With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. (Colossians 3:16b)
"Bach gave us God's Word, Mozart gave us God's laughter, Beethoven gave us God's fire, God gave us music that we might pray without words." Quote from outside an old opera house.
Music and singing enhance the worship of St. Joseph's community. The joyful participation in song by the entire assembly is an integral part of our Liturgical celebrations. Many opportunities are available for those who wish to share their talents and gifts thru the Ministry of Music. In September of 1988, an Allen organ was purchased for our sanctuary and in the spring of 2003 a beautiful Yamaha baby grand piano was given from the generosity of a family from the parish. These along with various rthythm (conga drums, bongos, cymbals, etc.) instruments and guitars are used to accompany the music of our worshiping community. Behind these though are the many men, women and children who give of their time and talents to give life to our worship thru singing and playing both at our regular weekend liturgies and also on Wednesday mornings during the school year. Many talented young people from our parish community combined with the adults give rise to an often creative and inspiring sound which brings the texts of our hymns and songs and the ritual action of our liturgies into a connection between life and faith.
Listed below is some sample music from St. Joseph Church involving members present and past from the Music Ministry.
Windchimes and O Come O Come for piano The Quest (piano) Our Song
Irish Blessing Taste and See I Will Praise You, Lord Psalm 116 with Choir
Most of the members of St. Joseph Church Music Ministry
having just sung/played for a Wedding Mass on Sunday morning.
Pastoral Associate for Music Ministry
The Pastoral Associate for Music Ministry for our parish community is Mr. Paul H. Johnson.
Our Choir Director is Deanna Kettelkamp
Instrumentalists
Anyone with a skill for playing piano, organ, flute, guitar, trumpet, or other instruments and who might contribute to the beauty of the music and prayer is welcome. Practice sessions are set individually and people are encouraged to come on Sunday mornings at 9:30 to practice with the choir. In 2006 several 8th graders from our parish were encouraged to participate and share their love of music and talents with the Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Mass when the school was present. At that time Jordan Best, Jesse Brown, Hamilton Ketchum and Adam Schafer responded along with Ryan Fleckenstein. Most have continued and the group has grown to include: Frank Mounce, Seth Faloon, John Esela, Harrison Ketchum, Richard Myers, Lonnie Wooden and others who have continued to bring a richness and creativeness to our liturgies thru their dedication and personality.
In past Christmases (2008) Nick Sorenson (8th grader) shared his trumpet skills with us and Deb Koua her piano skills at our early Mass on Christmas Eve; Christmas (2009) Brain Ralph shared his giuitar skills with us and is currently part of those who help with the music at the 4:30 Saturday Mass, along with Andrea Madonia on mandolin. Are there more out there?
Thank you to all who make and have made our liturgies reflect our community, celebrating our worship and lives of faith in Jesus Christ!
Paul H. Johnson, Pastoral Associate for Music Ministry
It is also wonderful to have people like Debbie Wilbern (organ) and Mike Glick (piano) who have graciously filled in with us or whenever the Music Director is away.
Cantor
The role of the cantor in liturgical worship is to lead in a manner that is warm and welcoming and encourages the entire assembly in sung prayer. The cantor is also called to animate the music, to take the written notes "off" the page and give them life and then share that life with the assembly. Cantors lead the assembly in prayerful song during Sunday liturgies as well as other liturgical and prayer services during the year. Part of their ministry is as the psalmist, proclaiming in song the Word of God! They teach and help support the assembly in the learning of new music.
While it is important for a cantor to possess an engaging voice and the ability to sing on pitch, practice and preparation become most important. The ability to lead is always helpful and a sense of prayerfulness and reverence for the assembly's sung prayer grows as one grows in their ministry. On-going education and training are always provided in a one-on-one basis. One should also possess a willingness to grow and learn.
Over the years there have been many people who have shared their talents with our community as Cantor including many young people such as Caitlin Hoemmen, who is attending college and Christina Sotak O'Dell, who is married and living south of Springfield. Currently our Cantors are: Caitlin Hoemmen Meghan Kunz, Gusta Schuchmann, Ken Behl and Vickie Stamper. If this sparks your interest to find out more, then contact the Music Director, Paul Johnson, or any of the present cantors or choir members regarding more information and/or training. Mr. Johnson can be reached most every weekend and through the parish office at 544-7426 or email:
cantor_4_body_lang__mic.pdf cantor_4_eye_and_face.pdf cantor_4_gesture.pdf
Proper microphone placement and useage Cantors: On memorization
- Remote Preparation:
- Read any materials on your craft that are given to you.
