That’s a line that Choir Directors have been using for years.
Staleness is NOT a "line". It is a massive pitfall. Part of the musician's mission, as outlined by numerous popes, bishops, etc., is to INSPIRE the congregation. That means everyone, including the lukewarm and those who are back for the first time in 30 years. When you sing or play the same stuff over and over again, and you get bored with it, or you think you know it better then you do, you don't pay as much attention and it gets sloppy. From first hand experience, I can say outright it is true.
Before every Mass, our choir says a prayer: "Open my mouth, O,Lord, in praise of thy holy name. Cleanse my heart and inflame my will that I may worthily sing this divine service. As we gather to sing your praise, may we but touch one soul and lead it to thee. May the gift of music we share foreshadow the beauty we shall share forever in your kingdom. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."
How can we possibly inspire anything with staleness. Even the Mass which we all know by heart, gets tired if the priest saying it isn't filled with passion for Christ. Do we hear the same readings and sermons every week? No. Then why should we have the same music?
The reality is that so little emphasis has been put on music in the church and in Catholic schools that we never really learned to sing. And when we do sing, it's what we like. Well, among the congregation. Right now, there's so much chaff in the hymnals it's hard to find the wheat.
So, please understand, it is NOT easy to keep music fresh and sounding good when you're bored with it. And if musicians are there to help inspire, you just can't be bored. Like I said, it's a give and take.
Get an organ and an organist who can lead. You don’t need a choir. We aren’t Baptists. There is something bigger than the choir going on in Holy Mass.
And now it’s 11:30 and I’m off.