Here's the scene. It is a piano recital for 2nd graders. Look around. The people there are the family and friends of the young pianists. You know who isn't there? Anyone else.
We certainly ought not be surprised by this - it is great to see a recital of a 2nd grade pianist if you know the child, but if you don't, you certainly aren't going to go take a 2nd grade piano recital in on your own. On an objective level, the music ain't that great.
At every Catholic parish, there are always a group of parishioners who know each other. The 10% who do 90% of the work around the parish. It was that way in my home parishes growing up, it was that way where I've been for summer seminarian assignments, and it is that way at the parishes I've been a priest at.
There are typically cantors known by the inner circle of parishioners, and those who know the cantors will cut the cantors a lot of slack.
Why?
Because they KNOW the person quite well, and are friends on some level with the person. They don't mind the music quality because of the relationship.
However, at every Mass, there are always a TON of people who DON'T know the cantor, and thus are much more likely to notice the OBJECTIVE quality of the cantoring.
The top two things that Catholic parishes are docked on are preaching and music. Are we paying attention to that?
There is an important movement that more and more dioceses are making a move on - a requirement that parishes pay their cantors. If we want to make the Mass something that speaks to people visiting, to those who are not already in the inner circle of the parish, then we do well to ask our cantors to meet some objective bench marks so that those who don't know them will not walk away having been completely distracted and put off by something so obvious as music quality.
Here's to hoping Catholic parishes figure this out sooner than later.
It is incredibly difficult to address such a sensitive & potentially explosive issue so deftly, while still making a valid point with a positive tone. Well done!
ReplyDeleteIt is incredibly difficult to address such a sensitive & potentially explosive issue so deftly, while still making a valid point with a positive tone. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI am in favor of paid cantors, when qualified people are available. for professional quality singers, not just paying someone because the diocese says to, as in paying an untrained parishioner. the cantor is leading us in worship not performing, this isn't just another gig. do you hire a cantor whose life style is opposed to catholic teaching ?
ReplyDeleteAs a former Protestant, speaking respectfully here, why do Catholic Churches have cantors in the first place? I'm not averse to paying them. The music in most Catholic Churches is painful and reminds me of that second grade you referred to, but I've still never figured out the requirement for cantors.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great observation! Some places don't even pay their organists, much less their cantors. It's a great idea, though. Sometimes the problem is not just the cantor, but the lack of a properly trained church musician in charge. As you know, "you get what you pay for".
ReplyDeleteHow about getting rid of the cantors?
ReplyDelete