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