195 Comments »

1. That is a beautiful rendition and not at all inappropriate. I recall when a young man in my previous ward was going on his mission, he had his black friend sing a popular ethnic religious hymn. I loved it. But I could see that our very white ward was a bit uncomfortable. I love religious diversity. And I suspect that God does too.

   Comment by StillConfused — September 25, 2009 @ 10:24 am

2. With your intro to your singing, I was expecting some sort of “guitar hero” rock rendition. I was surprised to hear your deep, soulful, sound and then couldn’t reconcile it with your question of “is this inappropriate?” What could possibly not be appropriate? I love music but am not trained and wouldn’t say I have a good ear for any of the technical stuff unless it’s pretty glaring. Reese, I know you don’t want ego stroking, but I’m jealous. I wonder at your question of a deeper range indicating a sensuality people aren’t comfortable with. I think you might be entirely right. And that’s a crying shame. I imagine Mary Magdelene was very sensual and she was Christ’s favorite. Why has sensuality gotten such a bad wrap and how can I unwarp myself from what I can logically see as wacked after years of YW training in church. My husband would be eternally grateful. In the meantime, I’ll just be jealous.

   And your question about Joseph hypothetically being African. I’ve posted that question to my mother-in-law when conference time came around and none of the speakers were speaking in their native tongue. Her answer was essentially–the only tradition that matters is God’s. And apparently, God’s tradition is English and white. sigh.

   Comment by lola — September 25, 2009 @ 10:36 am

3. I too struggle with stuff like this, but if you are singing from the heart, I don’t think it is “inappropriate.”

   The people who get up and sing Christina Aquilera style or the way over-emotive (read: look at me! look at me!) EFY style drive me crazy. But so do the way over the top Opera style–I think any time it feels as if they are taking themselves too seriously, and anytime I am drawn out of the song and into the pompousness/ self-indulgence of the performer is when it is inappropriate.

   I kind of see it as the council in heaven approach. If something sung in church gives glory to God, bless (I love a beautiful Baptist rendition of His Eye is on the Sparrow)! If you are going to sing for God, but the glory be thine, fail.

   Comment by tkangaroo — September 25, 2009 @ 10:40 am

4. I don’t get it. I didn’t notice anything inappropriate about that hymn and I certainly didn’t think it sucked. In fact, I thought it was really good! I don’t even know where the people who say it is inappropriate are coming from!

   Comment by Livi — September 25, 2009 @ 10:42 am

5. #2

   That should read “none of the non-native speakers speak in their native tongue”.

   Comment by lola — September 25, 2009 @ 10:45 am

6. First, I don’t have any problem with what you recorded here. I can’t imagine it being seen as inappropriate.

   I’m not good with the hypothetical, because it talks about what isn’t real, and I have a hard enough time keeping up with what is real. But I think the question helps to expose some of the assumptions we make about what is real, and bring them to question. I don’t think the way we sing is unpleasing to God, but was it chosen because it was the only way to be pleasing to God? Is the Holy Ghost scared away by a guitar? Jesus never sung in our style during his mortal ministry — was he singing wrong?

   I remember when the green hymnal came out, and we had some new hymns get a lot of attention — some of which my ward still sings on occasion, and several not. I think what worked well was to continue singing the hymns we’re familiar with, but work one or two into the pattern frequently enought hat we could get familiar with them, then add one or two more, until we have a larger body of familiar hymns. I think that kind of pattern could work in a new hymnal that had some different stylings going on. It would help to have the MoTab give examples of how to sing those different stylings both as instruction and as validation. But learning how to sing a different style than what we’ve done will be hard. I hope we get through it anyhow.

   Comment by Blain — September 25, 2009 @ 10:45 am

7. Reese–

   We have an Elder missionary currently serving in our ward who sings beautiful, modern arrangements of hymns. I recently told him: “Hearing you sing makes me happy and glad I came to Church. I can’t say that about a lot of things or people.”

   Hearing you sing makes me happy and glad I came to FMH. The people complaining are the same ones who feel that “The Spirit of God” is too rollicking and robust a hymn for Sacrament Meeting or the Temple. (Yes, I have heard this complaint. When someone said that it was inappropriate for the temple, my jaw dropped and I said, “You, uh, know the occasion that the song was written for, don’t you?”)

   Comment by Bro. Jones — September 25, 2009 @ 10:54 am

8. I agree with number 3. I remember when I was in high school and we were told over the podium that anything off tempo with embellishments added (sliding and twanging your way to notes) was inappropriate. And I thought, what crap! First they tell us what to sing, and now they’re telling us how?!