- Read over and reflect upon the lyrics of the psalms and hymns you are to lead. Remember St. Augustine's words: "To sing is to pray twice".
- Be sure to have the Music Schedule in your hands at least 5 days before your scheduled Mass.
- Set up a practice time with the accompanist at a time other than the day of the Mass.
- Practice on your own before meeting with the accompanist to get some idea of the music, particularly if it is new to you.
- Immediate Preparation:
- Be present for a warm-up session at least thirty (30) minutes before your scheduled Mass to go over any musical or logistical changes that may have occurred since the planning of the Mass.
- Turn on the speaker system 3-5 minutes before Mass.
- At Mass:
- Find a friendly face and make all introductions and page number announcements confidently and clearly.
- Be present to the assembly by standing tall, looking into their faces (those eyeballs again), and inviting them into God's presence by your attitude of prayerfulness, as well as by your musicality. Remember, we are the leaders of sung prayer first and foremost.
- You've heard it said that "timing is everything." Pour yourself into the ritual action. There is no room for a "jack-in-the-box" - one who is so busy looking for the next piece of music, taking a drink of water in full view of the assembly, jumping up between the readings without pausing to reflect on them, looking down at the music instead of up at the Presider during the Eucharistic Prayer, singing through Communion without partaking of the Gift of Christ Himself (yes, the people can and will sing without you as you receive the Body and Blood of Christ). All we have is the present moment to give to and receive from the Lord.
- The Leader of Song (Cantor or Psalmist) is a person who possesses a pleasant voice, who can articulate the words clearly, who can invite us to come into God's presence singing along with him or her.
Adult Choir
Adults and young people are welcome to participate in the music of the adult choir. The choir meets weekly on Thursday evenings for practice at 6:30 p.m. from about September thru Pentecost. During the summer, some of the musicians gather to make music and work on new music. Interested? The Choir sings regularly at a weekend Mass, and usually is at 10:30 A.M. Mass. On Sunday mornings at 9:30 all musicians gather to warmup and prepare for the 10:30 Mass. We have been rotating so to sing at the other Masses also.
Many have passed thru our portals over the years and have shared their joy of music and singing with the choir which ministers to the whole community. Our present musicians include: Deanna Kettelkamp (choir director), Teri Fleckenstein, Kay McCloskey, Vanessa Myers, Gusta Schuchmann (cantor), Vickie Stamper (cantor), Joy Stillwell, Aksel Meech, Meghan Ramirez (cantor), Richard Myers (guitar), Bryan Ralph (guitar), Lonnie Wooden (rhythm), Frank Mounce (rhythm), all of whom have been very dedicated and as much a 'small church community.'
Come sing with us!
Resource: The Liturgical Singer NPM
Youth Choir
The young people are an important part of the makeup of our community. They are invited and encouraged to be involved, to develop and share their talents thru singing and playing instruments. This, along with special liturgies gives them the opportunity to be creative and develop and channel this creativeness thru music. An on-going Children's Choir is our goal.
In June 2005, Cate Buescher, Frances Buescher, Hannah West, Annamarie Ramirez, Abby Barringer and Adrianna McGinnis represented our parish at the NPM Children's Choir Festival in Milwaukee, WI. They spent a weekend prior to the main convention singing and working with a renound choir director and then gave a performance for the NPM Convention. Mrs. Buescher and Mrs. Lisa Sabo accompanied the group to the festival.
Instrumentalist
Anyone with a skill for playing piano, organ, flute, guitar, trumpet, violin or other instruments and who might contribute to the beauty of the music and prayer is welcome. Practice sessions are set individually and people are encouraged to come on Sunday mornings at 9:30 to practice with the choir.
In past Christmases (2008) Nick Sorenson (8th grader) shared his trumpet skills with us and Deb Koua her piano skills at our early Mass on Christmas Eve; Christmas (2009) Brain Ralph shared his guitar skills with us and is currently part of those who help with the music at Mass. Are there more out there?
On a lighter side:
A Special Hymn
A preacher was completing a temperance sermon; with great expression he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river." With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river." And then finally, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."
He sat down. The song leader then stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn # 365: "Shall We Gather at the River."