Music

Our festivals feature hymns for the 21^st Century church presented in a way that makes new hymns readily accessible to the folks in the pews, most of whom do not read music. The key is in the pairing of modern texts with familiar tunes. Here’s an example.

“Hymns are the song of the people” quotes Robert Batastini, who will lead the April 25^nd  hymn festival at  St. Francis de Sales Parish. St. Francis is inviting clergy, musicians, those who sing in choirs, and those who sing in the pews, from churches throughout the area to join in this festival of song. But make no mistake, this is not a choir concert. It is a celebration of the song of the people in the pews, and when several hundred folks gather in the superb acoustics of St. Francis Church, under the musical leadership of Bob Batastini and Kelly Dobbs Mickus, the experience is both inspirational and exhilarating.

The Great Ninety Days—Lent through Pentecost, will be the focus of the event. Our celebration of the holiest time of the Church year  will take us on a journey beginning at the First Sunday of Lent, singing hymns based on the specific scriptures of each of the fourteen Sundays.

Mostly familiar tunes will be used, making it easy for everyone to sing (one need not know how to read music!), but the richest element of the festival will be with wide exploration of hymn texts by modern writers—texts for today’s church.

Robert Batastini, will narrate the event, moving us through our journey with a brief introduction to each hymn. As s hymnal editor, Batastini  coordinated the compilation of a number of  Catholic hymnals, as well as The African American Heritage Hymnal. He was a editorial contributor to The Presbyterian Hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, and served as consultant on several other denominational hymnals. He is currently director of a new hymnal project for the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., the largest African American denomination in America. Bob is past president and a fellow of the Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada. After serving for 40 years as senior editor of church music publisher GIA Publications, Chicago, he retired to Fennville, Michigan, and plays an active role in the music of St. Francis Parish.

Purpose.
The choirs, in light of our understanding of stewardship, strive to bring a level of musical performance to the liturgy, that is above that which the congregation alone is able to achieve. Through the choir, people who possess the necessary singing ability, devote time and talent to the preparation of choral music that is intended to inspire and sanctify the gathered assembly. A good choir performing appropriate music, has much the same ability to inspire as does a good homily.