   I came to hope that maybe, just maybe, it was their way of helping the many teenage would-be performers from making it too “pop” sounding and fanning their egos, but something about it seriously bothered me.

   The way you sang conveyed what you felt about the words of the song more than any clear-toned, spot on, Deseret book version would have. Just like discussions about Gospel themed versus Church provided art in the home, there has got to be more room for variety in music style in our worship. The intent and power of the message should be the focus, not the quality of the voice or style. I understand the need to have a few guidelines to prevent people from doing truly inappropriate stuff, but this was NOT inappopriate.

   Beautifully done, and kudos to you for putting it out there for others to consider. I would love to hear more of this style in church.

   Comment by corktree — September 25, 2009 @ 10:58 am

9. I thought it was an awesome rendition and I wouldn’t even have had a second thought about it’s ‘appropriateness’ had I heard it from the stand. When I was serving as a bishop, I would have approved that in a heartbeat and without reservation.

   Now, I approved some other ‘non-traditional’ music numbers that I know made a few of the more culturally staunch members of my ward a bit nervous. And the french horn number even made my SP nervous enough that he made a point of attending that sacrament meeting. I was grateful and glad he congratulated the musicians (who were ward members) and then made a point to let me know he thought I had made the correct call. So maybe I am not the best judge of where the cultural norm of the church is?

   A young man in my current ward just played a very stirring and very non-traditional arraignment on the piano as a musical number. I can’t wait to hear him play again.

   Comment by Lon — September 25, 2009 @ 11:04 am

10. I honestly have trouble understanding why any rational person would take umbrage at your rendition.

    You have a great voice with lots of soul. Rock on, sister!

    Comment by Jay Hinton — September 25, 2009 @ 11:09 am

11. If you sang like that in our stake, I don’t think anybody would think anything of it other than it was beautiful. I actually believe that whether or not the singer is truly worshipping comes through more loudly than the style.

    The question your raising, namely what constitutes proper music in church worship, is a small part of a much bigger question: namely, what does the Lord’s Spirit feel like?

    LDS people usually associate the Lord’s Spirit with quiet, peace, calm, gratitude, and contemplation. We generally don’t accept “Rise and Shout” feelings. We don’t really relate to the Day of Pentecost. I think LDS people used to, at least to some extent, but if you’ve been to a temple dedication recently, you realize it’s gone (the early LDS were all converts from other churches, after all). So, did we lose something, or did we evolve?

    Is it strictly cultural? Can you really have Christian Emo? Some of that stuff feels extremely foreign to me. And I’ve attended charismatic meetings where I didn’t recognize the Spirit, but the people were obviously feeling something. Are these people just feeling a different manifestation of the same Spirit, or are their feelings something else entirely?

    Tough question.

    Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 11:15 am

12. I think I would listen to the hymns at home a lot more if I could buy a CD like this. It’s beautiful. Anyone know of a CD like this?

    Comment by The Milk (of the gospel) — September 25, 2009 @ 11:21 am

13. First of all: Reese, move to Berkeley! We’d set you up with our wonderful classical guitarist and a lovely woman from Alabama who refuses to sing anything that lacks a Southern flavor. You’d be perfect!

    I have no patience with the prevailing Mormon attitude toward sacred music. It ignores the way our own hymn tradition came about. I actually wrote my senior thesis on Mormon hymns, which has made me even more intolerant of those who say “Just stick to the hymnbook.”

    That’s a ridiculous thing to say for several reasons. First of all, which Mormon hymnal should we consult? We’ve had many of them over the years, each with a different selection of songs from diverse sources. Most of the hymns we’ve used over the years aren’t “ours.” We’ve borrowed most of them from other traditions. “Because I Have Been Given Much,” for example, is a gospel song. Reese’s style would probably be more appropriate to that song than the strict hymnal treatment we give it in Sacrament meeting. Plus, many of the hymns in the hymnbook were never intended for Sacrament meeting! The infamous “sunshine songs,” for example, come from a Sunday School songbook that was popular in the early twentieth century. The committee that compiled the 1985 (current) hymnal wanted to get rid of them, but they were too popular. The hymnal actually has a section about the uses of the hymns which stipulates that some of them are not appropriate for Sacrament services.

    Sorry about the long-winded comment, but I’m pretty passionate about this subject. I’d love to see more sacred music traditions included in our worship services.

    Comment by Sara Bay — September 25, 2009 @ 11:23 am

14. #9, Lon, when my dad was bishop, he approved a trumpet trio by a father and his two sons. The ward thought is was great, but when word got out, it was a bit of a scandal in the stake. ‘Course, the ward knew those three and their backstory, and that contributed to the music’s spirituality.

    Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 11:26 am

15. Reese, as a trained, operatic singer, I always cringe when people ask me to listen to a singer and give an opinion, so it was with trepidation that I opened your file to listen to you sing.

    I was very pleasantly surprised. You have a lovely voice and you use it well. Your style sounds very “gospel,” and, as someone who is not and never has been Mormon, I cannot address how that would “fly” in various Mormon churches, but I think it was really very beautiful and would be a welcome addition to worship in many, many churches.

    I remember growing up in the Assembly of God, there was always this prejudice against the use of classical music in worship services. I began playing the cello at the age of 4 and was intensely involved in symphonies, chamber music and classical choral music from a very young age. But singing an aria from Handel’s Messiah was taboo in our church because, according to them, “Handel wasn’t a Christian, so that’s not CHRISTIAN music! It doesn’t belong in church!!!” We had to sing Bill Gaither and John W. Peterson and Don Wyrtzen, or any of the old “gospel” singers/songwriters.

    Every church has its musical foibles, I’ve found. And I’ve only rarely found a congregation or parish that fully satisfies my musical taste. I guess it’s a rare thing. But I think there is room for all kinds of good music in worship, and I don’t think God is nearly as critical as the rest of us.

    I say that you should offer your music to God (that is, after all, the point of worship — not entertainment for an audience, but worship offered to God, right?), and let the chips fall where they may. Everybody’s got an opinion, and it’s simply not possible to please all of them. Please God, and let the rest take care of itself.

    Thanks for sharing your lovely recording.

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 11:35 am

16. When I lived in Salt Lake, my ward choir sang a negro spiritual as part of our Easter program. It was very challenging getting the sound right, but when we did, that song was about the most spiritual of all the songs we sang. Nobody batted an eyelash over it, either.

    I find it rather frustrating that our musical choices are so limited at church. There’s so much good spiritual music out there–especially from the Catholic tradition–and all of it is verboten in sacrament meetings. Again, when I lived in Salt Lake, I belonged to a group that sang Gregorian chant and sort of music from that era. I loved it–the music is typically pretty simple, but so beautiful, and so evocative. And it would never pass muster at church.

    I know you asked us to comment on your rendition, but I can’t listen to it on the computer I’m on, so I’m going to have to pass. But I think I do understand your frustrations with the very narrow way we’re supposed to sing, and the very limited selections we have to choose from.

    Comment by kristine N — September 25, 2009 @ 11:46 am

17. Well it would be a crime if you were prevented or chastized for singing such a wonderful rendition of one of the hymns. I can’t speak for other areas, but we’ve had a variety of instrumental and hymnal variations in between the talks. Nobody has ever criticized the performances that I know of.

    It’s my personal opinion that the Lord loves to hear us worship him in the voice or instrument that best expresses our love for him. Who cares what anybody else thinks? It will give your ward something interesting to talk about.

    Comment by Kimberly — September 25, 2009 @ 11:50 am

18. You guys are being too nice and making a liar out of me! Anyone willing to argue their Grandma’s perspective?

    What about this, if you don’t take exception to the way I sing, what *do* you take exception to, and why? Let’s talk about where our boundaries do exist.

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 11:52 am

19. Well, as a non-Mormon, I’ll say that I hate “praise music” — the sort that is done in evangelical and pentecostal churches nowadays, where they have completely abandoned hymnals and the old standard hymns, and do all their music with a “band” and the words projected on an overhead screen.

    Just my little personal bias. Makes me wanna whoof my cookies. But that’s mostly the PTSD talking, I’m sure.

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 11:55 am

20. Lorian, I love your perspective. It’s not just us with our strict preferences, is it. Maybe it comes out of the larger Christian tradition of defining ourselves as distinct from groups we’re not always that distinct from.

    Martin - yes, exactly. I was at a baby shower recently and an aunt was telling me about how she attended a different service where “there was no Spirit” because they were more excitable than we are in our services. I find that thought so sad and limiting - that the Spirit can’t be with us in our joyful exhortations as well as our quiet contemplations.

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 11:56 am

21. While your clip would not have raised any eyebrows in my ward, stake, or region (maybe SoCal leadership is generally over-reaching? don’t know–never been there) I will take a stab at what may have motivated concern.

