Music Notes
Our tri-parish choir has resumed rehearsals, but we are still welcoming new members!! Everyone is welcome to come lift their voices in a joyful song. Even if you’ve been told you should sing solo (so low that no one can hear you) we would love for you to join us. The ability to read music is not required- but if you would like to learn, I can teach you. Our choir will be sharing its voices with all three of our parishes in our One Faith Community.
If you don’t sing, but you play an instrument, you are also welcome- many of the pieces our chorus sings have the option of adding additional instruments. If you would like to share your gifts, or perhaps discover your hidden talent, please join us Wednesday nights at 7pm at St. James. Please be aware that our rehearsal location will be changing and rotating in the new year, so that all performers can get used to the differences in acoustics between the churches. If you have any questions, please contact Alison Jansen, Director of Music Ministry by email.
This year, for our Advent music service, we would like to include a children’s choir. The prayer and worship service is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 17 at 3PM. The goal is to have the children sing 2-3 songs. We would be practicing for 30 minutes for 4 weeks, on Wednesdays at 6:30PM at St. James starting 11/15. If your child would like to participate, please see me after Mass, or email me anytime.—Alison Jansen, Director of Music Ministry
Music is art. Art reflects life. Liturgical music reflects religious life. As Pope John Paul II put it: “Faith not only needs to be confessed and spoken; it also needs to be sung. And music indicates that the matter of faith is also a matter of joy, love, reverence and exuberance.” The “art” of singing in church means that we not only need to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, but also to give reverence and love to those passages which may not sit as comfortably. As Catholics, according to our doctrine, our liturgical music should come directly from Scripture. As those of us who read the bible know, it is a book filled with very human experiences, both positive and negative. We read of miracles and beauty, but also of sorrow and loss. All of these things are equally important in gaining a fuller understanding of our faith.
The goal for all composers of liturgical music, and for those of us choosing their compositions to lead our congregations, is to more fully impart the word of God to the faithful. Some people learn and remember more from reading, and some learn more from hearing. When we sing together, we are increasing the chances that the information will be retained. Repetition leads to a 35% increase in information recall- it’s likely the majority of those reading this can rattle off a few hymns from memory, but they might be hard pressed to remember more than a line or two of scripture. Paul understood this when he said to the Colossians (Coll 3:16) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” In our singing, we are meant to learn from each other, and to embrace the message of Jesus.