Mass without a cantor?

Lalanav · May 2010

Our wedding is about 6 weeks away and we hired a string trio to do our ceremony music, but it didn't even occur to me until now that maybe we need a cantor. Our church is kind of poor and unfortunately doesn't have a cantor or an official choir that we can use (just a few ladies that like to get up every once in a while to sing), and a Franciscan volunteer who also plays the piano each week (but will be away during our wedding).

Our budget is stretched kind of thin as it is (my parents are generously gifting us the ceremony musicians), so what do you think about a mass without a cantor? Would it be strange to have everything be just instrumental?

Thanks in advance!

Riss91 · May 2010

My sister used a string trio and she did not have a cantor. it was no problem at all! She did not do communion, though so I am not sure if it is the same situation as yours.

agapecarrie · May 2010

Technically, there are certain parts of the mass that must be sung, especially because you will be having music. The psalm, the acclamations, and the communion song. Do you have a friend that can sing?

Lalanav · May 2010

I was afraid of that! (though interestingly, my church does not sing anything during communion, we just have instrumental music then)

Unfortunately I don't have any friends that can sing, at all. We're all pretty tone-deaf. My uncle has a lovely voice, but he's unsure if he can even make it because my cousin is due the day of my wedding and he promised her he'd be there. I guess I will just have to see about shifting things around to try to hire a cantor!

Thanks

[Deleted User] · May 2010

Check around to people you know. What about the people that normally sing on Sundays for mass? That is what we are doing, she is only $50 and has a great voice and sings on Sundays anyway. She and a few other people do weddings and things on the side as well. Do you have any friends that have kids that can sing?

ring_pop · May 2010

What does your priest think about not having a cantor? I'd ask him before hiring someone. I know that my church is OK with the psalm and gospel acclamation being read.

Karen's MOH · May 2010

I was going through the same thought process. My understanding is that usually it is PREFERRED but not required, to have certain parts sung (resp psalm, acclamation). I think it would probably be fine to have those read, just check with the priest. If he didn't say it earlier it's probably not required

Other posters had good ideas about asking the rgular cantors or kids that could sing. I am blessed with 2 good friends with beautiful voices so I have asked them to sing.

mica178 · May 2010

I was told that all the sung parts of mass can be spoken, so if we didnt' have a cantor in mind, the psalms, etc. would be spoken.

Music is supposed to be playing whenever the priest moves, but that's a different issue.

Lalanav · May 2010

The only people who regularly sing at mass on Sundays are little girls who enjoy running up and singing, but there's no real choir or vocalist. Once in a while a woman comes to mass who sings, but she comes so infrequently that I don't know if I'd even get a chance to ask her.

There are no kids in our circle of friends (I'm 26, so none of our circle has kids yet and the only kids in families are under the age of 5).

But yes, I will definitely talk to the priest before hiring one. I guess I was preemptively hoping he would be ok without one, and wanted to know what people thought of the idea of a mass without a cantor!

Thank you all

Calypso1977 · May 2010

we had a Mass in Latin, and did not need a vocalist. we only went with an organ.

Ckirwin · May 2010

if your priest prefers/requires you have a cantor you could always ask another parish in your area if they have a cantor who could sing for your wedding. just a thought! GL!

MeegePVchick · May 2010

Is there a local Catholic HS? Contact the choir director there to see if you could hire some students to sing- That is what I am thinking of doing- since our organist is horrible and can't carry a tune! for music I am asking 2 of my cousins who play trumpet to play.

Lalanav · May 2010

Thanks for all the great responses and ideas! Luckily our priest said that we don't have to have a cantor, which is great news, so we're just going to have the responsorial psalm and acclamation read/spoken.

Mass without a cantor?

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