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Melodious Accord: Good Singing in Church
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 27, 2015
Alice Parker, composer and arranger for the Robert Shaw Chorale, gave me much to consider, and I would recommend this for all church musicians. The book is 100 pages and I filled 10 pages of my journal with quotes, summaries, responses.
She encourages us to know music and draw song out of people. She wonders why our culture expects universal literacy when it comes to reading, but not when it comes to music.
"There are churches in all denominations in this country where congregations do sing well, and it is always because there is at least one person who is actively expecting it."
"Good singing is not the result of a good congregation but the forging of it. No other gift connects us in quite this way."
I was surprised that she focuses on *melody* as the key to improving our singing.
The quotes are enough reason to get this book: Martin Luther, Dorothy Sayers, John Calvin, St. Bernard. Good stuff. One of my favorite Alice Parker quotes matches my experience: "I'm sure that I learned to read by following my mother's finger as it moved along the lines of the hymnal."
I don't agree with some of Parker's theology, but that didn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying this.
"If we are clear that our music is a gift of God, and we are returning this gift, we have no trouble setting our sights high, raising our expectations and daring to improve as we worship." Amen!
She encourages us to know music and draw song out of people. She wonders why our culture expects universal literacy when it comes to reading, but not when it comes to music.
"There are churches in all denominations in this country where congregations do sing well, and it is always because there is at least one person who is actively expecting it."
"Good singing is not the result of a good congregation but the forging of it. No other gift connects us in quite this way."
I was surprised that she focuses on *melody* as the key to improving our singing.
The quotes are enough reason to get this book: Martin Luther, Dorothy Sayers, John Calvin, St. Bernard. Good stuff. One of my favorite Alice Parker quotes matches my experience: "I'm sure that I learned to read by following my mother's finger as it moved along the lines of the hymnal."
I don't agree with some of Parker's theology, but that didn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying this.
"If we are clear that our music is a gift of God, and we are returning this gift, we have no trouble setting our sights high, raising our expectations and daring to improve as we worship." Amen!
February 12, 2020
Lota of great food for thought, lots of impracticality. "Why are we so afraid of rehearsal?" That feels like a dumb question to me. But also some really great refocussing on what to prioritize in spiritual, communal singing, on what's truly important, and how a good sound is both possible (?) and essential to creating a next-level experience, with the right projection of vision.
September 28, 2017
The perfect companion for anyone entrusted to the care and craft of choral music and congregational singing in a worship service setting. Alice Parker is the voice of her generation on the subject.
January 19, 2018
This small book gives some pointers and tips for those wanting to understand their congregations, and why they may not sing along with the songs used for worship. It gives encouragement and a kind of conversation at the beginning of each chapter and a quote at the end of each chapter.
The book emphasizes the melody of songs, which is easier for people learning the song than learning the harmony, as well as a person leading the singing.
The book emphasizes the melody of songs, which is easier for people learning the song than learning the harmony, as well as a person leading the singing.
April 26, 2015
The book was a good argument for and encouragement of singing in the church, along with suggestions for how to make it better. Of primary importance to Parker is melody, simple, and unadorned. It gave me much to think about and to help me as I teach others to sing, be they choirs or the congregation as a whole.
January 25, 2008
Rather simplistic, but touches on some important concepts.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews