>>There has to be some variation or the singing gets stale. That is a fact of life. And if the singing gets stale and lifeless, it will certainly impede worship instead of aiding it. And that is not something that ought to happen.<<
That’s a line that Choir Directors have been using for years.
How can anyone say that a part of the Holy Mass gets stale when the Mass never changes? Catholics live on repetition. If one understands the Holy Mass, it doesn’t get stale. Jesus is there in person. We need to be in awe.
When the parishioners participate, your Holy Mass is alive. I went to a LifeTeen Mass where they had rockin’ performers. They sounded great. Drums and guitars and wonderful singers.
That congregation didn’t even have the chance to participate at all. The band did it everything. Then people complain that Catholics don’t sing. Geez, we don’t get the chance.
I used to attend a church (Episcopal) where the original pastor had the bright idea of not having a choir. Congregational hymn singing and full participation would be the order of the day. Only they weren't. By the time we joined that parish, the church had wound up having to make some major physical alterations to squeeze in the choir they thought they didn't need.
Repetition of music is different from repetition of words. Why do you think the Liber Usualis has different chant settings for every day of the liturgical year? And that goes back as far as chant goes back, so it's no modern or pop innovation.
That’s a line that Choir Directors have been using for years.
Staleness is NOT a "line". It is a massive pitfall. Part of the musician's mission, as outlined by numerous popes, bishops, etc., is to INSPIRE the congregation. That means everyone, including the lukewarm and those who are back for the first time in 30 years. When you sing or play the same stuff over and over again, and you get bored with it, or you think you know it better then you do, you don't pay as much attention and it gets sloppy. From first hand experience, I can say outright it is true.
Before every Mass, our choir says a prayer: "Open my mouth, O,Lord, in praise of thy holy name. Cleanse my heart and inflame my will that I may worthily sing this divine service. As we gather to sing your praise, may we but touch one soul and lead it to thee. May the gift of music we share foreshadow the beauty we shall share forever in your kingdom. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."
How can we possibly inspire anything with staleness. Even the Mass which we all know by heart, gets tired if the priest saying it isn't filled with passion for Christ. Do we hear the same readings and sermons every week? No. Then why should we have the same music?
The reality is that so little emphasis has been put on music in the church and in Catholic schools that we never really learned to sing. And when we do sing, it's what we like. Well, among the congregation. Right now, there's so much chaff in the hymnals it's hard to find the wheat.
So, please understand, it is NOT easy to keep music fresh and sounding good when you're bored with it. And if musicians are there to help inspire, you just can't be bored. Like I said, it's a give and take.