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the wonderful, respectful Hymns, accompanied by the gray-haired lady organist, that I knew and loved as a child had been replaced by a couple of "musicians" on guitar and drums, and the most awful, touchy-feely lyrics imaginable.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.

Christianity vs. the Profit System

Today I compare and contrast the luminosity and generosity of the world's greatest religion with the normal way of doing business in the country supposedly Christianity's greatest exponent -- the United States.

Recently, I read a poem which describes what a Christian life should be like. Here is the poem:

Salvation is:
liberation from evil,
the defeat of the devil,
the transfiguration of man,
living authentically,
putting on Christ,
the restoration of the image of God in man,
participating in the life of God,
restoration of communion with God,
incorruption,
receiving the Holy Spirit,
becoming temples of the Holy Spirit,
forgiveness of sins,
ascending to the throne of God,
participating in the kingdom of God,
being by grace what God is by nature,
the destruction of death,
seeing the light,
being in a process of growth that never ends,
living life the way God meant it to be.*


I doubt there has ever been a more succinct description of the Christian life or salvation.

Compare what is being said here to the way business is done in America or any other place. How close do the men and women of Wall Street come to this description? Not only are they not close, they are not even in the same world. And, of course, this question can be asked of those all across America as self-centered greed can be found everywhere. By no means do I exempt myself totally from such feelings.

It is not too much to hope that in coming years, the way of doing business so common for so long can be reformed. But let us be clear about just what is wrong and what our goals are. The poem above can be a start as we go through the Christmas period.




* from Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life by Anthony M. Coniaris

Capitalism: A Fright Story

Last evening I had the privilege of watching Capitalism: A Love Story courtesy of my friend, a theater manager. There is more to say about this film than I have time here. But first I can certainly recommend this film to anyone. While there are criticisms which can be made here and there, the main message of the film is so important and so compelling as to counterbalance any flaws. And the several references to Christianity are quite effective. Very often the Bible has been used to support capitalism, which is crazy when you think about it. Here, bishops of the church speak against capitalism in a forceful way.

I was surprised by how serious the film was, although I shouldn't have been given the subject matter. There was the famous Michael Moore humor in evidence, but there were long stretches of non-uplifting depictions of people in trouble.

Yet, is not this exactly what we need to counter propaganda resurgent in this country? There is a message that the crisis is over, the stock market is "rebounding" and so forth. We have heard all this blather before. Remember, it was just at the time we were told the economy was "sound" and "robust" that the most serious crimes of speculation and exploitation were occurring.

To summarize, the new Moore film is engaging, engrossing, and ultimately -- yes! -- inspiring. You will be glad you went.