I’m one of those guilty people who used to sing mindlessly in church. In fact, most times, I would lip sync my way through the motion. Especially if the song is one of those plain, old boring (too many stanzas) hymn that’s been sung too many times. “There is a Fountain” written by William Cowper…
Author: Irene Bennett
Have you ever had to audition for a choir? If you did, you know how nerve-wracking it can be, especially if the choir has certain professional standards. One of the most important tips in auditioning is to know what kind of choir you’re auditioning for. What is the group’s mission? What type of arrangements do…
Music is often a reflection of what happens in the society. Many a man’s ideals, beliefs and philosophies are mirrored by music through its tune, rhythm, harmony, lyrics and form. When the Protestant Reformation era came about, the kind of music that emerged to reflect it came in the form of hymns, and a participatory…
RILEY. KINGSFOLD. ORA LABORA. OASIS. CWM RHONDDA. VILLE DU HARVE. CANONBURY. DRONFIELD. TRURO. WELLESLEY. MARTYRDOM. Ok, before you think I’m babbling some kind of nonsense, let me tell you that the words above do have something in common, as irrelevant and different as they seem. That is they are names of hymn tunes. And in…
The general idea when it comes to hymns is that there is a close bond between the author and the composer. That the author writes a hymn and the composer invents a tune to suit it, and then provides the harmony to accompany the tune. However, such wasn’t always the case. Many hymns actually worked…
George Beverly Shea could have had an easily popular music career. After all, he had 500 vocal solos recorded on more than seventy albums. He was nominated for ten Grammy Awards, and actually won one in 1966. But fame and popularity aside, Shea chose to serve God instead. You would probably be more familiar with…
There is a general misconception in many worship and music discussions that rhythm is evil. Sadly, this particular topic has been the source of many heated debates. I for one have played referee on numerous occasions when such a debate ensues between the ultra conservative “syncopation is of the devil” camp versus the modern musician that…
“Harmony. We love it. Even its name is being borrowed at everyday language to mean closeness, friendliness, human warmth, cooperation and well-being. Unlike rhythm and melody, harmony wasn’t part of music from the beginning, it’s an upstart…But what an upstart!” –Howard Goodall In the story of Western music civilization, a single line of music or monophony was the main…
Praise the Lord. Give glory to God. Make melody to God in your hearts. Talk of the truth. Talk of the Christian’s hope, the Christian’s heaven. Evangelism, 630. Melody is the essence of music. Music is basically made of melody and rhythm. Harmony, timbre and texture makes it richer, tempo makes it faster or slower,…