Pieces for Church

[chopinfan_22]

I'm not trying to mimic the other thread on this board, but this is actually true.

I'm trying to get a 5' grand in our church. I haven't even spoken to my priest about it... but I've tried to figure out where to place it... when to play it, etc... we have a choir and an organ, so I don't think he'd allow it. Not to mention that there's not really much room. I'm hoping to persuade him by having him listen to some music that I think would be suitable for a Catholic Mass. Here's what I have so far:

Liszt

Liebestraume
Consolation No. 3

Chopin

Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
Prelude Op. 28 Nos. 4, 6, 13, 15, 23
Etude Op. 10 No. 3


Debussy

Clair de Lune
Reverie
Danseuses de Delphes
La Cathedrale Engoutie
Arabesque No. 1

Saint-Saens

The Swan


What else would you suggest?

[cosine]

During what parts of the Mass do you plan on playing this music? I'm Roman Catholic; feel free to use me as a sounding board!

[chopinfan_22]

I was thinking either before the mass... but our church members always say the Rosary before the actual mass begins. THen I was thinking right after communion, while everyone else is going up there to recieve it. There's a period of time when my priest will sit, after everyone has taken communion, to let us all meditate on the sacrament. One of those situations.

[alzado]

We used to have guitar masses, or simply a guitar ensemble that played semi-pop religious music -- "Michael, row the boat ashore" etc etc.

Anyway, there was an electric piano used as a background.

It is hard to see exactly how a piano would work when an organ is the traditional instrument.

For pieces I would recommend "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Sheep May Safely Graze."  These are both piano transcriptions of Bach cantatas.

[Waldszenen]

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No. 17 (A Flat) from Book I, WTC.

Or just the Prelude.

[invictus]

Highway to Hell   

[caperflutist]

there is a lot of Bach music you can choose from:)

[pianistimo]

not sure how your congregation works as i've not attended a catholic church, but in our messianic congregation sometimes there is light piano music as prayers are being said.  at first i was surprised that this was allowed, but it was actually very beautiful.  we have a special situation because the spiritual leader's wife is a pianist and conductor.  also, music is played occasionally before the service and obviously the piano is used when the choir sings (not always to the organ).  usually with the formal service the organ is used, but to maintain eye contact the piano is used with the choir.  the reason for this is that the organ is way up in the loft and the choir members would either have to sing from there (which means getting up, walking up the stairs, and taking a while to get there).  getting up from their seats and singing within 1-2 minutes is much easier and allows them to see the the music leader from the piano.  since i joined the congregation - my husband sang, too - so he likes the comfort as a soloist of being in the L of the grand piano (sort of as a back drop) instead of completely alone on stage.

i am totally with you on the piano being a beautiful addition to the music service.  jazzing up songs that are sung - is another option.  you can play lightly - using several hymns put together - very lightly as people are entering or exiting the service.  it is a very nice touch, imo, and lets people know 5 minutes before they should sit down.  otherwise, people are milling around and don't really watch the time.  (unless the organist does this already).

[rafant]

I'd suggest sacred or religious music instead of the classical music you mention.  Personnally I'd prefer to listen to such pieces during a piano recital but not in a worship, where they would be out of place.  Look at this thread for a better guide:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,6450.0.html

[rafant]

Sorry, this is the link:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,6450.0.html

[bennom]

Scriabin's Poeme Satanique.

 

[chopinfan_22]

I'd suggest sacred or religious music instead of the classical music you mention.  Personnally I'd prefer to listen to such pieces during a piano recital but not in a worship, where they would be out of place.  Look at this thread for a better guide:

Thank you. I'll keep the link in mind. However, with some of the music I've listed, I think it would be a nice addition to the music that is already played... like the Debussy and such.... of course, I'll be running this by my priest before I begin playing anything.

[rafant]

Of course that the pieces of your list sounds nice, but the question is "Are they suitable for a worship?" Does matter if they were or not composed for the praise of our Lord? Anyway, I won't insist too much in this point. I know that classical music seems religious music to the vast majority of catholic ears.

[bartolomeo_]

There's a 6' grand in the church where I play.  I mostly play organ but the last keyboard player they had there mostly played piano.  Many churches in my area use piano more than organ during worship.

Lorenz music co. has a number of books for sale that have piano music composed specifically for worship.  Most of these are hymn based, being essentially variations or improvisations on hymn tunes.  They also have a bimonthly subscription service.

I am fond of Harold DeCou's piano arrangements of gospel hymn tunes for piano.  They are in a sort of "piano bar" style but based on hymns rather than pop standards.  Most of his old stuff is out of print but the folks at Bible Truth Music are publishing some of his more recent compositions, which are stylistically similar and maybe a little easier to play.

There is also a composer in Connecticut named Joe Utterback who has composed jazz and blues inspired pieces specifically for use in worship services.

Maurice Hinson has a book out that lists all the pieces from the classical repertoire that she considers suitable for Christian worship.

But it really depends on the sensibilities of the congregation and church leadership.  The church where I am a member has a widely varied music program.  They've had a wind quintet, a handbell choir, a string quartet, a wind trio, and various instrumental soloists.  On more routine Sundays, there's organ.  The last time I heard solo piano it was something from the WTK.  You could play anything in there and nobody would bat an eyelash.  Most places are more conservative.

[chopinfan_22]

*Smacks self*

Rachmaninoff's Vespers. duh.... Anyway.... I'll take all of your advice, and search for music that would be suitable for a church service.