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Sue, just out of curiosity, what do you consider to be anthems? Are you talking about everything we sing, or just stuff in an anthem category?<br>
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<div dir="ltr">Maryann </div>
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<blockquote type="cite">On May 12, 2022, at 10:01 AM, Stephen Finner via Choir <choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="auto">To the contrary. No voice is illegitimate.
<div dir="auto">"We all have a place in the choir."<br>
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<div data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="auto">Stephen L. Finner, Ph.D<br>
27 Highland Avenue<br>
Barre, Vermont 05641<br>
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802-598-4317 (cell)<br>
802-461-2528 (home-wifi)<br>
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Music Director, UU Congregation of Washington Vermont (a summer congregation)<br>
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Minister of Music Emeritus, St. Johnsbury VT UU Congregation<br>
(he, him, his)<br>
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"May you know the joy of living sometimes comes with pain lived through "<br>
Steve Finner 2008<br>
"Nothing stays the same after we find the God within" Sr. Joan Chittister O.S.B.<br>
And just in case you were wondering, "Faith without works is dead.". James 2:26</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, May 12, 2022, 9:38 AM GAIL FALK via Choir <<a href="mailto:choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org">choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr">I don’t have a legitimate voice except as congregation member, but I agree 100% with Sue</div>
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<blockquote type="cite">On May 12, 2022, at 9:00 AM, Sue Stukey via Choir <<a href="mailto:choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr">(And for the record, my husband disagrees and would like to see the words.)
<div>Cheers,</div>
<div>Sue</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, May 12, 2022 at 8:55 AM Sue Stukey <<a href="mailto:susan.stukey@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">susan.stukey@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr">Well, here's my 2-cents on the topic of words....
<div>I think it would detract immensely to see the words of anthems projected on the screen while we're singing...If folks really need to have them available, I think an insert into the Order of Service would suffice.</div>
<div>In community,</div>
<div>Sue</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 11, 2022 at 8:44 AM Donia Prince via Choir <<a href="mailto:choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr">What a great conversation this has been! Thanks to Lani for initiating it. I wonder what other topics might be fruitful?!? </div>
<div dir="ltr">Here are more of my 2 cents on this topic:</div>
I don't think there is a one size fits all right way regarding the primacy of text or music. Different composers have different approaches on different pieces. Sometimes it is a text that directly and personally inspires a composition, and in that case, yes,
it is the totality of words with music that is important. But there are equally times when that is not the case, in terms of a composer's intention. Gabriel Faure, for example, was famously irreligious, but wrote one of the most beautiful Requiem masses.
The requiem mass, like a "regular" mass, is a musical form, using a specific latin religious text, that has for centuries allowed composers to express themselves musically regarding mortality as they see fit, even when they don't literally agree with the
actual words. For pre-modern composers, composing using religious texts was their bread and butter--it was their vehicle to express their musical ideas. I personally think one can fully appreciate the music without regarding the words, or re-interpreting
the words, or with expressing your own emotional experience of the tenderness, longing, triumph found in the music. And sometimes texts might loosely express ideas but the particular words used are there more because of how they sound. Like with poetry,
sometimes it is as much about the sound and texture and rhythm of the words as it is the literal meaning. Just as everyone can find their own meaning in a piece of visual art, the same goes with music. But I do agree that it can be enriching and respectful
to try to understand a composer's intent and honor it. And one can sing something when one doesn't agree with the words as a way of understanding and honoring and acknowledging a different viewpoint or culture, But that doesn't mean that one can't also then
make it one's own as well.
