the song choices. Other factors are holidays, parish celebrations, etc.

What have we sung recently at that time slot?
Did we recently introduce a new song that could be repeated? Have we overused a song?

Is there a good flow to the music? Are there too many songs of the same tempo? Too many of the same style? A good variety always seems best. Would one of the song choices work better at a different point of the Mass?

Who are the musicians for that Mass?
Will the players and singers at that particular liturgy perform these songs well? Are there other songs better suited for their style of playing and singing?

Who is in the assembly for that Mass? Mostly children? teens? adults?
A good variety is always good, but who are we leading in song? Are we choosing age-appropriate music for the assembly?

I typically spend a lot of my time considering all of these factors when choosing music. I like to write the list down on a board and stare at it a bit until I feel that I’ve gotten it as right as I can make it. I’ve been known to make some last minute changes when something doesn’t seem right, or when something doesn’t go over well in a rehearsal. Or...I might write something if it seems like there’s a need in a particular spot!

Feel free to share your comments and ideas.

Chart your Progress(ions)

Have you ever had someone sit in with your group because a bass player or guitarist is out, so you hand them pages and pages of music with multiple endings, capo chords or...worse yet...a keyboard score? (especially to someone who is NOT playing keyboard!) What do you think the chances are that things will go well? Even to an experienced session player, a clean, easy-to-read chart is crucial to promoting success.

Sometimes publishers tend to be over-accurate when they publish music. That might mean the instrumentalists have to comb through 3 different endings of a verse simply because the vocal did something slightly different each time, even though the chords are the same! Or maybe the keyboard score is doing something pretty involved in the right hand, so there ends up being this cluster of chord symbols with alternate basses all crammed together above the staff, even though the bass just needs to stay on B-flat! Or there could be extra pages showing extra verses when all they really need is the same chord progression from verse 1. All of these things can cause even the best players to stumble simply because things are over-complicated.

Sometimes the best solution is to take the most complicated tunes (more than 2 pages, multiple endings that are essentially the same, over-complex chords, etc.) and simplify them for bass and guitar. Finale, Sibelius, or even hand-written versions are extremely useful. Eliminate the potential stumbling blocks. Save the new, easier-to-read charts for future use. Your instrumentalists, your singers...and your assembly...will thank you.

Sunday Night Live

I've been given the opportunity to lead the music at our 6:00 pm teen mass again at my parish. It's been several years since my wife, Karen, and I led the music at that mass, so were feeling a bit of nervous excitement as we head into it. Sunday was the first night we were back and, I have to say, it was really wonderful. There was a good energy, and some powerful worship...it was a great celebration of the Feast of Epiphany. We're both excited about continuing on!

One of the biggest (and first) decisions I had to make was: what will the band consist of, and who will be in it? I knew that I wanted drums, bass, piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and 2-3 vocals to start. With these instruments we could cover a lot of ground.

I also knew that I wanted some experienced musicians...and not just experienced playing their instrument...but experienced in playing for liturgy. For example, there's a big difference in being a good drummer and being a good liturgical drummer: knowing how to orchestrate a drum part versus simply laying down a groove. Same for guitar and piano: knowing when to play out and when to lay back; knowing when to strum a guitar, play a piano melody, or comp chords in rhythm. Or when not to play. We are fortunate to have a great drummer and bassist as permanent members. I've actually played with both of them for quite awhile in contemporary liturgy music groups. They're fantastic.

And then there are the vocals: good, strong singers who know when to sing and when not to sing, how to blend and how to lead a verse, how to use a mic and not just always sing as close to it as possible. I am very fortunate that Karen is probably one of the best liturgical singers I've ever met: beautiful voice and a strong sense of what needs to happen at liturgy. Her sound, demeanor, posture...everything...is what we look for in a strong liturgical singer. She's not concerned about solos- just adding to the liturgy in any way she can.

So...it's a good start. We are still missing some pieces. We need a permanent guitar player...2 actually. We'll use subs for now. And eventually we'll add another singer. But for now, as long as we have the basics: drums, bass, piano (or guitar), and at least two singers (male and female), we can cover a lot of ground.

Wish us luck! We're looking forward to it!

Song Suggestions: Rise Up In Splendor!

