Friday, July 8, 2016

Where is the Written Music in This Hymn Book?


Where is the Written Music in This Hymn Book?
 I have traveled some in Europe and have noticed that many of their congregational song books do not have printed music in them.  I have also noticed that although the people usually participate wholeheartedly in congregational singing, most of them sing only the melody.  When I am in Europe I miss hearing a worshiping congregation singing parts because my logical German mind desires to experience the congregation singing the harmonies that the musical instruments are playing when we sing.  Not all people who hear a part are capable of reading music.
 I suspect the reason that some worshipers can hear a part i.e. audiate it without having music reading skills is simply that they grew up hearing others, who could read the parts in the hymn book, sing parts during the worship service.  If hymn books do not contain written music, congregations are not encouraged to sing parts.  When congregations do not sing parts, the next generation of worshipers probably will probably not sing parts.  So within a generation or two a fellowship of believers will doubtlessly have lost most of their propensity to sing parts.  I submit that it is not necessary for a congregation of believers to sing parts during musical worship, but losing the ability to do so will certainly impoverish public musical worship. 

 

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