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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