The Hymn Book--“Banished and Vanished”-part 7

The Hymn Book--“Banished and Vanished”-part 7

             The presence of the hymnal in the rack on the back or the pew or chair in front of you at church does not require that all sacred musicing be done from the hymnal.  A hymnal is an aid to worship not a law of worship.  God is not keeping a log of how many songs are sung from the hymnal each week.  The screen in the front of the church does not preclude the use of a hymnal.  It is also an aid to worship rather than a law of worship.  Our musicing unto God should not be rigidly controlled by a screen or a hymn book.

            Ministers of music should understand that there are lots of us still attending public worship who are musically literate.  We are often disillusioned, disappointed, and offended that we are ignored by those in charge that do not seem to care that we can and do read music and would like to see some music on the printed score every Sunday so that we can sing parts.  Singing parts is one of the ways that those of us who are musically aware can respond to God by giving Him our best musical offering.  Although we are capable of making up harmony parts, we do not always desire to do so because some songs are well composed and arranged so we do not want to improvise willy-nilly when we sing these songs.  Perhaps one of the reasons that more astute educated musicians are not drawn to church music is because of the blatant dumbing down of church music by those who are in charge.