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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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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

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

Far from dreading an encounter with the Iroquois, Fr. Garnier often told us he would be quite content to fall into their hands and remain their prisoner if—while they were torturing him—he at least had a chance of instructing them as long as his torments lasted. If they allowed him to live, it would afford him a golden opportunity to work for their conversion, which was now impossible, since the gateway to their country was closed as long as they were our enemies.

— Father Ragueneau (Jesuit Relations)

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