Can We Mormons Get Our Groove On?

[mfbukowski]

And Praise to the Man is a rewrite of Erin Go Bragh. Life is Like a Mountain Railway=Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses.

I was pretty shocked the first time I heard Praise to the Man.

I was positive I had joined a cult for a while, and after I got over that, I was embarrassed if there were any investigators in the audience when it was sung.  Now I just chalk it up to Mormon weirdness and kind of ignore it.

[Stone holm]

I was pretty shocked the first time I heard Praise to the Man.

I was positive I had joined a cult for a while, and after I got over that, I was embarrassed if there were any investigators in the audience when it was sung.  Now I just chalk it up to Mormon weirdness and kind of ignore it.

My second favorite hymn, what's not to like?

[mfbukowski]

Not the Erin Go Bragh that I know.

 

Holy cow, now we are talkin' SERIOUS music here.  THAT is the kind of stuff that just gets me deep down inside.

[mfbukowski]

Not at all. I am speaking strictly of sacrament meeting. I believe there should be purity and consistency church-wide in our sacrament meeting hymnody. There are other venues for us to explore the rich diversity of world music.

That's what I said.

 

Purely and consistently exploring Utah Mormon culture, old protestant hymns, drinking songs, and what-have you with a pioneer twist.    You have provided evidence of that yourself.

[mfbukowski]

Not necessarily. There is sufficient latitude built into the service in the form of special music for sacrament meeting. In addition, this could be sung at a stake conference or in any other meeting including Relief Society, Priesthood, or ward talent show, fireside, or dinner. It could even be done in those venues using local styles and instruments. Wouldn't a throat-singing version be interesting?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dyhs1EcPxis

Amazing!

 

It's not sygyt, it's sacred. 

[mfbukowski]

My second favorite hymn, what's not to like?

Well interestingly it makes it doctrinal that Joseph is now exalted, ascended to heaven, and still planning for his brethren.  "Mingling with gods, he can plan for his brethren" was a phrase that put me off.

 

We are so busy telling people we don't worship Joseph, and then we sing that?

 

"Hail to the prophet, ascended to heaven" - (I didn't know he had an ascension- I thought only Jesus did that- silly me).  I saw his grave- so how did he ascend to heaven?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I think they should be made "more inviting" to those used to Gregorian Chant.  The hymnal is too Protestant for me.

 

Everything is relative.

I have always wished that "Amazing Grace" (which is one of the greatest hymns ever...which began as a sermon) was one of our hymns.

[JLHPROF]

I was pretty shocked the first time I heard Praise to the Man.

I was positive I had joined a cult for a while, and after I got over that, I was embarrassed if there were any investigators in the audience when it was sung.  Now I just chalk it up to Mormon weirdness and kind of ignore it.

 

My second favorite hymn, what's not to like?

 

 

Well interestingly it makes it doctrinal that Joseph is now exalted, ascended to heaven, and still planning for his brethren.  "Mingling with gods, he can plan for his brethren" was a phrase that put me off.

 

We are so busy telling people we don't worship Joseph, and then we sing that?

 

"Hail to the prophet, ascended to heaven" - (I didn't know he had an ascension- I thought only Jesus did that- silly me).  I saw his grave- so how did he ascend to heaven?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension

 

You might have really thought you'd joined a cult if the Church hadn't changed the lyrics to the second verse:

1. 2. Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr;
   Honored and blest be his ever great name!
   Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins,
   Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.

The last line used to read "Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, stain Illinois while the earth lauds his fame.  It went with the old oath of vengeance which hung around till the turn of the century.

Also, apparently it might have been written by Eliza R. Snow Smith, not W.W. Phelps as printed in the hymnbook.  Although she attributed it to Phelps in the hymnbook she herself edited.

http://www.mormonchronicle.com/who-really-wrote-praise-to-the-man/

Edited January 6, 2014 by JLHPROF

[mfbukowski]

 

You might have really thought you'd joined a cult if the Church hadn't changed the lyrics to the second verse:

1. 2. Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr;
   Honored and blest be his ever great name!
   Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins,
   Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.

The last line used to read "Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, stain Illinois while the earth lauds his fame.  It went with the old oath of vengeance which hung around till the turn of the century.

Also, apparently it might have been written by Eliza R. Snow Smith, not W.W. Phelps as printed in the hymnbook.  Although she attributed it to Phelps in the hymnbook she herself edited.

http://www.mormonchronicle.com/who-really-wrote-praise-to-the-man/

 

Yes, all this is well known.

Edited January 6, 2014 by mfbukowski

[Tacenda]

Yes, all this is well known.

New one on me!

[Bernard Gui]

Vaughan Williams was a genius in ym estimation.

 

I've always wanted to see a proper study of Bunyan and Mormonism, so hopefully someone will take up the challenge.

You are a gentleman and a scholar. I agree with your assessment of RVW.

[Bernard Gui]

I guess I now know why it wasn't suppose to be sung, we are not wretches in this church. Plain and simple.

I Am a Child of God would be more compatible with our beliefs than I Am a Wretch...granted, we are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God.