    I think that for some people, any music that strays from the narrow path they deem acceptable, they color with questionable motivation. They may hear such a performance from a soloist and think that the soloist is drawing attention to herself (for her own glory), when a similar performance made in a quartet or choir would not raise eyebrows. They may feel similarly about someone who uses an unusual instrument in Sacrament to perform a traditional arrangement of a familiar hymn, or a pianist who performs in a classical manner, but performs a piece not in the hymnbook. Just anything that is the slightest bit different bugs some people.

    I actually know of a quite small religion that has various beliefs, one of which is that Christ was reborn as an African about 80 years ago. The fellow the religion believes to be Christ taught that he had to reborn because so many Africans were going to hell rather than accepting the gospel taught through a foreign (western) culture. Of course, their brand of religion was taught through the culture of a specific tribe and, consequently, had many adherents in that tribe and relatively few who did not share that culture. Tis human nature, I suppose. I blogged about it a bit here.

    Comment by ESO — September 25, 2009 @ 11:56 am

22. Make that, “From the perspective of a non-Mormon person raised in a Pentecostal Fundamentalist church background, gladly escaped in early adulthood…”

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 11:56 am

23. That was beautiful. I wouldn’t even bat an eye had that been sung in Sacrament meeting. It wouldn’t occur to me that it was questionable.

    On the lines of Joseph from South Africa, in a black township out side of Durban there is a beautiful chapel that is organless. The offer was made a few times to put in an organ but the people politely declined. They wanted to sing acapella. It is true that it is a little bit different than your standard LDS music and a tad harder for a first time songimpaired person to join in..but it sure is beautiful. I never sing Nearer my God to thee without thinking of a more upbeat gospel rendition I heard in a choir practice held in the basement of a grocery store.

    I’m not sure why we equate somber with reverence so much. Some of the hymns on the hymn book scream for energy and soul

    I cringe at the anti-classical music thing that sometimes happens. I get that not every classical piece is appropriate, but surely there are many great pieces that would be wonderful.

    Comment by britt — September 25, 2009 @ 12:02 pm

24. Speaking of music from the Roman Catholic tradition, chant and renaissance church music are two of my great loves. But I also have some fondness for the “guitar mass” era of Roman Catholic sacred music as well, and was recently prompted to rediscover a musician I loved very much when I was in college, John Michael Talbot. He is a Roman Catholic monk, formerly a Franciscan, but years ago founded his own monastery which includes celibate men, celibate women and married couples, all as vowed monastics. It’s quite an interesting little community, called the Brothers and Sisters of the Poor. Their monastery is The Little Portion Hermitage, in Arkansas.

    John Michael still travels and sings his songs, 30 years later, with a bushy grey beard. The music is very beautiful, very worshipful. Some of it qualifies as the very “praise music” I villified in my last post, but he does it so well that I just can’t bring myself to feel the same way about it.

    Here’s a link to one of his most lovely songs, “Only in God is my soul at rest”:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAiGAyp22JI&feature=related

    So much of his work is either settings of the Catholic Mass, or settings of the Psalms (which are pretty appropriate in most any church setting).

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 12:08 pm

25. I read the comments posted in the time between when I started my comment and when I actually posted.

    I don’t like electric guitars at church

    I don’t like EFY music that copies the order of the day…in my day that meant synthesizer stuff. It drives me crazy. Some of the words are good-and maybe that gets to the point. I don’t want the music so loud and so crazy that we loose the message.

    On the flip side we loose some good poetry and messages in Janice Kapp Perry’s music because it’s so. darn. boring.- just thinking about the repetition of the same three chords… again… sigh.

    I think the point of singing something differently is to get people to focus on the words again…they don’t just tune it out.

    Comment by britt — September 25, 2009 @ 12:09 pm

26. That was beautiful.

    Comment by Ann — September 25, 2009 @ 12:13 pm

27. I have heard many musical numbers in that style in sacrament meeting, from Utah to Texas to Virginia.

    Comment by Katie P. — September 25, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

28. What I don’t like in church music? I don’t care for pop/rock stuff I have heard in other churches. I don’t care for singing that is more about the singer than the spirit. I lived in a ward with a very talented young woman who was studying music. Everytime she came home from college she had to perform in Sacrament meeting. Yes her voice was excellent but she lacked feeling. The spirit of the singer is more important than the quality.

    When I lived in Bountiful Utah a African American bapist choir would perform at Christmas time. I loved it. It was always kind of funny to watch the mostly white Mormons sit there not so sure what they should do.

    Comment by cyclingred — September 25, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

29. The song was a little to hip hop sounding for me. All the sliding around in that style makes me think the artists can’t find the right note. If it is inappropriate I would say it is for that reason. It has nothing to do with the voice range our its quality. It is a lovely voice. The singing is pleasant. It is the style that seems out of place in that song. Taken in another context it could be a secular love song.

