[Choir] Text, lyrics and melody

Thu May 12 07:59:46 CDT 2022

(And for the record, my husband disagrees and would like to see the words.)
Cheers,
Sue

On Thu, May 12, 2022 at 8:55 AM Sue Stukey <susan.stukey at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>> Choir email list
>> unsubscribe at www.unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org
>>
>
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