Well, the issue of people wanting to make a joyful noise when that’s ALL they can make is a constant one. We have a lady with Down’s Syndrome (funny how you only see them in CATHOLIC churches) who can’t read music or sing a lick, but she has her spot in the back behind the risers, and she vests, and processes, and goes to communion with us. Sometimes I’ll be trying to find a pitch and she’ll pipe up and make it even worse, but I don’t mind, don’t mind one bit.
As far as talent, I think if a parish has the ability to do difficult music, that’s great, but there is plenty of great music that is not difficult that even small parishes can do. There have been several volumes of ‘Easy Anthems’ published, as you know.
Actually there’s a lady with Down’s in my parents (Episcopal) choir. She vests and processes and everything, but she isn’t very loud so it’s o.k. and really not a problem at all. (I sing in their choir when we’re down there.)
Our standbys are the Purcell collection and the "Sixteenth Century Anthem" anthology . . . both small size paperbound volumes.