MUSICIAN’S BOOK OF THE MASS, THE John Hajda and Diana M. Kaulback Paper, $7.95 60 pages, 4¼" × 7" ISBN 0-89390-481-3 View Table of Contents View Excerpt Quantity:

This little pocketbook is the perfect way to get parish musicians and choir members on the same page. In plain language, the authors explain the role of musicians and the choir in the Roman Catholic liturgy based on key church documents on liturgy and music. This is a great way to motivate both new and experienced music ministers. Volume discounts available when 10 copies or more are ordered.

 About the Authors John Hajda is the music editor at Resource Publications, Inc., and editor of Simple Gifts, a newsletter that helps music ministers increase the participation of the assembly in liturgy. He is currently completing a doctoral program in musicology at UCLA.

 Diana Macalintal Kaulback is the music director for St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Concord, Calif. She gives regular workshops on liturgical music and has written for Ministry & Liturgy magazine (formerly Modern Liturgy).

Table of Contents

 Foreword

 Unit I
Holy
A Holy People
Questions for Reflection and Discussion

 Unit II
Holy Times
Questions for Reflection and Discussion

 Unit III
Holy Music
Questions for Reflection and Discussion

 Unit IV
Holy Preparation
Questions for Reflection and Discussion

 Unit V
Order of the Mass
Questions for Reflection and Discussion

 Unit VI
Putting It Together
Questions for Reflection and Discussion

 Appendix
Blessing of Music Ministers
Suggested List for Additional Study

Following is an excerpt from The Musician’s Book of the Mass. All rights reserved. Copyright © Resource Publications, Inc.

 Unit I

 Holy

 In this book, we will often use the word “holy.” We do not intend this word to mean “angelic” or “blessed” or “sacred.” In Hebrew, the word kodesh means “holy” in the sense of “set aside” or “special.” You are holy in that sense because, as a member of the music group, you have assumed a leadership role in the liturgical ministry of your community.

 A Holy People

 “You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises’ of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 RNAB) You are part of that “holy nation.” This does not mean that you are better than people who do not go to your church or who do not believe in your God. It means that you are part of a special community, one special to God, with special responsibilities to serve God and your neighbors. As a music minister, you are “holy” in another way. You have a special role to play—you help the rest of the assembly sing the acclamations, psalms, hymns, and other musical prayers in the Mass. You help to build the body of Christ by your presence and by the ways that you encourage everyone’s participation. You help to make the liturgy more beautiful, more special, more “holy.” A wise person once said that the one who sings well, prays twice. As a music minister, you are a professor of faith, not a performer.

 Everyone who is present at the liturgy has a special (holy) role when it comes to music:

• The liturgical assembly is the gathering of believers who sing, listen, and pray. These people are the Church. The assembly has the primary role, which is to actively participate in the liturgy in a full and conscious manner. There is no audience, no passive element in the celebrations of the Church.

• The presider is the one who leads the gathered assembly in prayer. There are a number of liturgical elements that he should sing. He should always sing along with the assembly.
• The music director prepares and leads the music. She or he must be knowledgeable of both music and the liturgy. In addition, the music director may take a prominent role in the planning of the music, decide on repertoire, tend to the public address system, be responsible for the recruitment of new choir members, and serve in other ways on your parish ministry team.
• The cantor leads the assembly in sung prayer, often during the singing of the responsorial psalm but during other moments as well. The cantor may intone (sing) a melody and gesture to the assembly to repeat the tune. In many communities, the cantor teaches new music before liturgy begins.
• The choir, like the cantor, also leads the assembly in sung prayer. The choir may also alternate a musical passage with the assembly. By rehearsing harmony parts and working on special musical skills like phrasing and blend, the choir helps to make the music of the Mass more beautiful. Sometimes—but not too often!—the choir will sing a piece by themselves. The choir pieces are not performances; they are a special way of proclaiming our faith in and praise to God.
• During sung music, the instrumentalists provide the foundation for the voices by providing the proper starting pitch, introducing the tempo and style, and playing the introductions so everyone knows when to start singing. At certain times, the instrumentalists provide musical support, such as an instrumental piece before Mass, an instrumental underscore to a spoken text, or a recessional piece.

 As you can see, every person has a role in the music of your church’s liturgies. As a member of the music ministry team, you are a leader among ministers.

 Questions for Reflection and Discussion, Unit I

 1. Why did I join my church’s music group or choir?

 2. How have I benefited from being a member of the group?

 3. What can I do this week to better encourage the participation of the assembly?

 Prayer

 Holy God, you give us the gift of music so that we may praise you. Thank you for calling us to special roles in the ministry of the Church. Help us to realize our gifts and develop them to their fullest, so that we may do our part in building the Body of Christ. Amen.