    Having said that, if the song were written by Janice Kapp Perry, for instance, and not taken out of the hymn book; without all the meaning it already has it might not have seemed that way.

    It is probably just me, but I find that emotion in music comes from the dynamics not the style. Conveying emotion comes from the technique rather than emotion the artists feels.

    I have a CD someone gave me called Eliza R Snow greatest hymns. When I first heard it I was aghast. After listening to it a few times I came to like this gospel style better than the overly slow renditions we hear in meetings. It just goes to show that familiarity is the basis for all musical appreciation.

    Comment by Claudia — September 25, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

30. britt–the classical discussion has come up many times in my house. My Mom feels strongly that her classically trained kids should play religious classical music in Sacrament, along the lines of “It was Bach! It was WRITTEN for Church!”

    But the part she either doesn’t get or doesn’t want to admit is that the music itself (or perhaps the performance) is not inherently devotional/spiritual to many people. Many in the congregation feel the spirit to, let’s say, an arrangement of “Oh How Lovely was the Morning” because they are hearing the (unsung) lyrics. Hearing that piece out of context, without a knowledge of the words/story would not necessarily be a spiritual experience.

    So, an Aria from the Easter portion of the Messiah (for example) played on organ won’t feel spiritual to people unfamiliar with the piece–it will feel show-offy. And Mormons hate that.

    Comment by ESO — September 25, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

31. How could this possibly be innapropriate? I don’t mean in a “I hate that those blasted people don’t like this and think they are wrong” and more like “Why are you asking if it is okay to wear a sari to church?”

    I genuinely don’t think this is an issue - there is no institutionalized prohibition against it, and in my experience, there have been lots of it. If anything gets people to roll their eyes, it’s when an opera singer gets up and sings something in an operatic style. I’ve heard complaints about that. I’ve never heard complaints about musical numbers in this style, and there have been many of them.

    Comment by Katie P. — September 25, 2009 @ 12:17 pm

32. I also draw the line at EFY/pop renditions and praise music. But that may just be my classical choral singer prejudice coming through.

    Comment by Sara Bay — September 25, 2009 @ 12:18 pm

33. Gut reaction? My thought was, “Damn, and she can sing, too??!!”

    Other than that, I don’t think my grandmother or mom would like it. But, the Church is no longer really ‘their’ church in many ways. They are good good people but evolution is a good thing. Go Darwin.

    I haven’t had enough time to roll this around in my mind but I think your question is so intriguing. I don’t think we are asked to leave our culture behind (anymore). Come one, come all, and let us learn from each other what being part of a worldwide organization really means. Music, art, food–let’s not revel in being generic.

    And Lorian, a trained operatic singer? Very cool.

    Comment by Lupita — September 25, 2009 @ 12:19 pm

34. Will you please do “Abide with Me” (not Abide with me, ’tis eventide) and post it? Please?

    Comment by Ann — September 25, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

35. Okay, Reese, I’ll bite and try and answer your next question. What would cross the line for me in sacrament meeting music? (Obviously, personal music choices will have and should have a much broader spectrum.)

    First, setup time. The point of sacrament is to worship. If a particular musical number took more than a few minutes (at most) to set up or take down, I would have an issue with it. This tends to limit the amount of instruments I would be okay with. A quartet is okay, trying to get an orchestra up on the stand is probably not.

    Second, excessive percussion. To be clear, I love percussion. I am a big heavy metal fan (I know) and love, love drums from a variety of world traditional; African to Japanese. But drums do not evoke feelings of the spirit for me. They feel much more martial and aggressive (to me) than I would feel comfortable with in sacrament meeting. Outside it? In a fireside or something? I would be fine. This can also cover other instruments played in a jangly, jarring fashion.

    Third, comedy. I just can’t think of a way to play a song or hymn for laughs that would be appropriate for sacrament meeting. Despite being a big Jonathon Coulton and Weird Al fan.

    Other than that, and assuming appropriate intent (intent to increase spiritual feelings and worship in both musician and audience), I think anything else could be adapted to fit sacrament meeting.

    Comment by Lon — September 25, 2009 @ 12:21 pm

36. But someone singing in an operatic style may be singing in the way that is natural to them, just like Reese says about her own singing. And for some people, music in the classical style may bring the spirit more readily than hymns. Do we really need to consider what will seem spiritual to the most people listening, or is it okay to choose the music or style that feels spiritual to us?

