Speaking the Psalm?

[Deleted User]

Is anyone having the psalm spoken instead of sung? I just moved to a new parish and don't know anyone, so I wouldn't know where to find a cantor. The lady who does a great job at our Sunday Masses has to work the day we're getting married...

Riss91

My sister did (she didn't have a cantor at all), it was pretty simple.

professorscience

I've never seen it done at a wedding, but there is a 7:45 pm mass here in Dallas where everything is spoken, and it's fine.

Does your church only have one cantor?  I would think the music director might be able to find someone?  We actually had one of my bridesmaids cantor.  She just practiced with the organist about an hour before the ceremony and it was beautiful.  You might see if you could have a friend come in (if you know anyone who would be willing who is also coming for your wedding).

bibliophile2010

I agree with talking to the music director at your parish. S/he should have several suggestions. I would also talk to the person who is doing the music at your wedding -- they can often either cantor themselves or have ideas of people who can do it. Our pianist also cantored and it was beautiful.

lalaith50

Are you having a Mass with your wedding? If so, you'll still need to find someone to cantor the rest of the Mass, like singing something at communion, and possibly also offertory. So, while, yes, it is allowable for the psalm to be spoken, even if you don't have a Mass, there will also be an Alleluia that is usually sung. Your music director or whoever is doing the instrumental aspect of the ceremony should be able to recommend a cantor.

[Deleted User]

No, we're not having a Mass, so a cantor isn't strictly necessary for the Alleluia (the option exists to skip the verse anyway). Our ceremony musician isn't Catholic, and being only six weeks here in a new city I don't have any Catholic friends close at hand.

And no, we have two cantors for Sunday Masses, but I'm afraid the other one just doesn't do that great a job...

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_speaking-psalm?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:9e23240b-daa5-4d51-80b3-2a8bda67db1cPost:58a6c1d4-a652-41d9-9871-7955e3baae00">Re: Speaking the Psalm?</a>:
[QUOTE]No, we're not having a Mass, so a cantor isn't strictly necessary for the Alleluia (the option exists to skip the verse anyway). <strong>Our ceremony musician isn't Catholic</strong>, and being only six weeks here in a new city I don't have any Catholic friends close at hand. And no, we have two cantors for Sunday Masses, but I'm afraid the other one just doesn't do that great a job...
Posted by MsMichal[/QUOTE]

It's not necessary for the cantor to be Catholic.  They certainly prefer it, but it's not necessary.  In fact, I knew lots of voice majors in college who cantored for local churches simply for the love of singing. 

We also had one nonCatholic reader (my father) for the second reading.