Appropriate Sacrament Meeting Music

[MorningStar]

Does that mean I can sing Head Shoulders Knees and Toes in Sacrament meeting?

Regarding reverence. I don't find some of the hymns to be especially reverent. Worshipful, yes, but not reverent.

And when it comes to music, are we a church of continuing revelation? I long for new, beautiful, doctrinally sound, non-cheesy music. If it quotes the scriptures word for word, I love it even more.

[Doctor Steuss]

Additionally, before we start throwing out species of instruments as unclean in a sacrament meeting setting, we ought to rewatch the Bethelemahu'a performed by the Tabs in the Conference Center on Sunday morning. You'll see the choir clapping and lots of drums and exclamations by individuals during the piece.

As an offtopic sidenote, the BYU Men's Chorus CD, Shout with Glory! has a very groovy rendition of that Nigerian carol (as well as some awesome Mormon folk songs).

[William Schryver]

Pahoran:

We need to encourage people to develop their talents. That said, IMHO if some pushy stage mother wants her little darling to perform in Sacrament meeting, then little darling's talents had better be developed at least to the point where it's not utterly excruciating to everyone who isn't tone-deaf.

Hear, hear.

But I don’t want to hear a tone-deaf person playing a fretless string instrument! Perfect pitch is a curse in such circumstances. It really is physically painful to me. Even the thought of it is painful!

Philistine. I'll listen to the Messiah any time, anywhere.

I knew bad-mouthing Messiah would get me in hot water! My apologies to all the offended. But I still don’t like it …

[speaking of Evan Stephens hymns] I'm happy with everything I've seen of his.

Yeah, most people are. I guess that means the problem is with me. Oh, well … as they say, there’s no accounting for taste. (Incidentally, my grandfather [amazingly enough, born in 1879] was a friend of Evan Stephens.)

Our ward choir has done "The First Noel/Pachelbel's Canon" in Sacrament meeting.

Great stuff. We’ve done it at least 3 times in the 10 years I’ve lived in Cedar City. Simple and elegant. That’s what I’m talking about.

[speaking of Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy] That hymn is a standby for our Priesthood quorums, especially (for some reason) when visiting the sick. New Zealand congregations regularly sing in four-part harmony anyway.

All three of the Philip Paul Bliss hymns in the hymn book are great, if you ask me: More Holiness Give Me and Should You Feel Inclined to Censure are the other two. He has an interesting and tragic bio: Philip Paul Bliss. If you can get four strong, easily blended men’s voices to do Brightly Beams a capella, it can be what I call a real goose-bumper.

Anything from the Hymn book, the children's songbook or The Choir Book is appropriate. Anything beyond that needs to be reverent, dignified and doctrinally sound, and receive the bishop's prior approval.

You, my friend, are preaching to the choir.

[daz2]

As a personal matter, I agree with Gladys Knight that Mormon Church music needs to be livened up. Some of us feel the spirit as much or more with more lively and even provocative music than is found in the hymnal or typical Church muzak.

That being said, I think the true test of whether music is appropriately reverent/appropriate and does not call attention to itself is whether it disturbs the slumber of the high priests. If they continue to sleep through it, the musical number meets the test as being appropriate; if they wake up because it is so different from the usual, then the music does not pass the test.

By the way, the same test applies for whether Sacrament meeting talks or Sunday School lessons conform to Church doctrine.

[bluebell]

I'm going to confess something about some hymns that i know will probably be considered blasphemous but here goes-

I really don't like to sing "I Believe in Christ" or "How Great Thou Art" in sacrament meeting. The words are beautiful and inspiring. It's the tune and/or singing that kills me.

I just honestly dislike IBIC-i think the tune takes away from the message of the words and to make it worse, the song goes on forever.

I like other arraingments of HGTA but it's one of those songs which usually (not always, but usually) loses most of it's appeal when it's song by a bunch of amateurs who are typically only putting about half of their attention into doing so. Under those circumstances, it also goes on forever.

I will now duck and run....

[Duncan]

I'm going to confess something about some hymns that i know will probably be considered blasphemous but here goes-

I really don't like to sing "I Believe in Christ" or "How Great Thou Art" in sacrament meeting. The words are beautiful and inspiring. It's the tune and/or singing that kills me.

I just honestly dislike IBIC-i think the tune takes away from the message of the words and to make it worse, the song goes on forever.