    Comment by Sara Bay — September 25, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

37. Does anyone actually enjoy the EFY/pop renditions? Honestly? If you’re talking about eye-rolling, those sappy songs evoke my most visceral reactions.

    Comment by Lupita — September 25, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

38. #19 I hear ya, sister. I can’t stand praise music either. For those unfamiliar with it: imagine a cross between a high school football cheer, the cheesiest of the Primary songs, and Pentecostal/Evangelical doctrine. Add some electric guitars and synthesizers as you sing deft poetry like:

    “Lift Jesus higher! Higher higher higher! [raise hands] WHOA YEAH!
    Stamp Satan lower! Lower lower lower! [stamp feet] WHOA YEAH!”

    I certainly think Mormons could use more life in their music, and accompaniment that isn’t a piano or organ, but I don’t miss the praise stuff one bit.

    Comment by Bro. Jones — September 25, 2009 @ 12:25 pm

39. ESO I think a careful introduction to a classical piece helps. I’ve heard some great, brief introductions that include an invitation to the audience to feel the emotion the composer had for the subject.

    Some people think anything is showing off-not that it never happens

    Comment by britt — September 25, 2009 @ 12:27 pm

40. #36 I think we absolutely do need to consider what the people listening will hear - if you are talking about performance in sacrament meeting. That is a pretty important meeting. Other meeting can and do have more leeway. That said, we shouldn’t be afraid to -gently- push the envelope.

    Comment by Lon — September 25, 2009 @ 12:28 pm

41. Well, Katie P, admittedly, being the singer would make me far more keyed in to criticism than you might be as an audience member since I get to take it personally. But I promise, it’s true. From Seattle to New Hampshire to California. I get nice feedback when I sing in Relief Society, but over the pulpit is different. There’s no mass revolt or anything, I get nice feedback too, but there is always a portion, sometimes just a few, sometimes sizable, usually related to the age of the ward, who don’t appreciate it. It’s that portion that I wanted to address.

    I really value Claudia’s comments. That’s what I was hoping to engage with. Yes, I do slide around and don’t land on the right note. That’s no criticism, that’s a fact. To me, it comes from a gospel and blues tradition and is part of the piece, and to Claudia it just brings to mind the Hip Hop Top 40 station.

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 12:29 pm

42. #7,

    The people complaining are the same ones who feel that “The Spirit of God” is too rollicking and robust a hymn for Sacrament Meeting or the Temple.

    My husband plays an amazing rendition of The Spirit of God on the electric guitar! Remniscent of Jimi Hendrix’s national anthem. Obviously not appropriate for sacrament meeting… but the original hymn is beautiful and glorious.

    Comment by skippy — September 25, 2009 @ 12:29 pm

43. Katie P.–maybe I’m misunderstanding you, but there is an institutional prohibition on a lot of music, a lot of instruments, and definitely an “unwritten order of things”-type prohibition against singing songs in anything other than a straight or EFY-style. I know much of the prohibition comes from not wanting the spirit to be spoiled by an inappropriate performance, but I personally think the line that’s been drawn excludes *a lot* of very spiritual, moving, and appropriate music. I’m pretty sure BKP has said explicitly anything not in the hymn book or childrens’ song book is inappropriate for sacrament services.

    Comment by kristine N — September 25, 2009 @ 12:29 pm

44. Also, I must add that Janice Kapp Perry songs make me want to toss my cookies.

    Comment by skippy — September 25, 2009 @ 12:30 pm

45. The praise music examples reminded me of a christian talent show thing I went to. It was with my inlaws to see their daughter in law. What does one do to this very loud rap:

    Pump your hand in the air if your saved YAH pump it pump it [blend in scratchin the record and various rap dance moves and continue lyrics ad infinitum]

    Now considering what some rap music says, these are lyrics I’m happier with. It was just an interesting moment-and I’m going to say I wouldn’t like it in sacrament meeting.

    Comment by britt — September 25, 2009 @ 12:32 pm

46. Agreed, Sara. Listening to a beautiful Bach aria IS an intensely spiritual experience for me. Listening to an organist play a Bach prelude and fugue puts me into a place of worship and connection with God that almost no other type of music can. A Bach unaccompanied violin Partita moves me to tears and is about the most deeply spiritual thing I can imagine. Hearing a choir singing an intricate, interweaving polyphonic a capella work by Josquin des Prez or Palestrina, or one of the other great renaissance composers sends me straight to heaven, to rapt contemplation of the very face of God.

