Has Anyone Actually Been To A Clown Mass?

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1345577028' post='2471362']
I have come to realize that I really like silence before Mass to center my thoughts on God. However, the choir is really disruptive because the organist and the choir director like to practice before Mass so it's hard to concentrate. When they do this, I get up from my pew and go to the Chapel where the Tabernacle is and kneel in front of it for deep prayer. I can still hear the organ playing and the singing, but it's much more quiet to where I can concentrate because the door on the choir side in the chapel is closed. I really wish that the choir wouldn't practice right before Mass. They have practice during the week so there really is no need.
[/quote]

Or at least practice in a separate room. That shouldn't be too much to ask.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345577091' post='2471364']
Or at least practice in a separate room. That shouldn't be too much to ask.
[/quote]

LOL!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1345578049' post='2471374']
LOL!
[/quote]

If I were drunk or something, I'd yell at them "GET A ROOM YA BUNCH OF SINGING NINNIES!"

[Slappo]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345577091' post='2471364']
Or at least practice in a separate room. That shouldn't be too much to ask.
[/quote]

Because churches with stationary instruments have several of them scattered across the vicinity that could be used to practice with .

"Hold on guys, mass will be a little late this morning, the organist is still working on re-assembling the organ after moving it downstairs for choir practice"

It'd be amesome if they wrapped up music practice 15 minutes before mass though. That, I think, could be a reasonable request.

Edited August 21, 2012 by Slappo

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345576818' post='2471360']
I don't think we necessarily need to accept the talking as par for the course. A few announcements over the course of a couple months would probably take care of that for at least a little while. Make follow-up announcements every few months.
I only say that because at my parish I do not have to deal with that, showing that it is possible, and probably not particularly difficult. Just takes a bit of effort, like anything else.
[/quote]

At my parish, they began to turn off the lights right after mass. We were told this was a reminder to move conversations outside in the narthex, and that those who wanted to stay to pray were MORE THAN WELCOME to do so. It seems to have worked. ETA: We have a lot of sunlight in our building, so it's not dark-dark-- just a hint to move out.

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1345577028' post='2471362']
I have come to realize that I really like silence before Mass to center my thoughts on God. However, the choir is really disruptive because the organist and the choir director like to practice before Mass so it's hard to concentrate. When they do this, I get up from my pew and go to the Chapel where the Tabernacle is and kneel in front of it for deep prayer. I can still hear the organ playing and the singing, but it's much more quiet to where I can concentrate because the door on the choir side in the chapel is closed. I really wish that the choir wouldn't practice right before Mass. They have practice during the week so there really is no need.
[/quote]

At our parish, the pianist seems to like to practice during my Holy Hour. Even though the adoration chapel is not super close, it's close enough. During the school year, they like to bring the school kids up to practice whatever they've got going on during my Holy Hour, too. There's never a perfect time.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1345580196' post='2471387']
Because churches with stationary instruments have several of them scattered across the vicinity that could be used to practice with .

"Hold on guys, mass will be a little late this morning, the organist is still working on re-assembling the organ after moving it downstairs for choir practice"

It'd be amesome if they wrapped up music practice 15 minutes before mass though. That, I think, could be a reasonable request.
[/quote]

I thought about that. An organ is one thing. I think we have to expect the organist to be well on top of his or her practicing so that nobody has to be disturbed by it. He should know better than anyone that his instrument isn't portable, and therefore it's his responsibility to make time to practice when he can do so without being disturbed or disturbing anyone else.
And it's another thing again if we're talking about him [i]practicing[/i] versus him [i]playing[/i] before Mass. I've been to churches before where the organist will play some pieces before Mass. Nothing disruptive or especially earth-shaking, but very nice way to prepare everyone for the Mass. But it would be disruptive if he were starting and stopping every ten seconds or so, like if he was practicing as opposed to simply playing.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345581323' post='2471396']therefore it's his responsibility to make time to practice when he can do so without being disturbed or disturbing anyone else.
[/quote]