I’m sure most (if not all) of you have your song selections pretty much set for this weekend, but in case you are still open to some suggestions, I'd like to share some songs I think work really well:

Rise Up In Splendor, by Tom Booth
- published by spiritandsong.com  
I have always liked this song. The refrain is simple, singable, and can be used as a call and response if so desired. Verse one states so clearly, “Though darkness covers and we are blinded by sin our God shall save us and we shall walk in the light.”  This is a great entrance song, might also be used at preparation.
( http://www.spiritandsong.com/compositions/31001 )

Rise Up In Splendor, by Aaron Thompson
- published by World Library Publications
Get some percussion going and some singers who can hold their own and this is a great opening to the Mass on Epiphany Sunday. You’ll want to teach the refrain and verse parts to the assembly (they’re the same) so they can truly participate.  ( http://www.wlp.jspaluch.com/12126.htm )

Lord, Every Nation, by Jesse Manibusan
- published by spiritandsong.com  
I love the feel and melody of this song. The verses are powerful and singable for all, though a soloist would serve them well. The refrain is very singable, especially for a Psalm setting. I seem to use this song whenever I get the chance!  ( http://www.spiritandsong.com/compositions/31001 )

Christmas Offering, by Paul Baloche
- published by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
The original version of this song was just called “Offering,” a beautiful text and melody that seemed to fit almost any time. Ref: “I bring an offering of worship to my king...”  With the added verse text it is perfect for use on Epiphany: “Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star while angels sang to lowly shepherds.” I really encourage you to check out this song. Here is a very brief article along with some free downloads that Paul Baloche himself had written back in 2004.
( http://leadworship.com/resources/ChristmasOffering.html )

Please feel free to share some of your ideas with me.

Ed

MASSive Undertaking...

I just received the proofs of Mass of St. Ann–my new setting of the Mass for 2012. (Advent 2011)  It got me thinking of the creative process I went through while setting the new text. Here was something I was so used to playing and singing a certain way...the rhythm of the words, the rise and fall of each phrase...and how some parts of it will be changed so dramatically. I can’t help but wonder what it will be like when we start teaching the “new” Mass parts. How long will it take before they once again become second nature to us all?

Perhaps the way we present them to our parishes will make all of the difference. In the weeks leading up to Advent, maybe we should introduce one or two new acclamations before Mass. Maybe we should hold a couple of evenings where we invite the congregation to attend “sing-throughs” of the new parts. Whichever the case, whether or not we ourselves are enthusiastic about the changes, we need to show enthusiasm when presenting them. It’s a great opportunity for catechesis; a great opportunity to share a little of why we sing what we sing when we sing it!

Voices Only, Please!

Last week at my parish of St. Ann's we had our 2nd annual Christmas Sing-Along. The church was filled, the lights were low, the candles (lots!) were lit and we sang our hearts out. It was beautiful!  Piano, trumpet, flute, and 1000 voices filled the night with carols, songs, and hymns.

Maybe that's what inspired me to lead the Psalm on Sunday with no instrumentation! I had planned on writing a new setting for “Lord, Come and Save Us,” but with so much going on...concerts, NFCYM in New Orleans...I never got around to it. I had a nice simple melody for the refrain, but nothing for the verses. So, I decided to chant it from the ambo!  I could almost hear everyone’s eyebrows raise as I got up from the piano and walked up the steps to lead the Psalm. They all probably thought I was going to fix the microphone or something. Instead, I just started singing–and everyone immediately followed. It was perfectly natural. No piano; no band...just voices.

That was a stretch for me. I am used to the security of being seated at the piano– not standing at the ambo with a light focused on me and nothing to do with my hands! But I have to say, it was pretty cool. It was a nice change from what we normally would do at that contemporary mass. It was good for the assembly, good for the band, and good for me, too.

And it sounded great...!!!

Do you hear what THEY hear?

So, this past Sunday, 5 minutes before Mass was to begin, we were still trying to figure out why the musicians had NO monitors at all. With electric instruments, including drums, the only thing we could hear was the piano, and that was kind of quiet since we keep the lid down. Now, our church was recently renovated and has a pretty sophisticated sound system installed. When everything is functioning properly it’s pretty cool. In this case, however, there was a problem. I haven’t been involved in that part of the Audio/Visual Ministry at all since the redesign, so when the sound tech told me that we didn’t have monitors because the “wireless network” was down my immediate thought was: “...um...what? Did you just say ‘wireless network?’” It seems that, yes, there is a wireless network involved in our sound system. (I guess I’d better get more involved in that part of the A/V Ministry.)

ANYway...eventually we figured it out (unplugged cable), but not until much later. In the meantime everyone had to really listen carefully to what was coming out of the main speakers. The result? Coolness! (from a singing perspective) For the first time I heard the assembly really sing on “Awake to the Day,” which was our Song of Gathering. The assembly part in the verse was so present to me for the first time. We were literally all hearing the same thing at the same time. No headphones, no blaring floor wedges...nothing but what was coming out of the house speakers and the assembly’s voices.

It reminded me that, from time to time, it’s so important to ‘take a listen’ to what the assembly hears. Sure, the sound techs do that all the time, but as Music Directors we need to do the same on a regular basis. Step out front when you can...let the musicians carry the song while you sit in the pew for a moment. Listen to how you and the band/choir are “setting the tone.”