By: Murray Somerville

Murray Somerville — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 23:18:39 +0000

Here’s a different push-back. I agree that some hymns are just too high for men to sing comfortably; as a trained singer myself, I have increasing difficulty singing all four verses of the soprano line of “A mighty fortress”, for example (a tune that was originally conceived for unison singing at a lower pitch anyway). But for me, the real missing piece in the whole article was any acknowledgement of the glorious Anglican choral tradition. The best Anglican worship combines robust hymn-singing with exquisite choral adornment. At Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston, SC, for example, Dean Michael Wright encourages enthusiastic singing of familiar (and sometimes not so familiar) hymn-tunes, (including a barn-burner at the end!) while Canon Nicholas Quardokus adorns the liturgy with the choir’s beautiful singing of inspiring choral literature, ancient and modern (not all of which is atonal!). The result is a packed congregation every Sunday, as much at home singing “I am the Bread of Life” as belting out “The Church’s One Foundation.” And the choir sings William Byrd, Judith Weir, modern American composers, and everything in between.

By: Sue Nunemaker

Sue Nunemaker — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:03:57 +0000

I will push back a little on #4. If you only sing hymns that the congregation already knows, they may be missing out on wonderful hymns that could become new favorites. All hymns were new to a congregant at some point in time…

By: Jean Meade

Jean Meade — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:32:55 +0000

Great advice from an organist-choir director before I was ordained. Especially the war horse favorites for closing!!!
Jean Meade

Comments on: Making Music Singable

By: Murray Somerville

By: Sue Nunemaker

By: Jean Meade