The following letter was in response to news from my correspondent that he had spoken with a young church man who said his generation could spot phoniness and that this was a turn-off for them.
Dear Chai,
I think the young man you spoke with makes a good point. I have spoken with several un-churched young men and have gotten the same basic comment, one way or another. There are going to be different viewpoints among the young, of course, just as with their elders. However, as a teacher I make a distinction between those about forty and above and those younger than forty. Of course, it is impossible to generalize -- the way we are all tempted to do. But there was a survey in The American Organist about three years ago or so which indicated that those in their twenties were looking first and foremost for authenticity in worship. Thus, anything which smacked of "surfacey" manipulation techniques were a turn-off.
To make things more complicated (!), the Orthodox have their own approach. Theirs comes out of Tradition (capital "T" intended). But they do tend to see current general trends in Protestant worship as unfortunate and incorrect. This would include music trends.
In summary, I believe we have been given our own great tradition of wonderful Western sacred music. It is up to us to preserve what I believe has enormous intrinsic value to inspire, elevate, re-assure, and enlighten, worthy goals no matter one's tradition or stripe.
-- Nony
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Two Church Musicians Discuss Watered-Down Music
The following is a recent discussion between the author and a colleague, both working church musicians. Names and inconsequential details have been changed to preserve anonymity on the Internet. I think you will find the exchange interesting and useful.
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Hi, Chai,
I thought you might be interested: I have not been able really to follow up on the conversation with the Methodist minister last week. As a result, we are presented with a music choice for Sunday which is hardly worthy of children, it is so simple or banal. How do such things happen? It certainly will not be a struggle to prepare this in one rehearsal. But I'm not going to be able to take much more of this [kind of music]. Any advice for how to approach this -- what to say exactly?
– A. Nony Maus
*****************
Dear Nony,
I guess we all are in the same boat today. While it might not be a choral piece, it might be a hymn. The seminaries are turning out very light-weight clergy today in my opinion. However, one must remember that we as church musicians, paid employees of the congregation, are asked to do their will, no matter how trivial it might seem to us. One of my friends pointed out that the liturgy at his Cathedral suffers as well, using a simple hymn instead of a canticle, for example. That might be done in a small church but not in a large place like a cathedral with very able musicians.
Rome has come to realize, with the new missal translation and a movement afoot by some of the intelligentsia for a revival of the Gregorian Chant, that forty-plus years of pop-style music is not worthy of the Lord's worship.... I believe that we should be realistic about our Sunday tasks if we continue in our chosen profession. Sometimes we forget that all are not on our level of musical training and appreciation. I sit with my pastor while he picks the hymns he knows and likes, often passing up something wonderful, as not singable. Most of the time I want to speak up, but just listen and say, “Fine.” I learned early on that he was the boss indeed and had the congregation's approval, even though I sometimes get my way.
I think that you have a nice job there and that in time you might get your way more but for now I would line up with the BOSS (minister) as long as you can live with the situation. Hang in there, old friend.
P. Chai Kovsky
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Greetings, Chai!
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I really appreciate it. I appreciate that you are trying to calm me down and to help me remain realistic. With your permission I'd like to reply further (below) as I think there are some important issues. Perhaps I can send a more polished response at a later time.
I think I understand the point you are trying to make. It is essentially the philosophy of "go along to get along." There is a great deal to be said for that approach. It can indeed make life much easier than it otherwise would be. Perhaps I am not boasting if I say that in most of my jobs, the clergy have found me to be a team player, as the phrase goes now.
It seems important for me to say I have a little different concept of the ideal model. Rather than a corporate or business model where there is a boss who gives orders and all the underlings jump, I prefer the concept of a covenant relationship in which all are friends. I believe this concept is more Biblical and more distinctly Christian. If there is the proper relationship between clergy and musician it is indeed like a team, or better yet, a circle of friends. In this model, the musician is treated as a colleague and as a professional, a person whose opinion is valued. Of course if there develops some kind of irreconcilable difference someone or some body will have to make a decision. Realistically, this will normally be the clergy person. But otherwise, things are worked on through lines of authority. I think it was Robert Schuller who said, "I hire the best people I can find and then let them go to work." -- or something to that effect.
A couple more observations. Do you remember the Levites in the Old (Hebrew) Testament? They were assigned different tasks. One of these was the music. They were tasked with making the very best music possible, worthy of the Divine. The book of Numbers declares that God told the Israelites that the Levites were not to receive an inheritance from anyone. Instead, the Levites would receive the tithe offering and that would be their inheritance (from God, that is).