[Bernard Gui]

Holy cow, now we are talkin' SERIOUS music here. THAT is the kind of stuff that just gets me deep down inside.

But our Fatherland....Poland....

Edited January 6, 2014 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

That's what I said.

 

Purely and consistently exploring Utah Mormon culture, old protestant hymns, drinking songs, and what-have you with a pioneer twist.    You have provided evidence of that yourself.

It was common practice to set hymn lyrics to popular songs. Some editions of the LDS hymnbook have only hymn texts, no music, with a meter that indicated what melodies would work. For example, try singing The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning to the tune of Now Let Us Rejoice. The concern was not with the aesthetics of the tune, but with accessibility to the most people.

The most recent hymnbook has branched out to other sources and more modern composers. It is far from perfect and future editions may further deal with those issues. In the meantime, it is what we have; however, we are not confined to a Utah-centric music in our church services. There are many ways to include other musics in our services.

[Bernard Gui]

Amazing!

It's not sygyt, it's sacred.

Very, very good!

Khoomei, khoomei Ye Saints.....

Edited January 6, 2014 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

I think the Liahona is the nonEnglish version of the Ensign....

Prizes and awards for LDS composers and arrangers...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barlow_Endowment

http://www.lds.org/music/submit-music?lang=eng

Edited January 6, 2014 by Bernard Gui

[why me]

I was pretty shocked the first time I heard Praise to the Man.

I was positive I had joined a cult for a while, and after I got over that, I was embarrassed if there were any investigators in the audience when it was sung.  Now I just chalk it up to Mormon weirdness and kind of ignore it.

This is one of my favorite hymns. One reason is because it showed the grief that the church members experienced at Joseph's brutal murder. And regardless of their sacrifice, they believed his testimony and story. It is a hymn from the grassroots to a human being that they loved.

[Stone holm]

Well interestingly it makes it doctrinal that Joseph is now exalted, ascended to heaven, and still planning for his brethren.  "Mingling with gods, he can plan for his brethren" was a phrase that put me off.

 

We are so busy telling people we don't worship Joseph, and then we sing that?

 

"Hail to the prophet, ascended to heaven" - (I didn't know he had an ascension- I thought only Jesus did that- silly me).  I saw his grave- so how did he ascend to heaven?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension

 

I always considered that doctrinal.  Heaven is just the spirit world outside of spirit prison.  Heads of Dispensations remain in that status regardless of whether they are alive or dead until they deliver up the keys of their dispensation to Adam at Adam Ondi Ahman and Adam in turn delivers them up to Christ.  Nothing in the hymn suggests we worship Joseph Smith, but I think it would be silly to argue that we don't praise him quite a bit, as we should since he was martyred as a result of restoring the Gospel

[Tacenda]

This is one of my favorite hymns. One reason is because it showed the grief that the church members experienced at Joseph's brutal murder. And regardless of their sacrifice, they believed his testimony and story. It is a hymn from the grassroots to a human being that they loved.

I either won't sing it or replace "praise to the man" with "praise to the Saviour" .

[why me]

I either won't sing it or replace "praise to the man" with "praise to the Saviour" .

The hymn has much to do with mormon culture and history and needs to be understood in its time frame. It is a beautiful hymn written at a time of deep hurt among the saints. And they expressed that hurt beautifully. The lds have plenty of songs to the savior. Joseph Smith saw his mission to the end. He sacrificed his life for what he believed in. As did his brother. And he was much loved. Thus, the song was a ways and means to relieve the hurt among the saints. And to show their friend respect.

 

Also the words are relevant today as traitors and tyrannts fight him in vain. And as the song says miilions shall know brother joseph again. Which is actually true.

Edited January 6, 2014 by why me

[why me]

The hymn has much to do with mormon culture and history and needs to be understood in its time frame. It is a beautiful hymn written at a time of deep hurt among the saints. And they expressed that hurt beautifully. The lds have plenty of songs to the savior. Joseph Smith saw his mission to the end. He sacrificed his life for what he believed in. As did his brother. And he was much loved. Thus, the song was a ways and means to relieve the hurt among the saints. And to show their friend respect.

 

Also the words are relevant today as traitors and tyrannts fight him in vain. And as the song says miilions shall know brother joseph again. Which is actually true.

Those those interested here is the song complete with lyrics. I am sure way back when the early saints must have sung this with tears and pride.

 

[mfbukowski]

But our Fatherland....Poland....

I know. I can't figure it out either- it must come from a previous life or something.

But my kids are half Scottish/English so maybe I inherited it from them. 

[mfbukowski]

 It is far from perfect and future editions may further deal with those issues. In the meantime, it is what we have; however, we are not confined to a Utah-centric music in our church services. There are many ways to include other musics in our services.

Yep - that's all I'm saying.

[mfbukowski]

Very, very good!

Khoomei, khoomei Ye Saints.....

[volgadon]

I know. I can't figure it out either- it must come from a previous life or something.

But my kids are half Scottish/English so maybe I inherited it from them. 

 

Plenty of Scots-Irish in Poland since the 1600s.