[Choir] Text, lyrics and melody

Tue May 10 17:57:26 CDT 2022

I have a hard time singing in a different language. It's difficult to look
at the words and the music at the same time because I can't memorize the
words.
Fran

On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 2:35 PM Lani Seifert via Choir <
choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:

> 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
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>>
> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
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>
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