Chicago Musicians Attacked for Standing Up for Themselves

Recently, the musicians of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony went out on strike. As music is rarely a front-page issue, I had not heard about this until reading of it today at the site linked here.



Evidently, local press in Chicago printed many comments critical of the musicians' union. As a former and to-be member of the American Federation of Musicians I can attest to the fact that the musicians' union helps to provide a minimum level of support for musicians.



And as the author says here, it is all about power. Anyone who has been employed, especially in a large corporation knows what it means to be in the loop or out of the loop regarding such issues as how the corporation's money is spent, for example. A union, then, restores some sense of balance in the relationship, helps assure a minimum salary, and supports contributions to pension plans.



Working in a major symphony orchestra is very rewarding, but it is very much a job. Musicians at this level must practice at home, usually balancing this with teaching, and family duties. Like anyone else who has a degree, younger musicians must re-pay loans. If you think "sawing away" at a string instrument for several hours a day isn't work, I don't know what is. And to be able to keep feeling the music no matter what is going on in one's personal life is an absolute triumph!



As a fellow musician, I can speak for the physical wear and tear on the part of the musician. And I can speak for the other stresses musicians endure. Yes, the rewards of music are wonderful, but high-level musicians deserve fair pay just like any major professional sports athlete.



Debating the Musicians Union

Thanks to Readers

The latest version of this blog's mechanics allows me to see how many persons have been viewing a certain post.  (The identity of viewers, by the way,  is never shown.)   I am being informed that there has been a steady number of readers, but that certain blog posts have had much higher interest. 

Without going any further into such details, I say thank you most heartily to those who have read this blog over the last five years.  Although I have not been able to post often it is gratifying to see there has nevertheless been a certain steady interest.  I will do my best to present views and resources of general interest as often as deserved and as often as possible.

In the meantime -- Best Wishes to All.   

Episcopal Church Committee Recommends Go-Slow Approach to Any New Hymnal

In a recent report a national Episcopal committee has urged caution before rushing any new hymnal into print. The report runs to 70 pages as posted on line. So far I have read only its conclusion. However, I received a good summary of it by e-mail. For now I post here the beginning of that e-mail. Included in the excerpt is the URL for the actual report. The report states that a majority of those under 30 oppose a new hymnal. This includes both clergy and laity under 30. My first inkling of this new interest in tradition came in an A.G.O. study of a few years ago. This study bolsters those of us who for many years have decried the head-long rush to appeal to the young solely on the basis of newly-composed liturgies and hymns. This report is welcome news indeed! -- Thanks to Henry Evans for making me aware of this report. -- CCM (Concerned Church Musician) **************** From my e-mail box: Highly recommended reading! including comments. ~ djd+ Original URL: http://thecuratesdesk.org/2012/05/15/dont-do-it-for-the-kids-of-hymnal-revision-and-young-adults/ FROM BLOG thecuratesdesk.org Don’t Do It for the Kids: Of Hymnal Revision and Young Adults As part of the preparation for this summer’s General Convention, the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music has a report detailing the results of a survey conducted that was designed to ascertain the level of support or lack thereof for a revision of the Hymnal 1982. There was little by way of huge surprises in the report. Below, I offer a few highlights from the report without too much comment. One factor emerged which seemed a surprise to those administering the survey. The group that was most resistant to the idea of revising the hymnal are those under 29 years of age. They are the most resistant by a large percentage.

Episcopal Bishop Criticizes the Church Usefully While Protesting Corporate Greed

Retired Episcopal Bishop George Packard, apparently alone among all United States bishops of any church, has elected to stand with those of the Occupy movement who have dared to protest the corporate state of greed which runs America now. Doing what I had thought any Christian leader ought to do, Bishop Packard has risked and endured arrest twice recently for his decision to try to preserve public space for the public good. Bishop Packard has also criticized what he calls stale liturgy. Although I have been a critic of the iconoclasts -- those who would throw the baby out with the bath water -- I support Bishop Packard's statements. Certainly most any liturgy can be done in a dry and irrelevant way. Christ Hedges reports on the life of Bishop Packard, who at this point enters the rolls of the heroic leaders of our time. In his eloquence and his smarts, Bishop Packard inspires those who see injustice and desire to do something concrete. More information here: http://truth-out.org/news/item/8960-the-peoples-bishop

There Must Be Music Here

There must be music in this building somewhere. In any event, the angels in heaven are singing with amazed joy at this radically wonderful take-over of a religious building by the Occuy movement for Christian uses. http://occupywallst.org/article/occupy-san-francisco-creates-social-center-vacant-/

Happy Easter Time One and All

Christ Is Risen.

He is Risen Indeed.

Crystal Cathedral, Once a Paragon of Musical Quality, Is Sold

Sale of The Crystal Cathedral to a Roman Catholic entity has been finalized in the last few days.

The Crystal Cathedral was once a bright light not only to religious believers and seekers but to sacred music lovers everywhere. At one time the level of music was very high with a fabulous pipe organ and a professionally-directed choir of mixed professional and amateur singers. From Arvella Schuller through Richard Unfried, to Frederick Swann and Donald Neuen,viewers could count on inspirational music of high quality, beautifully rendered.

Later, what one might charitably call "religious crooners" were added to the worship broadcast roster, but the organ and choir remained. More recently, a splash-dash Pop-Gospel ensemble has emoted, undulated, and sung with full passion music often without roots in either tradional black gospel or Western art music. In a future post I may have more to say about this religio-tainment group.

But for now, America has lost not only a spiritual icon of hope, but also a bastion of the finest sacred music on television.



http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/156929-angie-schuller-wyatt-on-the-death-of-the-crystal-cathedral.html