A choir is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. The choir is led by a leader/head, who leads the choristers as a body. This body of singers who perform together as a group is a choir or chorus. The term is very often applied to groups affiliated with a church and its liturgical services in relation to worship. Strictly speaking a choir is not an apostolate of the above kind which function as a society or a movement of social action. But rather it has a ministerial function strictly in relation to liturgy and worship held in the Church. Thus its task is a sacred function, giving accompaniment to the devotees taking part in the community official Church worship.
- Differences between choir and church choir
Choirs learn to sing something exactly and beautifully, by doing a lot of practice. They sing different sorts of music, and often outside any context except that of a concert. Their reason for existence is to perform the music. Church choirs on the other hand lead the people at a religious celebration so that those people can take part confidently in the event itself. The church choir may sing during a time when the congregation is doing something else (e.g. handling the collection, lining up for Communion), but it is not there to replace the effort of the congregation but to enable and enhance it. Mass is not a concert, and music should never be an excuse to stop people joining in.
- The four “functions” of a church choir
The choir has been central in helping the church become what song-enliveners affectionately call a “singing congregation.” There are four functions to explain why the church choir exists. Those priorities help determine the programmatic choices that our music ministry makes.
- The church choir leads and enlivens the congregation’s song
We become what we sing. When we take words and put them to music, it becomes part of who we are. Therefore, it becomes imperative that we put as much of the Word into the bodies of the congregation as possible. If the congregation can sing it but we don’t let them, we miss an opportunity to transform people’s lives in the most direct way possible. By giving the congregation new singing skills and confidence, we empower them for the rest of their lives to better embody God’s word through music.
- The church choir sings music that the congregation cannot
There are some texts set to challenging music that congregations need to hear, whether it’s because it is comforting in times of crises, praising in times of joy, or inspiring in times of apathy. By spending the time and effort to rehearse each week, the choir provides a great service to the congregation by opening up the amount of literature the congregation can be exposed to. Used appropriately, this has significant theological and musical implications, broadening the congregation’s experience of the divine.
- The church choir serves as a small-group within the church for faith formation
When we sing together, a bond is created that unites us unlike any other activity. Because we meet together once a week to do work for the glory of God and benefit of neighbor, taking care of each other is no longer an option, it’s a responsibility. As the leader of this small-group, a church choir director’s job is no longer limited to musical direction, but also spiritual direction.
- The church choir sings beautiful and challenging music to praise God and edify the congregation
A church choir’s job is not just to sing beautifully, but rather it is to minister to the congregation and to each other in a variety of ways, helping to change the world into a more loving and peaceful place.
These four functions can be the guide for the choir program decision making, to ensure that the choir serves as a conduit of faith for both the parish congregation and its choir members. These principles give the choristers a framework to express the importance of the church choir and be an advocate for music ministry. Most importantly, these four functions can enliven the congregation’s singing through the faithful discipleship of the church choir members.
The Katukurunda St. Mary’s Church choir has a long history that runs back to the very beginnings of the Church building itself. The history says that from Dehiwala to Ambalangoda, for all the Church feasts the Katukurunda Church Choir has been invited to sing. One Rev. Fr. Scoko has been instrumental in the creation and establishment of this Church Choir with his own funding by supplying 12 violins and training 12 violinists to play the instruments. The youngest of the 12 had been chosen by him to be the leader of the first choir whose son Mr. B. F. Albert Fernando would succeed him eventually.
Annually the Choir would liturgically assist the congregation in three great events namely: Easter, Christmas and the Church Feast. Other than that, the Corpus Christi celebration, the May Feast, the First Holy Communion service and the Confirmation service will be of great importance to the choristers. On 22nd of November the Feast Day of Saint Cecilia is celebrated by the choristers as their patronal feast day. There had been times where a Christmas Carol service was held with the initiative of the choristers, but since the year 2018 it could not be held. The Katukurunda St. Mary’s Church is among the few Churches in the deanery that has a choir loft, but it is not being used due to the removal of its staircase.
The choir loft is a gallery that is included in the design of many different types of Christian churches. Sometimes referred to as a choir gallery, the purpose of the loft is to provide a specific location for persons functioning as a choir during a worship service to gather. A choir loft may be located in the front part of the main worship area or be located in the back section or even off to one side of the area. In just about every instance, the choir loft is situated at a level higher than the general seating for the worship area. In many churches, the choir loft is commonly found in a balcony area located at the rear of the main nave.
Because the choir loft is elevated in comparison to the general congregation, it is possible for the songs offered by the choir to wash over the congregants. A choir loft provides a specific location for a church choir to gather during a service. Katukurunda St. Mary’s Church is constructed with a choir loft that is found behind the rostrum or nave. While elevated, this type of choir loft includes the physical presence of the choir in the ongoing view of the congregation. Many find this aspect of the choir loft desirable, as it allows the congregation to see the choir while they are offering their ministry of song during the worship experience. This choir loft has got dilapidated and is in need of preservation and restoration. A project was proposed by Rev. Fr. Nilantha Ediriwickrema in the year 2019 for the renovation and restoration of this valuable choir loft but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it could not be realized.
Other than the Church choir at St. Mary’s Katukurunda, St. Joseph Vaz’s Church Modera, Moratuwa has its own choir since the year 1986. Both these choirs are mixed choirs consisting of both girls and boys. Other than the main choirs there are two types of choirs one formed by the elders (former choristers) of St. Mary’s and another for the Daham Pasal children which is being built since the year 2021. St. Mary’s Church regular choir is bilingual as it sings at the Sunday English Mass held for the English Medium Daham Pasal students and have developed the capacity to assist at English Masses without limitations or restrictions. Both Church Choirs conduct liturgy during Wedding Masses/Services and occasionally during Funeral Services. Members for the choir are chosen after an audition and an interview by the Parish Priest and the Choir coordinators of the respective choirs. It functions strictly as a Sacred Church Ministry and not as any other Church association or movement. The choristers require strict discipline and dedicated training and constant practice to carryout their responsibility in the most pleasing manner before God and the people.
Choir Coordinators:
St. Mary’s Church Choir: Shiyan (0769934013, 0753851032) Mishen (0772665363)
St. Mary’s Church Elders’ Choir: Mrs. Renuka (0112657298)
St. Mary’s Daham Pasal Choir: Mrs. Lakmali (0774171120)
St. Joseph Vaz’s Church Choir: Chrishan (0773733727)
