Christmas Day 2009 Thanks to everyone for doing such a great job!!! This selection is from Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration:
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Not Sure If Your Ears Can Handel This Cacophony fr...":
It's kinda like singing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "Gilligan's Island." (Try it, it works both ways. I.e. sing "Gilligan's Island" to the tune of "Amazing Grace.")
However, criticizing musical style can be dangerous territory. I was once criticized after a Christmas service for having the congregation sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" to "English melody, adapt." (Christian Worship #66) rather than the tune by Lewis Redner (Chrisitian (sic) Worship #65).
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GJ - This video should be withdrawn as a favor to the public.
Singing "Amazing Grace" to the Gilligan's Island tune is appropriate. "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear" is typical Calvinism - Law/Law. Almost everyone can sing "Amazing Grace" without squirming, so it has become the pan-religious hymn of choice.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Not Sure If Your Ears Can Handel This Cacophony fr...":
"At first it was modern harmonies and then it was translation into English. And then they did away with the service conducted in German. Now this.
- M. Luther
5 comments:
That should be used on the prisoners at GITMO
It's kinda like singing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "Gilligan's Island." (Try it, it works both ways. I.e. sing "Gilligan's Island" to the tune of "Amazing Grace.")
However, criticizing musical style can be dangerous territory. I was once criticized after a Christmas service for having the congregation sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" to "English melody, adapt." (Christian Worship #66) rather than the tune by Lewis Redner (Chrisitian Worship #65).
Singing "Amazing Grace" to the Gilligan's Island tune is appropriate. "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear" is typical Calvinism - Law/Law. Almost everyone can sing "Amazing Grace" without squirming, so it has become the pan-religious hymn of choice."
Touche' Greg! I posted the comment about "Amazing Grace/Gilligan's Island."
Re the St. Marcus song: I like Jazz, but this version must make Handel roll in his grave.
Sure the song sounds terrible. (In a big part due to the recording quality, but in terms of Art too)
But it seems like a lot of the Confessional crowd would like to turn a conversation about a song like that into a theological argument. This of course would be invalid and legalistic.
God gave us Biblical truth (theology) in words, not in music.
I recognize that your criticism is that it sounds awful and You didn't approach it theologically.
Regarding that I'd be curious to know your opinion of a Lutheran choir that sings Lutheran choir songs, but who sings them poorly.
There are many choirs who by their lack of practice or lack of ability produce music that is insultingly bad. How, in your opinion does this compare with songs with terrible words but executed perfectly? To me, both are equally irreverent.
I think these questions need to be addressed, in a large part to keep Confessional folks on the straight and narrow.
Confessional Lutherans walk a fine line.
-dave
What about a song that has solid Lutheran and rocks and is done well? Hmmmm?
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