I am a 51 year convert to CAtholicism and still trying to “get it right”. Having taken my Catholic studies at a Newman Club in a University setting where there was lots of music, the most disappointing thing, when my husband and I started attending a normal Parish church, was the lack of music. Even when we had music — Christmas, Easter, Holy Days — nobody sang. After we went through Vatican II with everything translated to English, we had no music for a long time. Gradually, the Jesuits and others provided us with new songs in English and the congregations where I lived reluctantly learned to sing them.
For many years we were prohibited from singing all those Martin Luther hymns — not sure when that changed. I like all kinds of hymns — but I just hate it when they are all the same key; same tempo in a given Mass. The music director should mix it up a little — some fast, some slow, etc. And I can tell you that without a cantor, the people just won’t sing. I’ve experienced that at many parishes over the years.
I have to brag that at our 50th wedding anniversary Mass, the priest commented afterward that there was a lot of good singing in church that morning. Part of the reason is that my oldest daughter was serving as cantor, and all my other kids and grandkids were there too. One of my sons is the music director at his church, and he was singing along as well as the 36 friends and family members from other parts of the country. And we were right in front, but I didn’t think the priest would notice. I guess I trained them good!
When my father died at age 80,and of course we had a funeral mass,after the services my brother commented to me loudly so as to be heared by by the attendant priest “Well I guess he learned some new songs”.
Now at the tender age of 78 I never hear any of the old hymns such as “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” which was in my youth a Catholic anthem used as recessional at any of the masses at the parish I attend. And sadly present parrishioners wouldn’t know how it goes...
Just like the “Te Deum” which was sung as a recessional to a ceremony in St Stephans Cathedral celebrating the saving of Vienna by Polish forces from the Turks led by Sobieski . The above I duly reported from a review to my class mates of Immaculate Conception grammar school (Bridgeport neighborhood Chicago)7th grade students. It was a witness’s account of a historical event and an assignment by the good OFM sisters teaching at that school. Where do see that kind of stuff happening in any public school ?
http://www.theusmat.com/