I was thinking this at Mass on Saturday evening.
I was thinking about how the celebrant at Mass, after he starts a prayer off – say the Credo or the Lord’s Prayer – shuts off his microphone, oh so subtley, so that he doesn’t overwhelm. He got us going – job done. Let’s pray together.
Then I was thinking about cantors.
But then I couldn’t think. Because I COULDN’T HEAR MYSELF. OR ANYONE ELSE.
(And yeah, I should have been praying. But there was this guy. And he was so…loud. His loudness didn’t focus me. It sort of entered my head and made whatever was in there explode and scatter all over the place.)
God bless them. Really. Because God bless anyone who gives of their precious time to serve God through ministry at the liturgy. I’m not kidding.
But honestly. I’ve never understood how cantors in Catholic churches help the cause of We Are The People  Actively Participating. On paper, perhaps. But in reality, I’m not so sure.
(And I know there was a really good article about this in Sacred Music a while back, but I can’t locate it. If you can, please point it out to me, and I’ll link. Update: Thanks to a commentor – here it is. )
Oh, did you think that was the heresy?
Well, it’s not.
The heresy is…
(ducks)
I am starting to think the same thing about organs
(ducks even lower)
The reason: I can pinpoint the moment. It was Holy Thursday two years ago. Some of you might know that after the Gloria on Holy Thursday, there is not supposed to be any more musical accompaniment in Mass until Easter Vigil. A Capella is the word.
In our parish we have a gorgeous organ and an extremely talented organist. Perfection. But that evening, after the Gloria – I believe it happened during the Responsorial Psalm – when the church filled with…just the voices of the people present, something I had never heard in that building before except as just the slightest, scattered points of sound underneath the organ – I was deeply moved in a way that I had never been before.
I say that with hasty and sincere appreciation for all accompanists out there (appropriate following a post on piano recitals) – but I do wonder…in terms of worship and sacred music..what is the proper balance?