Incarnation Church a Pioneer in Contemporary Music in Liturgy



"Guitar Group" at a Home Mass in 1976

Names are as follows (back row to front row):
ROW 6: Marty Adams, David Norton , Laurie Roy, Dominic Susca, Angie Coleman, Christine Emme
ROW 5: (inner row, sorta) Darlene McDowell, Noelle Norton, Paul Hanley
ROW 4: Liz Padilla, Mary Sandborgh (Norton), Angelique Savalas, Mary Salvini
ROW 3: Mary McDaniel, Rev. Helmut Hefner, Pius Oller, Patty Salvini (kneeling)
ROW 2: Mary Dillon, Matt Adams, Patty Rivera, Christina Rivera
ROW 1: Karen Lammersen, Teresa Rivera
FOREGROUND: Matt Adams's "legendary" Sears Silvertone Guitar, built like a Sherman Tank, could double as a canoe paddle or a baseball bat, but it was the loudest rhythm guitar in the group.

The Contemporary Choir at Incarnation Parish has the distinction of being one of the longest-running groups of its type in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. When the Second Vatican Council permitted the use of music in the popular style, there wasn't much good music to draw on. It was fairly standard practice in those early days to take an established folk song and set new words to it. Thus it was that history was made at Incarnation in June 1970, when eighth-graders John Debney and Sam D'Angelo brought their guitars into the church for the first time and performed "Come My Brothers, Praise the Lord" (to the tune of "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore") at their own graduation ceremony. The following September, under the direction of Sister Mary Leona Cook, BVM, the fledgling Contemporary Choir, then called The Guitar Group, performed once a month from the choir loft at the 10:45 AM Mass. Within a year, the Guitar Group was providing the music at 10:45 each week, with an ever-growing repertoire of songs by the likes of Sebastian Temple, Ray Repp, and Paul Quinlan. The members of the Guitar Group at this point were for the most part Junior High students at Incarnation; Sister Leona would hold practices after school on Thursdays in the auditorium for the following Sunday's services.

Sister Leona was transferred from Incarnation in 1973. The direction of the Guitar Group was taken over by Mrs. Noelle Norton, one of the church's organists for the 5:30 Saturday Mass. The group expanded rapidly under Mrs. Norton's direction, with adult choir members joining the ranks. Many of the original members, now in high school or junior college, remained with the Guitar Group as well. Soon Msgr O'Brien permitted the group to move from the choir loft down to the front of the church, where they occupied the first three rows of the north transept. The Guitar Group's repertoire grew as well, as much new contemporary liturgical music was being written across the nation and published and performed. The first contemporary hymnal for Incarnation, commonly called the "Blue Book", was culled together from many of these sources and remained in use for a number of years.

The Guitar Group's most ambitious endeavor was made on October 16/17 1976, with a full concert program called "Almost Something Elegant" which showcased the choir as an ensemble plus featured the talents of many of its members in assorted small group settings or as soloists. As 1976 was the USA's Bicentennial year, the show's grand finale was a star-spangled rendering of "You're A Grand Old Flag".

We were fortunate to have Father Helmut Hefner in residence at Incarnation from 1975 to 1978; Father (now Msgr) Hefner was a fine guitarist and singer whose talents greatly enhanced the group's performance and of course the Masses. The Guitar Group enjoyed several mountain weekend retreats in the Crestline area, which provided opportunities for personal, spiritual, and musical development.

Mrs. Norton left the Guitar Group in 1978. With Monsignor O'Brien's approval, it was taken over by Mrs. Pius Oller. Mrs. Oller continued to expand and grow the group, putting more and more emphasis on liturgical community singing than on choral performances.



Though contemporary music had been a part of the liturgy at Incarnation for over eight years at this point in time, still, in many ways, there was a sense that the 10:30 mass and the music at it was a "special" liturgy, not one of the normal liturgies of the parish. For example, the presiders at the 10:30 mass were invariably the visiting Carmelite priests and not the resident parish priests. It took the next pastor, Monsignor Eugene Frilot, to create an environment in which contemporary liturgical music was integral to the parish. Following the dictum from the Council documents and reiterated by the US bishops that "musical liturgy is normative", Monsignor Frilot worked to provide appropriate music at every Sunday Mass. We moved beyond our original "Blue Book" songbook and the parish purchased the Worship and Gather series from GIA Music, opening the parish up to a wider variety of excellent music, new and old. Mass parts were learned that could be sung in both the "organ" masses and the "guitar" mass. The 10:45 Mass was moved to 10:30. Pius Oller developed a choir to sing for the 9:00 AM mass made up mostly of children from the parish school. Her two choirs, at the 9 and the 10:30 masses, came to be known for the prayerfully reflective nature of the music. Pius' work in the school has lead to a greater appreciation for liturgy for an entire generation of Incarnation school children. The traditional choir sang for the noon Mass. Cantors and organists/pianists were installed in most of the other weekend liturgies. There was a start on building a teen-youth choir for the 5:30 Sunday evening Mass.

Currently under Fr. Paul Hruby, we at Incarnation continue to stress the importance of musical liturgy.

The Contemporary Choir sings at the 10:30 A.M. Sunday Mass. Rehearsals are on Thursdays, 7:30-9 P.M., in the church. Director: Christopher Yraola, Cantor: Kristen Shadburn. Musicians include Patty Pontrelli, Eric and Rene Hansen, Craig Shadburn and various visitors.

The Children's Choir sings at the 9 A.M. Sunday Mass. For children from first grade to eighth grade, attendance at Incarnation School not required. Rehearsals are on Saturdays, 8:30-10:00 A.M., in St. Michael's Hall. Directed by Mary Hearn. Musicians include Eric and Rene Hansen. Pianist: Dennis Doyle. Parents interested in having their children join the choir can contact Mary here.

The Traditional Choir invites you to join them. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM in the church. The choir sings at the 5:30 PM. Saturday evening Mass. Cantor: Vickie Van Paddenburg. For more information phone Melissa Bridge (818) 569-2164 or 848-5609.

The Young Adult Choir sings every Sunday at the 5:30 evening Youth Mass under the direction of Melissa Bridge . High School and older people are invited, both singers and musicians. They rehearse each Sunday before the 5:30 Mass. Melissa Bridge (818) 569-2164 or 848-5609.

Celtic harpist, singer and pianist Dennis Doyle plays for the 9AM liturgy and frequently substitutes at the other liturgies.

Cantor Nancy Bartke and pianist Melissa Bridge play each week for our 7:30 AM liturgy

More about Incarnation Parish Liturgical Ministries here .

Thanks to David Norton for the account and the picture. Dennis Doyle also contributed to this article.