tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988509909991606880.post2759102890792092936..comments2024-03-01T10:04:23.949-06:00Comments on A Fort Made of Books: Reading Sibelius's 6thRobbieFishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112535005437118728noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988509909991606880.post-4541880968165676022010-01-09T12:58:44.334-06:002010-01-09T12:58:44.334-06:00I agree with you, Robbie. Can you tell me, might ...I agree with you, Robbie. Can you tell me, might THIS be what's wrong with our latest version of the Lutheran hymnal? Maybe it's contributing to fewer people inspired to sing along on Sundays:<br /><br />Here I've ad-libbed on the gist of what (you) Rev. Robin D. Fish, Jr. (LCMS) wrote: "Thirds have more color and offer the most vibrant effect of any harmonic system. . . Thirds are essential to make music as powerful as it can be. . . On the other hand, unexpected notes (dissonances) and delays in resolving them generate tension in the singers and listeners."<br /><br />"I think the 'new' atonal serialism [such as in our Lutheran hymnal?] (deliberate dissonance to force congregations to sing in unison by preventing harmony?), at bottom, suggests to our souls a random universe where anything can happen, given enough time - a world in which meaning is imposed by the mind of the observer, by logic alone, without feeling." <br /><br />"The ferventness is lost . . . Harmless music with vaguely psychoanalytical ideas: . . . please don't make us sit through it unless it brings us alive."<br /><br />Amen. May I add: It is NOT LOGIC which gets us out of bed in the morning; only emotion is strong enough to move the physical body. Science indicates that every move the body makes must be fueled by some kind of emotion, whether sublime or not. Even anger will do the job if you can't reach any higher; at least it's better than the suicidal feelings of total lack of emotion. <br /><br />Words need fuel to reach our souls such as old-time gospel two-part harmonies in thirds, though not often sung in churches lately. IMO they can give us more goosebumps (higher emotion, the Deity in us all, touching our hearts) than nearly any other music. Try these (criteria: the melody alone gives us goosebumps PLUS everyone already knows the words), and let me know what you think:<br /><br />-- Be Still My Soul (Sibelius, Finlandia)<br />-- Shall We Gather At the River?<br />-- Sweet Hour of Prayer<br />-- God Be With You Till We Meet Again<br />-- Church In the Wildwood<br />-- Bringing In the Sheaves<br />-- How Great Thou Art<br />-- Just As I Am Without One Plea<br />-- Rock of Ages<br />-- The Old Rugged Cross<br />-- Take My Hand, Precious Lord<br />-- What A Friend We Have In Jesus<br />-- Blessed Assurance<br />-- I Was There To Hear Your Bornin' Cry<br />-- Morning Has Broken<br />-- Jesus Savior Pilot Me<br />-- He Leadeth Me<br />-- I Come To the Garden Alone<br />-- I Need Thee Every Hour<br />-- Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us<br />-- It Is No Secret What God Can Do<br />-- Brighten the Corner Where You Are<br />-- When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder<br />-- I've Got a Mansion Just Over the Hilltop<br />-- I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever<br />-- From Greenland's Icy Mountains<br />-- I Love To Tell the Story<br />-- Pass Me Not, Oh Gentle Savior<br />-- Work, For the Night Is Coming<br />-- Come Into His Presence Singing Alleluiah (round)<br />-- Praise You Father, Bless You Jesus (round)<br /> -- When the Saints Go Marching In I<br /> -- I'll Fly Away Oh Lordy I ---> all three simultaneously; they harmonize<br /> -- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot I<br />-- Count Your Many Blessings, Name Them One By One<br />-- In the Sweet By and By<br />-- Heavenly Sunshine<br />-- Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary<br />-- Take It To the Lord In Prayer<br />-- Standing In the Need of Prayer<br />-- The Love of God Is Richer Far<br />-- Create In Me a Clean Heart, Oh God (identical liturgy, but sung to tune by The Women Folk)<br />-- Come Lord Jesus Be Our Guest (same old table prayer, sung as a round to White Coral Bells tune)<br />-- Take My Life and Let It Be (to French carol, "Il Est Ne Le Divine Enfant?") <br />-- The Lord's Prayer (sung to Haydn's Serenata)Bettylouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07438822486570989487noreply@blogger.com