PHSS101-- The Songs We Sing: a Survey of Our Songs, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

 

{The following is a brainstorm I am forming for a (series of) class(es) to help us with the hymns, et al, we sing (or should [not] sing); contributions and suggestions are welcome, so please post in comments.}

Prime Directive: to let the Word of Christ richly dwell in us in all wisdom, teaching, admonishing, and speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace and making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16) in a decent and orderly manner (1Co 14:40).

The Ideal:

• Song Leader: able to read the music as well as to discern the lyrics (and be able to detect what level if any of unscriptural quality any lyrics may have), and to be able to lead the congregation through a given song.
• Congregants: able to read the music as well as to discern the lyrics (and be able to detect what level if any of unscriptural quality any lyrics may have), and to be able to follow the direction of the song leader through a given song.

Possible Parallel (?) Course:
Going Thru the Hymnbook to

• Learn new songs
• Better understand (lyrically as well as musically) the songs we already sing
• Point why we do not sing certain hymns (eg– “It Won’t Be Very Long”), why we shouldn’t sing some hymns we do (eg– “Tell It to Jesus”), and ways we can change some hymns to be better lyrically (eg– “You’ve revealed your will for me So I can serve you for eternity…”)

Two possible courses:

• (1) Music Fundamentals & Dynamics: basic course presenting a summary in how to read music (both standard notation and solfage [shape notes])
• (2) “The Songs We Sing”: a survey through the Hymnbook regarding the songs we sing (with commentary on history and meaning), the songs we shouldn’t be singing, and glimpses of songs we do not know (yet)

Proposed format for course (2):

• Open with prayer
• Vocal “warm up” (sing 2 songs with which we are familiar)[5:00]
• “Get to Know Your Songs Better”: a history of a particular hymn (who composed it, what lead up to its writing, etc.) and a brief analysis of its meaning (“My God and I will go for aye together”)[10:00]
• “Songs on Trial”: take a well known song, analyze it to determine its doctrinal integrity, and judge whether simple changes to lyrics would improve it or if it should be avoided altogether.[10:00]
• “Sing Unto the Lord a New Song”: teach a song we have never sung before (or only once in the last five-plus years) by focusing on each part, starting in unison and growing towards full harmony.[10:00-15:00]
• {in the interests of time, perhaps the “Get to Know…” and “Songs on Trial” portions could alternate from week to week/class to class(?)}
• “Closing Warm-ups”: finish the class with either some familiar songs or, perhaps, a new song that a song leader wishes to try out (perhaps at the next following service).

Originally posted 14th May by bas4d under the PHSS101 blog