    Everyone is different, and what “works” for one person may be antithetical to another. That’s okay. God understands. It’s all good to God. Whatever puts each of us into a state of communion of the soul with our Creator is what is the very best and most spiritual type of music, in each individual case. It makes corporate worship tricky, but then, maybe that’s for our good and for the development of our souls, as well, no?

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 12:33 pm

47. Reese, when you sang it, I really felt it! I thought it was wonderful, and would love to have that in a sacrament meeting. I think it was entirely appropriate.

    Comment by Tatiana — September 25, 2009 @ 12:35 pm

48. Oh DING DING DING!!

    Sara Bay, that is such a great question, and probably more the crux of the argument than anything I put forward so far.

    One of my dearest friends is Nina Warren, internationally renown opera singer. She does an incredible job conducting the ward choir, but she does all she can to avoid singing a solo in church. They don’t come better than her, better trained, more talented, and she’s in the same boat as me. Because she’s gotten the same message as me - there is one very narrow way to sing in Sacrament that provokes the Spirit for the most people.

    So yeah, does she (and by extension, I) use the talent she’s been given to publicly praise God? Or do we respect what the majority of the audience feels comfortable with?

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 12:38 pm

49. OH I love Palestrina and thanks Lorian for the John Michael link…I really enjoyed that.

    It is difficult when there are so many people to “inspire”. Maybe we need more music firesides to hit different interest levels?

    Comment by britt — September 25, 2009 @ 12:38 pm

50. I loved it - I think it’s entirely appropriate for Sacrament meeting. It might be that a voice with a different style to it would be better suited to an a Capella performance, if a suitable arrangement couldn’t be found. I would love to hear more interpretations of the hymns. Not only that, I would love to hear more interpretations of the hymns and less (none in Sacrament meeting) EFY type songs.

    Regarding opera singers - as I was raised in classical music, I’d find nothing more beautiful or uplifting. Others? Maybe not so much. But maybe if they opened their minds a little, they could find the beauty in a different style.

    Comment by emily — September 25, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

51. I can hear my 76-year-old mother sitting on the back row with all of the other white-haired ladies whispering during your wonderful song. “She has a lovely voice but where is the piano?”

    For many years I performed in various wards in the northern Utah area during the 80’s and 90’s. We did the entire program in Sacrament meetings, talks as well as musical numbers. They were always very spiritual and well received. In my last few years with the group it became frustrating as the church got more restrictive on what numbers could be performed. Some of our most requested and spiritual pieces were off the table. I played an electric keyboard and oh man, that raised a few eyebrows as well.

    The same thing week after week after week is boring. I would have loved to hear a brass trio in a chapel!

    Comment by Numi — September 25, 2009 @ 12:49 pm

52. I enjoyed the recording of your singing, Reese, and admire your willingness to put it up for all of us to hear. I know approximately nothing about music, but like so many other commenters, couldn’t find anything to object to in your singing.

    I also agree with everyone else who’s said it would be nice if we could stand a broader range of music in church.

    Comment by Ziff — September 25, 2009 @ 12:57 pm

53. Here is one of my very favorite works by Josquin de Prez. It is a setting of the Ave Maria, so it would likely never pass muster in most evangelical churches (though other protestant churches, such as the UCC church I attend, would likely love it, whether they agreed with the concept of addressing a prayer to Mary or not — some do, some don’t). I’m also quite certain you’d never hear it in Sacrament Meeting.

    And yet, if one just sits with eyes closed and lets the sound wash over one, the intent of the composer is so clear: to quiet the noise of the mind and draw the soul into pure contemplation of the Divine. If one listens with the heart, it seems to me nearly impossible not to feel the presence of the Spirit of God.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD4MPHsSAWE&NR=1