I like other arraingments of HGTA but it's one of those songs which usually (not always, but usually) loses most of it's appeal when it's song by a bunch of amateurs who are typically only putting about half of their attention into doing so. Under those circumstances, it also goes on forever.

I will now duck and run....

That is okay, I dislike "Silent Night", both music and words. I think it is just macabre to hear and I envision a procession of funeral going people hauling a coffin in 19th century Ireland or something when I sing that song, and what is more, other Christmas music is so lively and upbeat but that song puts a gory damper on everything!

[bluebell]

That is okay, I dislike "Silent Night", both music and words. I think it is just macabre to hear and I envision a procession of funeral going people hauling a coffin in 19th century Ireland or something when I sing that song, and what is more, other Christmas music is so lively and upbeat but that song puts a gory damper on everything!

You heathen.

[Duncan]

You heathen.

More precisely, Canadian Heathen, it's a charmed life!

[William Schryver]

I'm going to confess something about some hymns that i know will probably be considered blasphemous but here goes-

I really don't like to sing "I Believe in Christ" or "How Great Thou Art" in sacrament meeting. The words are beautiful and inspiring. It's the tune and/or singing that kills me.

I just honestly dislike IBIC-i think the tune takes away from the message of the words and to make it worse, the song goes on forever.

I like other arraingments of HGTA but it's one of those songs which usually (not always, but usually) loses most of it's appeal when it's song by a bunch of amateurs who are typically only putting about half of their attention into doing so. Under those circumstances, it also goes on forever.

I will now duck and run....

I would be more worried that I basically agree with you. I'm not very fond of the music to I Believe in Christ. And the problems to which you allude concerning How Great Thou Art are things I have also noted: unless it's done by a really good choir, it just doesn't sound that great. It drags. Both those hymns do. I'm the ward organist in our ward, and I also choose the hymns each week. I generally avoid those two hymns because I have found it almost impossible to compel the congregation to sing them at an appropriate tempo. Of course, that is a common problem, and the chorister and organist must be working together to keep the tempo fast enough. For whatever reason, it is much harder to do with the two hymns you mention than it is, for example, with The Spirit of God or Oh My Father and A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.

The fact is that only a relatively small proportion of the hymns combine both great music and a great text. And, in my opinion, great music is more important, when it comes right down to it, than a great text. Great music can turn a relatively mediocre text into an wonderful song. Put a great text to great music--and it's magic. A few that come to mind are: O God, the Eternal Father (with a text by W. W. Phelps and music by Felix Mendelssohn); There Is A Green Hill Far Away; Upon the Cross of Calvary; Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King; Our Savior's Love; Lord, I Would Follow Thee; Where Can I Turn for Peace; Father in Heaven. (Obviously, I am quite partial to the sacrament hymns, but there are many others I could also have cited.)

Anyway, don't feel bad. Different hymns speak to different people for very different reasons. There is not really any right or wrong to it. It's all very personal.

I love a variety of rock and roll, folk, blues, Americana, hillbilly, and even some 70s psychedelic rock. But I also love the hymns of Zion. I hope to see many more great hymns written during my lifetime. I aspire myself to write a hymn some day. I think leaving a truly moving hymn as a legacy would be a greater accomplishment than leaving a chart-topping single.

[bluebell]

More precisely, Canadian Heathen, it's a charmed life!

[Bernard Gui]

I really don't like to sing "I Believe in Christ" or "How Great Thou Art" in sacrament meeting. The words are beautiful and inspiring. It's the tune and/or singing that

kills it

Both text and music should be top-notch. Some of our hymns fall short with one or the other...or both. We do have some excellent hymns written by LDS musicians.

I would like to see the old "practice hymn" reinstated so we can add to our repertory from the existing book and from new high quality works that could be published in the Ensign.

Bernard

[Calm]

Both text and music should be top-notch. Some of our hymns fall short with one or the other...or both. We do have some excellent hymns written by LDS musicians.

I would like to see the old "practice hymn" reinstated so we can add to our repertory from the existing book and from new high quality works that could be published in the Ensign.

Bernard

I always thought that the idea of having a practice hymn session right after Sacrament meeting was a great idea even though the teachers who left to get ready for their classes missed the practice. We did this for a couple of years in one of my wards, but I think they thought it cut into that class period too much.

[Bernard Gui]

As a personal matter, I agree with Gladys Knight that Mormon Church music needs to be livened up. Some of us feel the spirit as much or more with more lively and even provocative music than is found in the hymnal or typical Church muzak.