<div>And I agree that we should put out lyrics in one way or another whenever possible. And also work to make ourselves better understood.😁
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<div>This has also been very timely because I was planning this week to talk a little more about singing gospel music (Grace and Mercy) and the poem that inspired Gift to Sing. Verdis is going to offer some thoughts as well--we thought we would do that at
Saturday's rehearsal rather than Thursday as there will be a little more time.</div>
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<div>And absolutely yes to having some conversation about what people liked and what they would like to see for next year!!! Let's do that at the June 4th gathering. If there are other topics for conversation, let me know!</div>
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<div>Donia</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 9:37 PM Maryann Ludlow <<a href="mailto:ludl512@hotmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">ludl512@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="auto">I agree with you, Lani! For me, the lyrics are as important as the music. I also seem to learn words much better when they are set to music (I have pretty good recall of the lyrics to many songs that I have crossed paths with, which is certainly
not the case when things are not set to music 🤣)
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<div>I think that projecting the words as we sing them is a great idea! (how about a bouncing ball? Just kidding!)</div>
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<div>Maryann<br>
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<blockquote type="cite">On May 10, 2022, at 11:01 AM, Lani Seifert via Choir <<a href="mailto:choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="auto">One other thought on the lyrics issue. Perhaps they could be projected as other things are throughout the service? This would save paper.</div>
<div dir="auto">I’m happy to work on this.</div>
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<div dir="auto">Lani</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 10:54 AM Lani Seifert <<a href="mailto:lani.seifert@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">lani.seifert@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="auto">Hello,</div>
<div dir="auto">I’d like to start a conversation about “lyrics”.</div>
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<div dir="auto">I think an important part of choral singing is the lyrics. The music is important too, of course. What is the point of singing anything other than “la la tra la” if the lyrics cannot be understood by the listener?</div>
<div dir="auto">I just listened to Gift to Sing and could not understand a word. No closed captioning offered either (that I noticed). And the singers were NOT masked, as we are.</div>
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<div dir="auto">I’d like to offer the suggestion that we print out the lyrics to whatever we are singing and offer it to the congregation. The order of service seems to have a little extra room, or it could be a separate sheet.</div>
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<div dir="auto">This also relates to my complaint about singing Muusica in Estonian, or what ever it is. Who understands it? Probably nobody in the congregation or the choir! Why not sing it on bah,bah bah or la, la, la?</div>
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<div dir="auto">Thanks for reading my rant. Please respond with any thoughts on this subject. Otherwise, lets give up real words, and go with nonsense syllables. No one will notice the difference!</div>
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<div dir="auto">BTW, I am happy to take on the chore of writing out the lyrics, and of course would welcome any help on that.</div>
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<div dir="auto">Lani</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 9:28 AM Donia Prince via Choir <<a href="mailto:choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">choir@unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr">Hello all!<br>
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<div>Thanks everyone for your beautiful singing and presence last Sunday!</div>
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<div>A couple of reminders: </div>
<div>We will be having a rehearsal this Saturday. We have moved it to 9-11am in order to accommodate those who plan to attend the big action at the statehouse regarding reproductive rights which begins at 11.</div>
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<div>At rehearsal Thursday I will be collecting any contributions any of you wish to make to offer our volunteer tech crew a gift from the choir. Cash, or checks made out to me. We are thinking probably some sort of dining gift certificates, but if anyone
has other ideas let Lani know.</div>
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<div>As usual we could use some of you to sign up to support hymn singing at church this Sunday. Not sure yet what the hymns will be. here is the sign-up link: <a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Frsvp.church%2Fr%2FH7RtmXNs&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cfdc716f441a94c3fdea108da341feecd%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637879609194737614%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BhQlviBpgwcHLiBqAFOWt3TRaybMoUT86uVpnSTOVSU%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://rsvp.church/r/H7RtmXNs" shash="PjTCwMJxzQbHAXl/98JkrbqW+G4ZDq6FPvzT915w8rbM3r8npadTSIpy+btdxZmB1OSTCxtQSwFOajLNvZEC0OyCdUQAPRKzKLMxsLsOWAeiCQE1wexRp0RgKClyl1l7N2WPYTF1lLpqpc/apljkIeXFbS/eUgEi6jkhu+LXVlU=" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,111,186);text-decoration-line:none;font-family:Jost;font-size:24px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://rsvp.church/r/H7RtmXNs</a></div>
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<div>If anyone wants to try out singing Gift to Sing with the whole recording, here it is: <a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNBPHXJEtU7A%26t%3D1s&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cfdc716f441a94c3fdea108da341feecd%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637879609194893857%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=88i0qNroNclBHOmO4HJ8J63YymsaSx%2BRKg4kVZ%2FRLTk%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBPHXJEtU7A&t=1s" shash="g2blGWwOnd6OJKlGm7gt94HTIka2SfWtn4MK5s8ci2Ik3VEObf8eNfVM4sntejfB+88wrei0eUbs3GBDcMvAV6XDUm3k5P1uMSVUCl8IwQbwLH+CCVr0N5EiN86AxC4y7M7iJsvb+aAHAM+1C4mo9vM2PU6ub2UBYG2QuHlVhuc=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBPHXJEtU7A&t=1s</a></div>
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<div>Finally, as written on the schedule handed out earlier, we will be having a rehearsal on Saturday, June 4th from 10-11, in lieu of the Thursday rehearsal. (We might have an optional Thursday one as well if people are interested. ). Following that rehearsal
we'll have a potluck end-of-year gathering outside at the benches.</div>
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<div>See you Thursday! We will work on Grace and Mercy, Gift to Sing, and a little on Place in the Choir.</div>
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<div>Donia</div>
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