A Musical Winterlude

At this blessed time of the year, we are reminded of the great good cheer which music provides. I like this version of what we know as "Jingle Bells." The Robert de Cormier Singers do a fine job with the original version and its jaunty chorus. This original melody is ever-so-much more lively than the flattened out version we are all so accustomed to. And even though it isn't sacred music, I believe church musicians and others will enjoy it.

Click on this post's title above or cut and past the link below.

And -- merry Christmas!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYLRZMooJm0

Astonishing Article

Dear Reader:

The author detects a sea change in the media regarding church issues. Though only a drop in the bucket, the recent article in The American Organist (spoken of in a previous post) and the article below represent the frontline wave of a discussion that is long over-due. The minister-author whose work appears at this link, tells of the damage being done to clergy by new demands from church committees. There is no mention of musicians, but many of us know all too well the effects of sometimes well-meaning, but nevertheless poorly educated people making almost life-and-death decisions about staff based on nothing more than pure desire, and sometimes not much more than whim.

For essentially the first time in my memory there is an article in the mainstream press about clergy "burn-out" based not on overwork but on the demands of congregations on pastors which amount to a subversion of their calling. This is big news! It's not big news to many of us in the field. What is new is the fact this is even mentioned in the major media at all.

It is good to see the subject of the present blog being addressed in this way. Let us hope this will be the opening of a much-needed national discussion.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/opinion/08macdonald.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Congregations%20Gone%20Wild&st=cse

The following was found posted on Audio Karma ( http://www.audiokarma.org ):


Originally Posted by "chicks"

I attended church a couple years ago after having been a "lost sheep" since about age 15, and was horrified that the wonderful, respectful Hymns, accompanied by the gray-haired lady organist, that I knew and loved as a child had been replaced by a couple of "musicians" on guitar and drums, and the most awful, touchy-feely lyrics imaginable. Haven't been back since.


How many other people have had this reaction? It happens I like popular music, some tunes very much. But I detest trite, watered down lyrics accompanied by sing-songy, uninspired music. When such uninspired music is used in worship, it seems especially unfortunate.

Article Lifts the Veil on Church Musician Hiring Process

I just read one of the most important articles to appear in The American Organist in many years. It is in the June 2010 issue, is entitled "A Cautionary Tale," and is found beginning on page 60. I can highly recommend this well-written and very revealing article! I never remember a story quite like this ever appearing in the magazine.

The article lifts the veil on the hiring process in one church. Never before have I read of such goings-on. The value of this article is hard to over-estimate as it brings to light something which is usually out of public view.

I do have my criticisms of the article. For instance, as far as I understand it, the First Amendment prevents governments from prohibiting nearly all kinds of discrimination in hiring by religious institutions. Otherwise, this article is right on the subject of what I have been saying, and is, indeed, the whole point of this blog.

Another point which can be made, but is not a criticism of the article, is that unethical hiring decisions are made all the time. If there are any business persons on church hiring committees they are probably only behaving as they would on the job. The behavior of the minister in this case, is another matter, however.

It must be said that while churches often fail in their hiring practices (and this is very common), musicians also, through lack of education and sometimes willfulness, also contribute to poor conditions in church music programs.

Having said that, this article shines a ray of light on what has been a shrouded church hiring system in this country. This is a step ahead. Hurray for author Jane Hettrick!

Developing Interest in this Blog

An officer with my local chapter of the American Guild of Organists (A.G.O.) has expressed an interest in this blog and especially the post entitled, "Toward a New Status for the Church Musician." This interest is most welcome. See the post originally published here on March 4, 2009, below. The post is quite short, and, I believe, clear. It is only a beginning. But clearly there must be new efforts made to secure the great Western heritage of sacred music for a future generation. The interest of the local A.G.O. officer shows there is a felt need for a new seeing and a new way of being and doing in the field of church music.