How Do We Encourage Them to Sing?
Image: Extraordinary Music Workshops, July 3-9, 2023, photo by Natalia Miazga for the Dominican Liturgical Center, Krakow
The ever challenging conundrum in particular countries and societies is encouraging our congregations to sing.
Particularly when a new music program is established for the parish, or implementing new music.
We as the music directors and musicians may be committed, ready and practiced, with an eager choir, beautiful tone and quality music, but in the pews … silence.
In the Novus Ordo Rite, there was a very specific instruction to encourage the congregation at particular points of the Mass to deeply and more fully participate, as being a part of the baptised priesthood of the Church, as a means to restore focus and understanding.
Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people (1 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism. (No. 14, Sacrosanctum Concilium)
Our duty as sacred musicians then is to encourage thoughtful participation by the laity at the appropriate points of the Mass.
But to complicate the matter further, not all prayer needs to be active in the liturgy.
The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with his brethren, but he must also enter into his chamber to pray to the Father, in secret... (No. 12, Sacrosanctum Concilium)
Our Prayer Life Should Be An Extension Of How We Pray The Mass.
Therefore it becomes a very fine balance of creating passive and active participation for our congregations, in the hope of encouraging individual sanctity, plus holiness as a community.
On a practical sense, this means careful and deliberate choice of music each Sunday.
Silence in the pews is often due to a fear of our own voices and particular cultures don’t have a culture of singing, eg. England and Australia, whereas other countries deal with another problem, where they is too much singing in the Mass for appropriate quiet prayer and reflection. (This can be discussed another day.)
Like the cathedrals of Europe took decades if not centuries to complete, so does a music program and a culture of singing take time to build within a parish.
In our enthusiasm and higher education in sacred music, we may sometimes forget all the aspects of who we are serving in our role:
God – He appreciates any appropriate sacred music done well, with prayer and good intention.
The Priest – who, if we have a choir established, is hopefully providing good support
The Congregation
Image: Extraordinary Music Workshops, July 3-9, 2023, photo by Natalia Miazga for the Dominican Liturgical Center, Krakow
Here Are Two Practical Thoughts To Have Your Congregation Sing
Firstly, more often than not, if the priest sings, the people will follow.
The priest truly is a shepherd, not only spiritually but by example. So if he wishes to sing but feels not confident, provide an opportunity to help him with some lessons or preparation before Mass.
Secondly, consider the common saying ‘practice makes perfect’. For many in the congregation, they hear sacred music once a week at Mass. They don’t think of it for the remaining 6 days of the week. They may not sing a note all week. This is their only exposure.
If we treat each Mass as a means of practice, there is more success after several weeks of singing the melody they’ve heard for the past month.
Use the liturgical seasons as seasons of practice, and consider focussing on the ordinary of the Mass to have the people participate with their voices more fully.
Focus on a simple chant tone for the Kyrie, Sanctus and Angus Dei, as well as the Alleluia and Amen. Repeat the Marian antiphon week after week, and the final recessional hymn.
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
It’s a humbling experience for the musicians, as we are capable of so much more, and we want variety, but it is a duty to remain humble and serve the people, as our means of serving God.
The remaining parts of the Mass (Offertory, Communion etc) we can then fill with antiphons or polyphony, for the glorification of God, and as a conscious place to allow passive participation for the people.
It is in choosing simplicity that we can meet the people where they are, and yet we are continuing to glorify God by this simple beautiful music also.
Photo by Natalia Miazga for the Dominican Liturgical Center, Krakow
I will finish with this little personal story.
Once I sung the Angus Dei of Missa Orbis Factor, in a beautiful cathedral acoustic, and my visiting uncle, who wasn’t accustomed to Gregorian chant in Mass, turned to my family and said, “that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”
As musicians who are trained for more demanding music, it’s wise to remember at times that not all things that are beautiful and impressive need to come in complicated and demanding musical packages, but instead success can be measured by how attainable it is for everyone.
