[Choir] Text, lyrics and melody

Thu May 12 09:00:23 CDT 2022

You voice is absolutely legitimate, Gail!!!   Since this is for the
congregation!  Thanks for chiming in.

On Thu, May 12, 2022 at 9:38 AM GAIL FALK <gail.falk at gmail.com> wrote:

> I don’t have a legitimate voice except as congregation member, but I agree
> 100% with Sue
>
> On May 12, 2022, at 9:00 AM, Sue Stukey via Choir <
> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>
> 
> (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
>>>>
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