ITT We Discuss Theology

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Sadly, we have guitarists that have that problem. I've threatened to have an extended bathroom break during the worship part of our services if things don't use a meter soon.

Dirge-like guitars! Ack!

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Dirge-like guitars! Ack!

How is that possible? Though when I was a camp counselor our music director/guitarist managed to turn all the hymns into country songs.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Dirge-like guitars! Ack!

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

How is that possible? Though when I was a camp counselor our music director/guitarist managed to turn all the hymns into country songs.

Yes, they are SOOOO slow with some songs that the congregation will probably think I have a bladder problem.

The worst part is that it seems to happen most often when the pastor's (grown) son is worship leader.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Yes, they are SOOOO slow with some songs that the congregation will probably think I have a bladder problem.

When I was a kid, my local parish had the dreaded "Mark the Organist". Whenever there was a hymn in the Mass, he would play at least one, usually two or three, more verses than was necessary. For example, during the entrance, he would start to play as the altar boys, lector, and priest processed in, keep playing as the priest prepared the altar, and then KEEP playing as the priest stood there waiting. He wasn't slow, he just played too many extra verses.

This didn't sit well with my father. When I entered eighth grade, there were two Confirmation class teachers in the parish's CCD program. One of them was Mark. My father went to the head of the program and said, "Please please PLEASE don't put my daughter in Mark's class." So I was placed in the other class. The teacher was a priest and an excellent instructor.

(... And now I'm Jewish. )

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

When I was a kid, my local parish had the dreaded "Mark the Organist". Whenever there was a hymn in the Mass, he would play at least one, usually two or three, more verses than was necessary. For example, during the entrance, he would start to play as the altar boys, lector, and priest processed in, keep playing as the priest prepared the altar, and then KEEP playing as the priest stood there waiting. He wasn't slow, he just played too many extra verses.

See, now there's a Protestant-Catholic difference I just never could get used to. In my Protestant (more particularly Presbyterian) world, it's rare that you don't sing all of the verses. It doesn't matter if everyone has finished processing and is standing there waiting for the next thing, if there are still three verses, then you sing the remaining three verses. Sometimes you miss the whole point of the hymn if you don't sing the whole thing. The only time verses get dropped is if there's risk of the service going way too long, or if the hymn is being used for a specific purpose and only certain verses fit that purpose.

So it's always odd to me when in a Catholic Church they stop the hymn because whatever action going on was done. I feel a little cheated. But then again, it often seems that in general (there are definitely exceptions), Catholics just don't sing hymns with the same . . . fervor? . . . that Protestants traditionally do. I'm not criticizing that, but just noting what seems to be a cultural difference.

[Psi U MC Vito]

It might be the difference in emphases between the two traditions. More of a focus on Word in Protestantism, so the words of the hymns are very very important. But more of a focus on the Sacraments in the Catholic tradition, so the hymns are important as far as they enhance the performance of the sacrament.

[SWTXBelle]

Once again, it's nice to be in the Anglican Ordinariate - we use the ECUSA 1982 Hymnal. We sing all the verses at the high church 10:30 mass, but only the first 2 or so at the plain 8:15 a.m. - there's no big procession at 8:15, just the priest, a deacon, and 2 or so altar servers. No choir - we have 2 cantors. The 8:15 has the Latin, though. The boys prefer it because it is shorter.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

It might be the difference in emphases between the two traditions. More of a focus on Word in Protestantism, so the words of the hymns are very very important. But more of a focus on the Sacraments in the Catholic tradition, so the hymns are important as far as they enhance the performance of the sacrament.

My guess is it's more of a vernacular vs. Latin thing, along with hymns being traditionally a main means of congregational participation among Protestants. That's why hymns and metrical psalms took on such a strong role after the Reformation among the Lutherans and Reformed. They've certainly been important among the Anglicans and Methodists, too.

And Belle, whatever works with the boys.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Once again, it's nice to be in the Anglican Ordinariate - we use the ECUSA 1982 Hymnal. We sing all the verses at the high church 10:30 mass, but only the first 2 or so at the plain 8:15 a.m. - there's no big procession at 8:15, just the priest, a deacon, and 2 or so altar servers. No choir - we have 2 cantors. The 8:15 has the Latin, though. The boys prefer it because it is shorter.

ECUSA 1982 Hymnal, all verses. Psalm sung. Four part Anthem with Descant. Bonus points for Latin.

[SWTXBelle]

All masses (to the best of my knowledge - I've only been to the 4:30 Saturday Vigil once) - Anglican chant. Thank you, daily chapel at the ECUSA school at which I taught for 7 years. I can flat out ANGLICAN CHANT.
10:30 -Traditional Scottish Gloria (which I love, love, love)

You know something I adore and almost never get to hear (certainly not at my church)? Shape note singing. I think it is awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g1UH...44686B85FA0A50

[MaryPoppins]

My former choir directors always called Shape Note singing "Sacred Harp." I like that we would sing from lots of different traditions, the Swahili hymn "Bwana Awabariki" for an associate rector retiring (she had served in Kenya as a new ordinate) and from the soundtrack of The Mission "Vita Nostre" for a departing rector who adored the movie. It was a privilege to sing with these folks at GSLEC, and they sang at my wedding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdc31mIRYgI

[SWTXBelle]

I just found this - I will have to pursue it! (Hasn't been updated since 2011, which is worrisome. http://singings.texasfasola.org/monthly/houston.html )

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I just found this - I will have to pursue it! (Hasn't been updated since 2011, which is worrisome. http://singings.texasfasola.org/monthly/houston.html )

Hope you can find them!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

My former choir directors always called Shape Note singing "Sacred Harp."

The Sacred Harp was/is the hymnal from which most shape-note singing comes.

I love singing from different traditions as well. I'm glad to be in a congregation that embraces that. The new Presbyterian hymnal has lots of world music in it.

[Psi U MC Vito]

^^^ Tired of being the "Frozen Chosen"

ETA: Though you guys do have some competition in that. A good friend of mine likes joking that Lutherans are the only group that can sing "Stand Up for Jesus" while sitting down.