[Choir] Text, lyrics and melody

[Lani Seifert]

This may be the first, last and only time that I completely agree with
Steve!
Well said.
How are we to understand another culture by singing something when we don’t
know what is being sung?   An English translation may not be perfect, but
at least it gives us a clue! If you must, then sing it in English *and* the
native language.
Lani

On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 2:28 PM Stephen Finner via Choir <
choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:

> I thank Lani for starting this conversation.  However, friend, don't call
> yourself names like "whiny" That text just doesn't scan.
>
> Once a year, I faciliated a discussion with my small choir (never more
> than 10) about the music we had sung.  What worked, what didn't, what did
> you like, love hate  etc.  What text spoke to you and what did you want to
> ignore.   Not looking for answers of course, looking for experience and
> understanding which might guide me in my programming.
>
> As a composer, arranger, conductor etc, I know that text and melody once
> composed and set are an organic whole.  We can analyze and discuss them
> separately.  We can sing one and recite the other.  But once composed and
> set, they are the song, the cantata, the whole.
>
> And I advise not being afraid to have strong feelings about one, the
> other, or both.  You are the voice of both the composer and the author of
> the text.  Speak up when you are moved to do so.  And care about it.   When
> you say "I'm just sing the melody.  I don't care about the words".  Think
> wnat you are saying to the creator of those words who may be dead hundreds
> of years.   "I don't care about you.  I don't value your creation"
>
> I find I understand the music better and perform it better if I learn
> about both the melody and the text.  Who composed it when and why?  Who
> wrote that text when and why?  I often listen to different performances of
> the piece to get a better understanding of both.  And as you can appreciate
> I am sure, understanding as much about the text as I can is central if I am
> setting it.
>
> And given Donia's careful meticulous planning of rehearsals, I always
> learn more about both.
>
> However, a lot of that is technical and more important is "how do both the
> words and music affect me?"  "How do they speak to my theology, my belief,
> my faith?
>
> This season we have sung Ave Verrum Corpus.   It is a beautiful melody but
> singing it for me is jarring and not affirming of my faith beause of the
> lyrics, plain and simple.  Below is a popular translation.   It is classic
> Trinitarian salvationaist Christian theology.  I reject it with every fibre
> of my being.   I contrast it with "Sing Gently" , "Spirit of Life"   "I
> Don't Feel No Ways Tired"  and the list goes on.
>
> I agree completely that it is important, if not mandatory to share the
> text with the congregation visually and that includes translation when we
> are not singing in English.  I don't think this needs much, if any
> discussion.  Let's just do it.   We have produced some excellent slides and
> know how to do it.
>
> So for what it is worth, these are my thoughts.
>
> Hail,true body
> born of the Virgin Mary,
> Who truly suffered, sacrificed
> on the Cross for man,
> Whose pierced side overflowed
> with water* and blood,
> Be for us a foretaste**
> In the test of death.
>
>
>
>
> Stephen L. Finner, Ph.D.
> finnerstephen at gmail.com
> (802) 598-4317 (cell)    (802) 461-2528 (home-wifi)
> 27 Highland Avenue,  Apartment 3
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/27+Highland+Avenue,%C2%A0+Apartment+3+Barre,+Vermont+05641?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Barre, Vermont 05641
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/27+Highland+Avenue,%C2%A0+Apartment+3+Barre,+Vermont+05641?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> Director of Music, UU Congregation of  Washington VT (summer congregation)
> Minister of Music Emeritus, St. Johnsbury Vermont UU Congregation
> (he, him, his)
> "There must always remain in everyone's life some room for the singing of
> angels"   Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman
> "May you know the joy of living sometimes comes with pain lived through"
> Steve Finner (1998)
> "Nothing stays the same after we find the God within"  Sr. Joan Chittister
> O.S.B.
> And just in case you were wondering "Faith without works is dead" James
> 2:26
> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
> Choir email list
> unsubscribe at www.unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org
>
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