Do consider following

It's wonderful, and not a little rewarding, to see that the posts on this little blog are getting lots of regular views, and from several countries around the world.

Please do consider following by clicking on the three horizontal lines at the top left of the home screen and then clicking on "Follow".  This will mean that you be notified of all new posts - I think - and it will help with getting the blog more widely known.

Thank you for your interest and for the role that you play in your own parishes, schools, etc.

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Not "either/or" but "both/and"....

Although of less importance than other elements of the Mass, the reality is that the first thing that most parishes will consider when preparing music for a Mass is the hymns to be sung – the oft-derided "hymn sandwich".  Building up a repertoire of hymns, rather than just singing the same old-same old, is good and healthy on so many levels – for both the music group and the Assembly.   The learning-curve for our Vigil Mass congregation, the Music Group and myself has been very steep over the last 4+ years. There is no great secret but, for what it’s worth, here is how I work. The first criterion for me, as much as possible, is that the hymns we use are relevant to the season and/or “theme” of the Mass.   Unless you have an encyclopaedic mind then you need some help here and I use two sources; the suggestions at the back of the hymnal and suggestions provided within the pages of “Music and Liturgy” – the periodical produced by the Society of St Gregory.   I note down
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Gospel Acclamation

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I have said  previously that I don't like Gospel Acclamations and Responsorial Psalms to be too lively - rapidly switching between exuberant singing and attentive, "heart"-listening doesn't come easily to me.  However, after some years I began to feel that the standard, triple-Alleluia was in need of some......enhancement; and, after getting an idea from watching a Papal Mass on TV, we began to make use of a short fanfare to introduce the Gospel Acclamation. Two flautists play this simple fanfare (the top line is the melody, the bottom line is a harmony that I came up with), then the cantor sings unaccompanied followed by choir and congregation (with the harmony); the cantor then sings the verse and all repeat the Alleluia (again, with harmony). It's a simple embellishment but it does to serve to highlight the Gospel Acclamation a little more. As well as this we have also been introducing Gospel Acclamation tones from John Ainslie's  Sing the Psalms Si
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Don't forget to nurture your own faith.

Some time back, was I was talking to a former colleague who was also an organist in an Anglican church.  He told me that he was aware that a great many of his fellow church musicians ceased to go to church once they retired from their leadership roles in liturgical music. Now, there are some differences between Church of England and Catholic organists, chiefly being that they are generally paid.  As such, I suspect that there is a greater risk that what you do becomes more of a job than a ministry.  However, there is a similar risk for all those within the music and liturgy ministries, indeed all ministries that make demands on your time and energy. There is a great deal of sacrifice in being involved with such ministries.  There is, of course, the time and effort in taken in preparation, in practice and rehearsals.  During the liturgy itself, Holy Mass or otherwise, we can never fully immerse ourselves as we always have to keep one eye on what we are doing next, making sure that w
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