Guidelines to Follow

If you've been involved in church music for any length of time, you know there are guidelines to follow. They may be unwritten (except in your head) but you know they're there anyway. The one that comes immediately to mind is: Know your congregation. I don't think that means you can't stretch your congregation, but the limits are there - somewhere. In my enthusiasm for introducing new music, and trying to broaden the horizons of those I serve, I may have gone past the limit recently. I haven't heard any rumblings, but still... On a happier chord (!) I introduced another new piece which was so well received, we sang it a second time. It was May the peace of God by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, c. 2006. This piece I can highly recommend!

Dreaming in Music... Again

I was dreaming in music again on Saturday night. It wasn't the choir anthem running through my dreams this time, but a piece from a workshop I attended almost a year ago. I got the music package out the other day to refresh my memory on some of the songs we went through and "I Love to Praise Your Name" by Noel Robinson has been firmly (re)planted in my brain! Now, there were other pieces I remember from that workshop, so that led me to wondering why this one seemed unique to me. I think some of it is the chord structure. The song is in G+ but in the second bar there is a B7 chord. It's unexpected and quite enjoyable!

This year, I'll be accompanying at the workshop, New Songs for Worship IV, led by Christine Longhurst. I'm very excited about learning the new music and sharing my love for worship music with others. If you're in the Winnipeg area, consider attending; it will be worth your Saturday morning I am sure!

They don't write them like this anymore...

I was sorting through some choir music the other day and came across an anthem c. 1926 - original price: 22 cents, but that was stamped over with "25 cents". Goodness knows how long ago that music was purchased! The title is: In Joseph's Lovely Garden, words by Helen A. Dickinson.

In Joseph's lovely garden
The Lord Christ's tomb was made,
And there His broken body
To rest was gently laid.
A great rock strongly sealed it,
That Death might have full sway;
But God sent down His angel,
To roll the stone away.

When dawn was faintly breaking
Across the garden fair,
Three women entered weeping,
Bearing spices rare.
Then spake the guardian angel,
In shining raiment bright,
He whom ye seek is risen,
And Death is vanquished quite!

O angel of the garden,
Descend to us today,
And comfort all our sadness,
And drive death's fear away.
We all are sorrow laden
Speak to our hearts we pray,
"He whom ye love is risen,
And lives with Christ alway!"

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
All praise to Thee we bring;
No power of death could hold Thee,
Our Saviour, Lord, and King!
As Thou has ris'n all glorious,
May we one day arise,
O'er sin and death victorious,
In Thy blest Paradise.

I dare say that 80+ years ago when this was written, the language used in it was much closer to 'everyday' than it is now. Although the use of Thee, Thou and Thy is very poetic, it's not used much in literature or church today. I also find it interesting that Death is capitalized in places, almost as if it is a person (the grim reaper?). One thing that I wish was done today that I see in this anthem is capitalizing him, or his when it refers to Christ. I'm not sure why that isn't done anymore... Does anyone out there know?