As I mention above, if you have perpetual adoration, it's likely that there is never a time when no one will be disturbed. But I agree that it would be nice to be done practicing 15 minutes before mass.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1345581728' post='2471403']
As I mention above, if you have perpetual adoration, it's likely that there is never a time when no one will be disturbed. But I agree that it would be nice to be done practicing 15 minutes before mass.
[/quote]

Yep, sacrifices have to be made to have nice things like perpetual adoration.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345581323' post='2471396']But it would be disruptive if he were starting and stopping every ten seconds or so, like if he was practicing as opposed to simply playing.
[/quote]
I'm not an organist but I'm willing to bet, based on relationships I've had with several very skilled organists, that one worth his weight would not be stopping every ten seconds -- even when practicing.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='franciscanheart' timestamp='1345582401' post='2471408']
I'm not an organist but I'm willing to bet, based on relationships I've had with several very skilled organists, that one worth his weight would not be stopping every ten seconds -- even when practicing.
[/quote]

One would hope not. But choirs do, unfortunately. At least the ones I've encountered.
Perhaps ten seconds is an exaggeration, but not by much.

The vast majority of church choirs I've encountered in my diocese are, unfortunately, not very skilled at all.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345582953' post='2471418']
One would hope not. But choirs do, unfortunately. At least the ones I've encountered.
Perhaps ten seconds is an exaggeration, but not by much.

The vast majority of church choirs I've encountered in my diocese are, unfortunately, not very skilled at all.
[/quote]
That's a shame, since the Vatican has clearly instructed that musicians should be trained extensively to serve the Mass.

I've never encountered a choir that rehearsed in the main sanctuary right up until the opening bell / introit / opening hymn. Perhaps I have simply been blessed in my experiences, but I'm willing to bet that even the most dimwitted directors know better than to clamor on right up until Mass time.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='franciscanheart' timestamp='1345583175' post='2471421']
That's a shame, since the Vatican has clearly instructed that musicians should be trained extensively to serve the Mass.

I've never encountered a choir that rehearsed in the main sanctuary right up until the opening bell / introit / opening hymn. Perhaps I have simply been blessed in my experiences, but I'm willing to bet that even the most dimwitted directors know better than to clamor on right up until Mass time.
[/quote]

[quote]That's a shame, since the Vatican has clearly instructed that musicians should be trained extensively to serve the Mass.
[/quote]

Indeed. In most parishes in my diocese, in my opinion, the liturgical situation has not yet begun to look up.

[quote]I've never encountered a choir that rehearsed in the main sanctuary right up until the opening bell / introit / opening hymn. Perhaps I have simply been blessed in my experiences, but I'm willing to bet that even the most dimwitted directors know better than to clamor on right up until Mass time.
[/quote]

They do it at the church I used to attend if I had to miss the morning Mass at a different parish for whatever reason. Worse still, their 'speciality' is a particular gospel/jazz setting which I believe is perhaps among the worst Mass settings ever composed. Ken Canedo and Bob Hurd's "Mass of Glory", if you're familiar with it.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345583419' post='2471425']
Indeed. In most parishes in my diocese, in my opinion, the liturgical situation has not yet begun to look up.

They do it at the church I used to attend if I had to miss the morning Mass at a different parish for whatever reason. Worse still, their 'speciality' is a particular gospel/jazz setting which I believe is perhaps among the worst Mass settings ever composed. Ken Canedo and Bob Hurd's "Mass of Glory", if you're familiar with it.
[/quote]
(But I acknowledge that this is a preference. I am a traditional gal at heart, but I don't pass judgment on those who do not share my fancies. (I do try to convert them, though.))

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1345527942' post='2471137']
He was absolutely right.

A postlude occurs after Mass has ended.
[/quote]

I'm not a big fan of clapping, but I totally agree that after Mass is definitely the appropriate time to do so if it's going to happen. Of course... it's also been close to ten years since I regularly attended a parish that had an amesome organ and organist in residence, so I'm even less inclined to clap for whatever passes for music at some parishes.

[Nihil Obstat]

I am willing to argue that Canedo and Hurd's Mass of Glory is objectively inappropriate for Mass, though I am not willing to do so in this thread.