The RevGals Friday Five is all about singing in worship--one of my favorite things!
1) Do you like to sing/listen to others sing? In worship, or on your own (or not at all?)
All of the above.
2) Did you grow up with music in worship, or come to it later in life? Tell us about it, and how that has changed in your experience.
I grew up with it. My grandmother was a church music director and my father an amateur organist. The church I grew up in was small but known for its emphasis on the great classical music of the church. All my life I've sung in church choirs--large and small. I'm on hiatus right now due to my session role, but find it hard not to be involved in the choir. The highlight of my "career", so to speak, was singing the soprano solos in Messiah with two combined choirs and orchestra a few years ago. And of course, singing Ave Maria at my nephew's wedding in the New York City area.
3) Some people find worship incomplete without music; others would just as soon not have it. Where do you fall?
I think worship is incomplete without music. Hello? The Psalms???
4) Do you prefer traditional music in worship, or contemporary? That can mean many different things!
Traditional classical music and hymnody is what speaks to me in worship. I notice that there is little participation in the praise songs in our contemporary worship service UNLESS a contemporary arrangement of a traditional hymn and its familiar tune are included. Then everyone sings out with gusto! So I think that too often contemporary music in worship makes the congregation spectators rather than participants which is so wrong.
5) What's your go-to music ... when you need solace or want to express joy? A video/recording will garner bonus points!
I've been told this is really a modern hymn rather than a contemporary praise song, so no wonder I love it!
9 comments:
Maybe that is a good way to define wht I like too, a modern hymn, instead of contemporary praise...this is lovely.
I don't like sappy songs, so maybe your description is better than that!
This reminds me of some Point of Grace numbers (the only "contemporary" CD I own--a gift to me!, but one I enjoy). I wonder if some of the resistance to praise music is that it often isn't very congregational, but more of a showcase for a musician, singer, or group. Just wondering.
That's one of the two big issues I have with praise music, altar. The other one is the 7/11 lyrics (7 words sung 11 times) which too often are bad theology set to unsingable chords.
Not that I have an opinion, or anythng...
Ew. I would NOT like a showcase song. Choir anthem, yes; a service where most of the music doesn't give me an opportunity to sing, NO! Not that I sing all that well, but I enjoy it all that much!
Really wasn't planning on buying more music this week. . .
BTW, if you haven't heard Nat King Cole's gospel album, Every Time I Feel the Spirit. It is once again available, this time for mp3 download from Amazon.
Elaine
"7/11" -- ha! Just what I was thinking, and you're right, this was a hymn -- there's a nice narrative arc in it. And thanks to Elaine for the tipoff about the Nat King Cole album.
I love that contemporary hymn. Just what it is! :-)
We've sung this at almost every imaginable occasion: baptisms, funerals, as part of the Great Thanksgiving in the service of communion, opening hymn, closing hymn, response of praise after the assurance of pardon.... not a wedding... yet.... :)
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