I'm insane with anger (ok just disappointed)

It's busy so maybe I'm just intolerant right now. But here we go.

I was browsing through the Christian Chronicle when I found this little gem of an article. Maybe I shouldn't read the Chronicle any more.

Dr. Wilson has some interesting stuff to say about singing in church.

1. Examine the texts of the music we’re using. This is a highly emotional area where differences of opinion will occur, but if everyone agrees that a particular hymn text is poorly written or has nothing significant to say, why should we use that text in our worship? This may also force us to look at texts that have only one thing to say, over and over again, and decide if there is a better text to use.

2. Get a music professional involved in looking at the music we sing. We expect our preachers and ministers to have a college degree; our musicians should have a similar background. At the least, find a musician in the community who’s willing to evaluate the hymn arrangements and separate the wheat from the chaff. We all appreciate those who have good hearts and the willingness to lead, but some training is absolutely required.

3. Look for good music that is well written. Don’t assume that if it’s in the hymnbook, it must be good. Publishers are primarily in the business of selling. When a new piece of music becomes popular, a publisher’s job is to get hymn arrangements available as soon as possible. This doesn’t always lead to great arrangements. Look for the good ones. Avoid the bad ones.

The bottom line is that we shouldn’t be satisfied with presenting music to God that is less than the best we have to offer.

Congregational singing doesn’t have to be a concert, but it should be the best we can make it. We must teach our members the difference between music appropriate for private enjoyment and music suitable for public worship.

We must learn the difference between individual pleasure or having fun, and the corporate effort of worshiping God. New music should be included with older, more traditional hymns, but only music that is worthwhile and well written.

GARY P. WILSON is director of choral activities and associate professor of music at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. A member of the Smith Springs church in Antioch, Tenn., he earned his doctorate in musical arts from the University of Nebraska.

Dec. 1, 2007

Okeydokey.

Examine the text of a song. Agreed. Especially in Samoa. Some of our members speak as much english as I speak spanish. Beulah land is out forever. All people that on Earth do dwell, Be not dismayed wher'er be tide, Come ye disconsolate, Here we are but straying pilgrims (oka! funny hats?), Kum by yah (#986), and almost anything else written before 1875 are all out. In fact I don't understand the words I'm tearing it out.

Songs that say the same thing over and over. Every song with a chorus is out. Ok maybe not. But what's wrong with a nice repetitive song? Don't the angels sing Holy holy holy is the Lord for like 10,000 years? Well I think I'll keep "How Great is our God." I don't give a load of poop if the song is repetitive; does it have meaning? That being said don't sing it EVERY time we meet.

A good music professional involved. Ok. I definitely think someone needs to be involved with the songs. Especially someone who can find solid songs, especially those not in the book. The problem with a good music professional is they like a professional sounding service. I've driven by a lot of Samoan churches that don't sound good musically, but the people are praising God with their hearts. So it sounds a whole heckuvalot better than we do with our four part harmony where everybody sings under their breath.

Look for music that is well written. Umm alrighty. Does it sound good? Well let me tell you if its complicated it won't. If is arranged for a chorus, chances are it sounds like crap at the Tafuna coC. (Lynn if you read the blog please stop singing "Beautiful" its not good. People don't sing not because they don't know they words, they just think it sounds horrible)

Find good arrangements. That gets an old-school Alvin "BEEEEBOOOOP!" Just sing the freaking song like you heard it on the radio. I'm sick of this music notation and people trying to complicate a good song. Just sing it from your heart, not the page.

Difference between music for individual pleasure and the corporate worship. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. I'm so angered by this statement I can't combat it. Here's what I heard, "don't sing songs that you hear on the radio that you like. God doesn't like that stuff. Its not coC." I dunno.

I guess I think that if you have a congregation that really enjoys singing four-part choral arrangements then that's what you should sing. We like singing at Tafuna, but not that. The same goes for camp. I don't think the 8-14 group sings in four part very well at Super Week. We shouldn't expect them to. Cut the quartet up front- sing the song- one or two parts. If people want to sing others- ok, but don't expect them to.

Paul "