Speaking of musical upset - a few years back, the worship band played "when I survey' but to a different tune and there were a great many sad people. Now it is a strange phenomenon that there are many sad people in the Christian world isn't it. What makes it sadder still is the fact that those who do nothing to make things happen are always invariably the same people who put the most energy into com[plaining and moaning about things!
Well, it was these do nothing/be happy with nothing types who took every opportunity to regale anyone who would listen with their contempt for the music the words were sung to.
Have a listen and ask which you prefer and why?
What does this tell you about:
1. Pathetic, lazy and opinionated Christians?
2. Your own musical tradition?
3. Modern settings and their merit (musically or otherwise)?
Enjoy
8 comments:
At heart I'm "a rocker", but, and a very big but, I have a very catholic taste in music. It ranges from the out and out rock, through the !more melodic" to plainsong and chant, I've even been known to sing in a cathedral choir!
So where do I fit in the normal set of church music moulds?
I don't, I fit in my own mould very comfortably, I want "church music" to grab my emotions, my spirituality, and me as I am on the day, not as "the worship leader dictates", but as my relationship with God requires. Surely the last few words are the most important - I will amplify - "Christian music we enjoy is a reflection of the current state of our relationship with God, tempered by our own emotional state, this will change from time to time. But at no time must the form of music get between us and God, it must be a reflection of that relationship, not us a slave to the music".
In short, music is a servant and reflection, not a master in our relationship with God. Allowing any musical style or insturment to become, as one once person I know said, "The heart of our church" is a worrying state to be in - are we then putting music, in whatever form, to be our god (small g) to the exclusion of God (big "G")?
There are always people who will contribute nothing but their own miserable condemnations - makes me wonder if Christ ever asks 'why?' when you see them.
Sadly they deter others from being active and then moan that nothing ever happens.
Thanks for the posts - prefer the older arrangement,
Tim
Sorry - It says I'm happier with traditional settings for some hymns (unless the alternative is something stunning) although I am probably known for being more modern than ancient.
I like my musician and composers to be living :)
T
Singing familiar hymns to different tunes, from time to time, can sometimes help us give fresh thought to the words. - This traditional folk song tune, sometimes known as "O waly waly," fits the words very well. - The hymn book that we use offers it as an alternative.
A while back, at a conference, a group of clergy were tuaght to "sing" this hymn in sign language. One of them taught it to his congregation the following Sunday, but unknowingly made a mistake in the signing. - After the service an accomplished signer, who had been in the congregation, told him that he had taught his congregation to sing/sign "When I see Jesus the window cleaner!"
I see DaviGoss has beaten me to it in pointing out that this "modern" setting is actually a traditional folk tune. I think I first saw it used this way in "Youth Praise 2" (c. 1968), though Tim and his band have obviously put their own "spin" on it.
I with much of what Bob says. However, although I may want church music to "grab me as I am on the day," I think that (a) this is a rather tall order, and (b) puts too much emphasis on "me" and "my relationship with God". Music in services and meetings must be a corporate offering - sometimes for us as individuals it will be easy and a joy to offer it, sometimes it will be as through gritted teeth.
What struck me regarding the moaning regarding 'When I survey' was that it wasn't the tune that the moaners wanted! As Simmy says, it's not like it was a new version, I remember singing the same words to it when a happy Bapper at a youth conference at Swanwick (wow - anyone remember MGO and Buzz Magazine?).
I often joke with people over their choice of tune for 'Love Divine' especially as I have to say that I prefer the English tune rather than the Welsh one - but I can live with either of them.
It's just sad that we see our musi and many other things in our services as part of our consumer rights.
Thanks all,
V
Funny isn't it, I think it's about change more than anything else. people like things they way they know. sad but true.
personally I love this version but I am equally happy with some of the old rousing hymns too..
I'll bet that the people who complained weren't the traditionalists that some might be expecting. We did a gig recently and used a couple of alternatives and it was the 'cutting edge' church members who moaned while the older 'traditionalist' church goers loved it!
As you rightly say, much of the problem is that we see church as a consumer item.
Thank for the post - challenging
And the link to Graham Kendrick - revealing (and blessing)
J
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