[Choir] Text, lyrics and melody

Thu May 12 07:55:04 CDT 2022

Well, here's my 2-cents on the topic of words....
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.
In community,
Sue

On Wed, May 11, 2022 at 8:44 AM Donia Prince via Choir <
choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:

> What a great conversation this has been!     Thanks to Lani for initiating
> it.  I wonder what other topics might be fruitful?!?
> Here are more of my 2 cents on this topic:
> 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.
> And I agree that we should put out lyrics in one way or another whenever
> possible.  And also work to make ourselves better understood.��
>
> 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.
>
> 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!
>
> Donia
>
>
> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 9:37 PM Maryann Ludlow <ludl512 at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> 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 ��)
>>
>> I think that projecting the words as we sing them is a great idea!  (how
>> about a bouncing ball? Just kidding!)
>>
>> Maryann
>>
>>
>>
>> On May 10, 2022, at 11:01 AM, Lani Seifert via Choir <
>> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> One other thought on the lyrics issue.  Perhaps they could be projected
>> as other things are throughout the service?  This would save paper.
>> I’m happy to work on this.
>>
>> Lani
>>
>> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 10:54 AM Lani Seifert <lani.seifert at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>> I’d like to start a conversation about “lyrics”.
>>>
>>> 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?
>>> 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.
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>> 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?
>>>
>>> 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!
>>>
>>> BTW, I am happy to take on the chore of writing out the lyrics, and of
>>> course would welcome any help on that.
>>>
>>> Lani
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 9:28 AM Donia Prince via Choir <
>>> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello all!
>>>>
>>>> Thanks everyone for your beautiful singing and presence last Sunday!
>>>>
>>>> A couple of reminders:
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> 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:  https://rsvp.church/r/H7RtmXNs
>>>> <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Frsvp.church%2Fr%2FH7RtmXNs&data=05%7C01%7C%7C9b3dcc422a93413045d008da3295e4b2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637877916624959427%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YoWb1LWIA7t2LdFBB99yObCUGSzVahE77wev04O8mQA%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>
>>>> If anyone wants to try out singing Gift to Sing with the whole
>>>> recording, here it is:
>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBPHXJEtU7A&t=1s
>>>> <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNBPHXJEtU7A%26t%3D1s&data=05%7C01%7C%7C9b3dcc422a93413045d008da3295e4b2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637877916624959427%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pTYCBX8o1EVkjX27KOu01FS606T2DR%2FEIZZiGiyxPL8%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> See you Thursday!  We will work on Grace and Mercy, Gift to Sing, and a
>>>> little on Place in the Choir.
>>>>
>>>> Donia
>>>> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
>>>> Choir email list
>>>> unsubscribe at www.unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org
>>>> <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7C9b3dcc422a93413045d008da3295e4b2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637877916624959427%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=H%2FUXFtpnhq8KOoNbvI5qU5TBbwkrEKJOqUTw2oqZUWA%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>
>>> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
>> Choir email list
>> unsubscribe at www.unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org
>>
>> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
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