There's a place for lively provocative LDS church music,

but it's not in sacrament meeting.

Bernard

[USU78]

If I hear Called to Serve one more time I'm gnawing off my other pinkie toe.

[Nathair/|\]

That is okay, I dislike "Silent Night", both music and words. I think it is just macabre to hear and I envision a procession of funeral going people hauling a coffin in 19th century Ireland or something when I sing that song, and what is more, other Christmas music is so lively and upbeat but that song puts a gory damper on everything!

Nae, Nae, this is the soundtrack to an Irish funeral:

Here is my favorite version of Silent Night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy6ba_M6zww

The one hymn that really irritates me is "How Firm a Foundation." Most of the song is decent, but the repetition in the chorus just bugs me for some reason. It's weird, though, because I love the repetition in other songs, eg. The Wild Rover.

[Duncan]

Nae, Nae, this is the soundtrack to an Irish funeral:

Here is my favorite version of Silent Night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy6ba_M6zww

The one hymn that really irritates me is "How Firm a Foundation." Most of the song is decent, but the repetition in the chorus just bugs me for some reason. It's weird, though, because I love the repetition in other songs, eg. The Wild Rover.

Well you know what they say, God invented Whiskey to prevent the Irish from ruling the world! I LOVE how firm a foundation! all time favourite behind #125,How Gentle God's Commands

[Nathair/|\]

Another favorite hymn I'd love to hear in Sacrament Meeting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7_Z74X5MKA&feature=related[/media]

[Stargazer]

Here are two examples of sacred music that, as awesome as they are in other settings, are not appropriate for Sacrament Meeting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBHu_KYrOEE

That was awesome. I don't know quite what to make of the other video you posted.

[Stargazer]

Another favorite hymn I'd love to hear in Sacrament Meeting.

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/media]

Enya simply rocks.

[Stargazer]

I like the first verse. The remainder of it is, in my opinion, way overblown; too many notes (to quote the Emperor in Amadeus).

I think the second and third verses lose much of that "revival meeting" feel when they are performed as reverently as the first verse is in the BYU version. I am personally very fond of the Sally Deford piano/vocal arrangement of the song. She offers it free for download (in .pdf format) from her website: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. I have recently memorized it (which I prefer to do for all songs that I sing to my own accompaniment) and will be performing it in our ward next month.

Here's an interesting instrumental arrangment:

Might be a little over-the-top for sacrament meeting, though.

In the same vein, but with much better quality is David Crowder Band"

[urroner]

Here's an interesting instrumental arrangment:

Might be a little over-the-top for sacrament meeting, though.

Sounds like a backyard version of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

[urroner]

In "Come Thou Fount" and BTW it's "fount" and not "font," the word "Ebenezer" is used. What is an "Ebenezer?"

"Here I raise my Ebenezer" is not about holding up up some old, crotchety scrooge, but it is derived from 1 Samuel 7:12

12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:

eb-en-e'-zer ('ebhen ha-`ezer, "stone of the help"; Abenezer):

(1) Here Israel was defeated by the Philistines, 4,000 men falling in the battle (1 Samuel 4:1). It appears also to have been the scene of the disaster when the ark of God was captured (1 Samuel 4:3). The place is not identified. It was over against Aphek; but this site is also unknown (compare Joshua 12:18). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it between Jerusalem and Ascalon, in the neighborhood of Beth-shemesh. Conder suggests Deir Aban, fully 2 miles East of `Ain Shems (PEF, III, 24).

(2) A stone set up by Samuel to perpetuate the memory of the signal victory granted to Israel over the Philistines in answer to his prayer (1 Samuel 7:12). It stood between Mizpeh and Shen. The latter is probably identical with `Ain Sinia, North of Bethel. This defines the district in which it may be found; but no identification is yet possible.

[Nathair/|\]

That was awesome. I don't know quite what to make of the other video you posted.

The other one is a hymn to Thor, the Norse god of thunder and protector of mankind; whose primary symbol is his hammer, Mjöllnir.

[Jigglysaint]

If I hear Called to Serve one more time I'm gnawing off my other pinkie toe.

That and "Hark All Ye Nations". I REALLY hate that hymn and I really dislike the more "bouncy hymns".

[urroner]

That and "Hark All Ye Nations". I REALLY hate that hymn and I really dislike the more "bouncy hymns".

And how much do you hate "Popcorn"