One of the first tasks that will be given to any church pianist is that of providing a weekly offertory. While some may consider the presentation of a solo one of the easier aspects of the position, I feel that the quality of the weekly offertory is one of the major factors that distinguishes a good church musician from a superb one.
Because of the role music plays in the church service, the offertory must be selected with care. Think about where the solo will occur in the order of worship. Are you following a lively choral anthem that will lead right into the congregational worship? Will the offering follow a generally somber prayer for the needs of the congregants? If you find yourself in a church without a strong liturgical tradition as I do, the positioning of the offertory may be altered weekly. There are few scenarios worse than a grandiose arrangement that follows a quiet time of meditation. Without advance thought and planning, you can sometimes find yourself in an awkward situation.
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One moment you are happy and relaxed playing the hymns and choruses on the piano, the next minute you find yourself on the organ after being approached by the Vicar. Well, he or she did say some nice things and it is your Christian duty – right!
Now that your arms and legs are flying in all directions, the pressure is on and although you are working very hard at every opportunity, you are still finding it difficult to keep up with the requirements of the job.
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Singing within the Catholic Church has enjoyed a long and varied history. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that The Priests, a group of three Irish priests, have signed a recording contract and will be releasing a debut album in November that is set to include a number of liturgical pieces as well as hymns. Just a few of the pieces that are expected to be included on the album include Ave Maria, Abide With Me and Be Still My Soul.
While early traditions of the church are sometimes seen as far different from modern practices, congregational singing was always an important element in the early church. From the earliest days of the church, the practice of singing psalms has taken place. To a large degree, psalm singing is a carry-over from synagogues. The elementary form grew from the practice of morning and evening prayers. Over the years, the styles of psalm singing have changed as cultures as well as musical tastes have evolved throughout time. In the last few years, the practice of singing has experienced a strong resurgence. One of the primary events that led to this resurgence occurred when Latin gave way to vernacular within the church. As a result, new settings needed to be composed. This was an important change within the tradition because it then made it possible for the congregation to take part in singing the psalms in a more meaningful way. That tradition of singing has carried over into modern times. Today, singing within the church is considered to be a favored part of worship. Depending on the nature of the hymn, singing within the church can allow the congregation to express the various moods of worship.
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