Mass Appeal

This past Sunday I attended a High Mass in which, at least for the first time since I've been at my church, the Ordinary was sung not by the crackerjack choir to the strains of Palestrina or some other master of polyphony, but instead in plainsong by the congregation (albeit led by a handful of choir members).

I felt exactly like Lt. Frank Drebin trying to pass himself off as Enrico Pallazzo. This was especially embarrassing given the fact that the eldest Llama-ette insisted on tagging along and I had been lavishly praising the musick ahead of time.

I'm curious (and I ask here because I would feel too sheepish asking one of the priests in person) as to whether there is some particular liturgical reason for or implication in this switch, or whether it's more likely just a matter of parish mechanics (i.e., the choir gets a break).

SHAMEFACED MORON UPDATE: Of course, the more I think about it, the more idiotic my question seems. Heck, the choir at RFEC disappears on a regular basis during the summer months (during which anyone can show up on a given Sunday and cover for them), why the heck shouldn't it be the same at RRCC?

I suppose my rook status is still showing - I assume that there is Some Significance to every single permutation of the Mass and find it hard to grasp that choir members are people, too.