Further, in our seminary music program we certainly were taught such things as not to respond defensively when criticism was given, especially by clergy or church authorities. But we were also taught that when music which was shoddy or sub-Christian was suggested we were to proscribe it as part of our job.
My dad (a minister with an earned Doctorate in Ministry) and I agree that the ignorance in this whole area is profound and a major, but major problem. And, it's not just ministers and churches who have a lack of knowledge. Musicians don't understand matters very well either. I hope to be able to do more in the future in this area.
So much more can be said! As I think of more things to say I will write them. I hope I didn't denigrate the good points you made. I wish more musicians were more collegial, though I think the great majority really try to succeed in this regard. At least, perhaps I have given you something to think about.
Regards,
Nony
by special permission
+++++++++++++++
Hi, Chai,
I thought you might be interested: I have not been able really to follow up on the conversation with the Methodist minister last week. As a result, we are presented with a music choice for Sunday which is hardly worthy of children, it is so simple or banal. How do such things happen? It certainly will not be a struggle to prepare this in one rehearsal. But I'm not going to be able to take much more of this [kind of music]. Any advice for how to approach this -- what to say exactly?
– A. Nony Maus
*****************
Dear Nony,
I guess we all are in the same boat today. While it might not be a choral piece, it might be a hymn. The seminaries are turning out very light-weight clergy today in my opinion. However, one must remember that we as church musicians, paid employees of the congregation, are asked to do their will, no matter how trivial it might seem to us. One of my friends pointed out that the liturgy at his Cathedral suffers as well, using a simple hymn instead of a canticle, for example. That might be done in a small church but not in a large place like a cathedral with very able musicians.
Rome has come to realize, with the new missal translation and a movement afoot by some of the intelligentsia for a revival of the Gregorian Chant, that forty-plus years of pop-style music is not worthy of the Lord's worship.... I believe that we should be realistic about our Sunday tasks if we continue in our chosen profession. Sometimes we forget that all are not on our level of musical training and appreciation. I sit with my pastor while he picks the hymns he knows and likes, often passing up something wonderful, as not singable. Most of the time I want to speak up, but just listen and say, “Fine.” I learned early on that he was the boss indeed and had the congregation's approval, even though I sometimes get my way.
I think that you have a nice job there and that in time you might get your way more but for now I would line up with the BOSS (minister) as long as you can live with the situation. Hang in there, old friend.
P. Chai Kovsky
******************
Greetings, Chai!
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I really appreciate it. I appreciate that you are trying to calm me down and to help me remain realistic. With your permission I'd like to reply further (below) as I think there are some important issues. Perhaps I can send a more polished response at a later time.
I think I understand the point you are trying to make. It is essentially the philosophy of "go along to get along." There is a great deal to be said for that approach. It can indeed make life much easier than it otherwise would be. Perhaps I am not boasting if I say that in most of my jobs, the clergy have found me to be a team player, as the phrase goes now.
It seems important for me to say I have a little different concept of the ideal model. Rather than a corporate or business model where there is a boss who gives orders and all the underlings jump, I prefer the concept of a covenant relationship in which all are friends. I believe this concept is more Biblical and more distinctly Christian. If there is the proper relationship between clergy and musician it is indeed like a team, or better yet, a circle of friends. In this model, the musician is treated as a colleague and as a professional, a person whose opinion is valued. Of course if there develops some kind of irreconcilable difference someone or some body will have to make a decision. Realistically, this will normally be the clergy person. But otherwise, things are worked on through lines of authority. I think it was Robert Schuller who said, "I hire the best people I can find and then let them go to work." -- or something to that effect.
A couple more observations. Do you remember the Levites in the Old (Hebrew) Testament? They were assigned different tasks. One of these was the music. They were tasked with making the very best music possible, worthy of the Divine. The book of Numbers declares that God told the Israelites that the Levites were not to receive an inheritance from anyone. Instead, the Levites would receive the tithe offering and that would be their inheritance (from God, that is).
Further, in our seminary music program we certainly were taught such things as not to respond defensively when criticism was given, especially by clergy or church authorities. But we were also taught that when music which was shoddy or sub-Christian was suggested we were to proscribe it as part of our job.
My dad (a minister with an earned Doctorate in Ministry) and I agree that the ignorance in this whole area is profound and a major, but major problem. And, it's not just ministers and churches who have a lack of knowledge. Musicians don't understand matters very well either. I hope to be able to do more in the future in this area.
So much more can be said! As I think of more things to say I will write them. I hope I didn't denigrate the good points you made. I wish more musicians were more collegial, though I think the great majority really try to succeed in this regard. At least, perhaps I have given you something to think about.
Regards,
Nony
by special permission
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