Saint Joseph Church, Attleboro MA
OVERALL - it wasn't bad at all. Better than what I'm used to seeing and hearing in most places.
...Yeah, but there was a guitar there too.
...Yes, but he didn't overshadow the organ, at least. The only REALLY crappy tunes were done by guitar and choir before Mass (one was Only a Shadow by Landry, which I can't stand; the other I didn't recognize but it sounded so..., so... um... seventies). But since the number board had all the music used DURING Mass (which was far better), I stayed around.
That and I wish the organist would lose the tremulant (which she used throughout except for the closing hymn). It makes that Casavant unit sound like a Hammond. That was really the little critiquing I had today.
The selection of hymns wasn't bad. Not one Haugen/Haas/Jesuits-type piece at all during Mass. The hymnal is We Celebrate. The guitar played with the organ at the Entrance and Communion only. The rest was with the organ only. Here's the list:
I am the Bread of life...Toolan (which, as I mentioned on CVA #123 last Monday, would be the popular choice for today)
With the Lord there is mercy...Bogdan (not bad at all)
Praise and honor to you...P. French (for once I didn't have to endure that Mary Had a Little Lamb version of Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ...)
The glory of these forty days..."Old Hundredth"
Sanctus, Memorial, Agnus...Jubilate Deo (a breath of fresh air! and a cappella)
Amen...Danish
The "Stations of the Cross"...Keil (a better than average Kevin Keil tune)
Lift high the cross..."Crucifer"
Peace,
BMP
5 comments:
I subbed today at the Episcopalian Church. All went very well. We sang the Mozart Ave Verum. Grooviness! The organist there usually does play postludes throughout Lent, so I did the same. I played the 3rd mvt. from a Walther transcription of a Meck concerto. My prelude was the Adagio from the Widor V. Great stuff. The Franck Psalm 150 is on tap for Easter (I think it's for Easter). I'll be sitting in the choir stalls there for the duration, that means: yes, I joined the choir last Wednesday. Great fun, and great singing! Very fun group, and an opportunity to sing the repertoire I'm used to directing. Plus, after having recovered from a terrible sinus cold in January that left my voice hoarse almost 4 weeks (not to mention other things that didn't help matters), regular vocalizing again is a good thing.
JP
The Franck 150??? SWEET!
BMP
It's very sweet. It was great fun reading all the repertoire.
JP
What are your thoughts on the use of Lift High the Cross for this past weekend? We had it here, too, and I just associate it with other times of the church year rather than Lent... it seems somehow too peppy or something... not that I have any serious gripes with the piece.
"Lift high the cross", to me, is fine, even in Lent. Even better as the entrance hymn for Holy Thursday (Introit speaks of "glory in the cross").
Again, in Lent, you can always take a little bit off the organ. I'm not saying drop it to 8' and 4' flutes, but if you normally play "Lift high" with 8-4-2 and a mixture, drop the mixture. It'll still sound stately without being too bombastic.
BMP
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