As a parish Music Director I would ordinarily program a motet for the post-Communion quiet time. But now I am not so sure that’s the best time for the choir to do a special choral number. A better idea would be to get into the habit of singing a motet at the Offertory, based on the Offertory text of the day. During the Offertory the people are busy with the collection. Sung participation in the hymn is at a low ebb. This would be the perfect opportunity to begin the kind of active listening that the Graduale envisions for the people during the gradual/tract, Alleluia, and of course the Offertory.
Catholic musicians gathered to blog about liturgy and life