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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Richard Sherman and Self-Confidence

Andrew R. Motyka · January 29, 2014

HERE MIGHT NOT BE much overlap between American football fans and sacred music professionals, but I am one point of intersection.

Last Sunday were the Conference Championship games in the NFL, and the biggest story coming out of the NFC Championship was a rant by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman after the game. He let it rip into the camera and yelled at a reporter, taking shots at the opposing teams’ players. Many people, myself included, thought this was bad behavior and even worse sportsmanship, though some of the backlash has been overblown.

One reason it was overblown is that Sherman was approached by the reporter right after the game, which ended on a play in which Sherman himself was the hero. When the reporter interviewed him, he was still completely pumped on adrenaline and machismo which is necessary in these kinds of situations. That he couldn’t just drop that persona is excusable, in my opinion. That he didn’t later regret it is the problem.

I still understand where Sherman is coming from, though. To some degree, we need to pump ourselves up for performance, and like it or not, playing and singing at Mass is a performance. Many people don’t like to think of “performing” at Mass, and I understand that hesitation, but performance is the means by which music is accomplished. You do not mumble, stutter, ruthlessly execute, or even proclaim music. As a performance art, it must be performed. To do this well, you have to be confident.

People who know me well might think that this is strange coming from me. Ask my wife, and she will tell you that I am Captain Insecurity when it comes to organ playing, singing, conducting, literature selection, and even dressing for Mass. I constantly feel underqualified for my position, that I snuck in and no one has realized it yet. When it is time to play, sing, or conduct, however, I have to put on the mask of confidence in myself. I have to pump myself up, just like Richard Sherman does, and believe that I am the Best in the Room. This isn’t arrogance; it’s simply psychological. The choir can’t follow a conductor who meekly gives cues, an organist will not shape phrases if he is worried about his ability, and the singer, most of all, will not be able to sing to the best of his ability if he is not confident in what he is about to do.

The best way to build this confidence, of course, is to become truly excellent at what you do, to practice your craft until you truly are the Best in the Room. There comes a point, though, when bravado takes over, and you have to believe it even if you are like me and constantly worried.

The trick, though, is to put down this facade as soon as you are finished with the piece. When someone approaches me after Mass and compliments the choir’s offertory piece, I don’t continue to beat my chest and act like the diva. It is the time for humility, for “Thank you; this choir is a joy to work with” (which, if you have my choir, is easy to say). That is the time to give thanks to God for what he has given to you, and for the opportunity to serve him in song. Allowing any meekness, faux- or otherwise, to creep into your performance doesn’t serve anyone.

Giving your best in your performance of your job is the only way to do this job. There is no halfway. When the downbeat comes, believe you are capable, relax into your competence, and take command.

It’s the only way to perform.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Leave the Mass alone. Our churches are full—the Protestants, in spite of their vernacular, far otherwise.”

— Cardinal Godfrey (one of the Vatican II fathers)

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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