CHOIR

According to Merriam Webster:

- an organized company of singers (as in a church service)
- a division of angels
- the part of a church where the services are performed

TYPES OF CHOIR:
Mixed Choir, Male choir, Female choir, childrens choir and etc.

STRUCTURE
CHOIR MASTER / CONDUCTOR / CHORAL DIRECTOR
CHOIR
- A capella (without instrumental accompaniment)
- w/ Accompanying instrument
- FOUR PART HARMONY / FOUR VOICES
(Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)

IDEAL QUALITIES OF A CHOIR MEMBER

- Punctuality
- Commitment
- Responsibility
- Self Awareness
- Trust
- Attentiveness
- Consideration for others
- Listening Skills
- Sense of the Whole
- Sense of Humor
HOLY MASS
- Eucharistic Celebration
- Highest form of worship
- To give thanks
- Liturgy leitourgia originally means public work or 'service in the name of / on behalf of the people.'

The liturgy is our way of participating publicly in the ongoing work of Christ in
worship, proclamation of the Gospel and active charity to the glory of God (Catechism
of the Catholic Church (CCC), 1069-70).

TWO PARTS OF MASS

- THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
- THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

MUSIC MINISTRY

Psalmist
Introduces:
- Psalm Responses
- Alleluia or Gospel acclamations
- Verses
Cantor
To lead:
- Gloria
- Sanctus
- Lamb of God
Choir
Serves the assembly by leading it in a sung prayer.

From the smooth coordination of all the priest celebrant and the deacon, the acolytes,
the altar servers, the readers, the psalmist, the schola cantorum (choir), the musicians,
the cantor and the assembly flows the proper spiritual atmosphere which makes the
liturgical moment truly intense, shared in and fruitful (Chirograph, 8).

IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC IN LITURGY

MINISTERIAL ROLE (under Lay Ministry)

- to play in the celebration of the Liturgy
- MINISTRY means SERVICE.
The choir is at the service of the Congregation, the people of God.
- Exercises a liturgical function in the assembly: adds beauty and solemnity in the celebration

LITURGICAL SONGS (PRAYERS)

PURPOSE AND TASK:

to lead and help, to animate and support, to encourage the full participation of the congregation.
- To celebrate the faith
- According to Saint Augustine: Singing is twice praying
Our preparation and leadership of music within the Mass greatly assists the People of
God, the community as the body of Christ, to experience "new life in the Spirit,
involvement in the mission of the Church, and service to her unity" (CCC 1072).

ROLE OF CHOIR IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS

*** ORDER OF THE MASS TO BE DISCUSSED NEXT MEETING ***
Introductory rites
Liturgy of the Word
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Communion rite
Concluding Rite

ASSIGNMENT/EXERCISES:
Observe the order of the mass and the choir.
Always attend the practices.

GENERAL RULES IN BUHAY NA MUSIKA CHOIR

EUCHARISTIC AMAZEMENT

PASTORAL LETTER 2007-2008 TO ALL THE CATHOLICS OF KUWAIT

FROM BISHOP CAMILLO BALLIN, MCCJ, VICAR APOSTOLIC OF KUWAIT EXTRACT

IV. Music in the Eucharistic celebration

We take active part in the celebration also by means of singing. Music is one of the important means used by the
Church in order to celebrate her faith. So the sacred hymns form a necessary and integral part of the Liturgy. St.
Augustine affirms that a Christian who sings well prays twice.
Music conveys a feeling of unity to the congregation, and if the songs are properly chosen it introduces the
faithful into the right spirit of the particular feast that is celebrated. Music possesses a rich variety of forms and
expressions, and many of these are introduced in the liturgy to enrich the celebration. I give here the list of
them:
a) There are two processional songs: the first at the entrance, the second at the time of the Holy Communion.
They are called processional because they are sung when the priest, ministers of the Eucharist, lectors and
servants enter in a processional way to the church or when the faithful move to receive the body of the Lord.
The entrance song is meant to create an atmosphere of celebration and worship in the assembly. We come to
the church and our hearts are heavy with the problems that we face. The entrance song should help us to leave
for a moment our difficulties in order to be able to hear attentively the Word of God and to celebrate the
 Eucharist with a personal participation. The communion song fosters a sense of unity among us who are aware
of becoming the Body of Christ when we are nourished with his body.
b) The responsorial Psalm is like the answer given to God by us after the reading of his Word and his message.
c) The acclamation and the ordinary chants introduce the music throughout the whole Rite of the Mass. They
are: Lord have mercy, Glory to God, Amen at the end of the Eucharistic prayer, the Lords Prayer, the Lamb of
God.
d) The Offertory Song may accompany the offering of the gifts.
Well trained choirs add beauty, solemnity and joy to the liturgy and also assist and encourage the singing of the
congregation. They must be more promoted in our three churches and must be trained by frequent choir
practice of the members.
Our choirs must know that their purpose is not to execute difficult songs but only to help the congregation to
sing. I noticed in the Cathedral that many times some our choirs sing more like in a concerto, for themselves.
In this way they reduce the participation of the faithful to a mere passive listening of their songs.

Yours in Jesus Christ

+ Camillo Ballin, mccj
Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait askbishop@gmail.com website: www.vicariatekuwait.or