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 12:59 pm

54. I thought your rendition was incredibly appropriate, and beautiful.

    D&C 25:12 - For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

    Yes, we all know it. ….But I don’t see the scripture saying “For my soul delighteth in the song of the 19th century protestant tradition.” …or any other tradition for that matter….
    I truly believe that the Lord sees what’s in the heart, as the scripture states. He doesn’t care what the song is, but what we mean when we sing it. I’ve felt the spirit in all manner and styles of songs, so long as they’re uplifting.
    I’ve never felt the Lord’s love of song stronger in my University of Washington Gospel Choir class….Yes, it was in predominantly white-Seattle, but the director was the choir director of the local Mt. Zion Baptist Church. We got away with the class because she was an ethnomusicology teacher..and there was a bunch of students requesting the class! We had people from all over the world in that choir. People who went to traditional southern churches –they REALLY helped when trying to learn the songs! :), others who were of other denominations and faiths even. We had Africans, African-Americans, Whites, Asians, Europeans, Indians, Middle Easterners, Hispanics, you name it! …I especially loved the international students – taking the class just to get a chance to experience a part of American culture! We had jocks, geeks, punks, rappers, and even Mennonites!  All that was required for the class was participation, but everyone really got into it. I felt the spirit there…and it wasn’t just on the ballads. I remember specifically while rehearsing a very upbeat song with movements and clapping, etc, that I looked around and saw everyone from all different backgrounds and places, praising the Savior, and just getting filled with the spirit. It wasn’t the normal sacrament-meeting burning crying type of feeling that I usually get, but just an extreme happiness within me, and I felt and overwhelming sense of: “Yes! THIS is what Heaven’s really like!” All of God’s children together, accepted, and loved by him, praising him. It was truly great! I really felt that Heavenly Father accepted the song we were singing, because of the heart his children put into it.
    One thing I’ve learned about Heavenly Father is he likes variety…it’s in nature, it’s in people, it’s in the cultures that He sends His children to….I think he loves it in our songs to him as well! 

    Comment by NicoleB — September 25, 2009 @ 1:00 pm

55. I kept waiting for the part that could be considered inappropriate, but it never came. I can’t imagine anyone questioning it, but that is just me.

    Comment by Tammy — September 25, 2009 @ 1:05 pm

56. Haven’t read all the comments so forgive me if I repeat something. As a music major singing in multiple chamber choirs, I felt the Holy Ghost MANY times while singing with my non-mormon peers. In fact, I felt it strongest when we sang African-American spirituals. (How I miss singing the exciting works of Moses Hogan.)

    It has always been interesting to me that out of nearly all religious traditions, black Christians seem to have the most stirring, robust and uplifting services - all this in spite of (or perhaps because of) a heritage that is rooted in slavery and oppression.

    Compare this to the rather dull and sometimes UNBEARABLY painful singing that we hear in our congregations each Sunday.
    If I were the holy ghost, I know which one I’d prefer. All kidding aside, I truly believe that the style of the music is not nearly as important as the energy you put forth when singing it. Energy is the key, and it is seriously lacking in the walls of our church.

    Comment by Laura — September 25, 2009 @ 1:13 pm

57. Laura, I completely agree!

    Comment by NicoleB — September 25, 2009 @ 1:15 pm

58. I wouldn’t have really thought that I had a “different” experience in regards to music in the church, but maybe I have. I really enjoyed the clip, Reese, but it didn’t sound different to me than the way I’ve heard that hymn sung a million times. I’m a little confused as to what the difference in style is other than the fact that it’s a cappella…

    Anyway, I guess I’m just lucky. My ward growing up had a fun choir and we sang all kinds of music, in sacrament meeting. Always things with a spiritual theme but we sang from many different traditions and in different languages. When I lived in Nashville we had an even larger variety of music. The choir was great, of course, but the instrumental pieces were astounding. We had the fiddle, an acoustic guitar, piano, keyboard, cello, bassoon, and oboe (that I can remember). All amazing.

    I agree very much that familiarity breeds love in music.

    Also, that when people hear the instrumental version of a hymn, they remember the words and feel the spirit.

    But everyone is different, and I know that many of the people I’ve attended church with (and me!) love classical songs as well. Some of them are so beautiful and so heavenly, they just simply don’t need words. Lorian expressed that much better than I could.

    Thanks for sharing Reese. You really do have a lovely voice, I hope your ward will appreciate it!!

    Comment by Enna — September 25, 2009 @ 1:16 pm

59. Somebody told me once that the Genesis group has some different hymns that are closer to the gospel music tradition. Can anybody back that up?

    Comment by Allie — September 25, 2009 @ 1:23 pm

60. #56

    Oh, my, I LOVE Moses Hogan! For those of you who don’t know Moses Hogan, he was one of the most sophisticated arranger of gospel spirituals ever to grace God’s green earth.

    Comment by Allie — September 25, 2009 @ 1:27 pm

61. Sure, there are prohibitions on, say, drums and electric guitars, but the opening post was about a style of singing. Never heard anything official that says you can’t sing like that, and I’ve heard a dozen of examples in precisely that style in sacrament meetings in several different states.

    There are almost certainly some people who object to it, but 1) who cares? You can’t please everyone, and you’ll get nothing but frustration trying, and 2) I sincerely, truly doubt they are reading FMH.

    Comment by Katie P. — September 25, 2009 @ 1:31 pm

62. As a side note, I don’t like the praise of some styles of singing and then the bashing of Janice Kapp Perry songs in this thread. It feels like…it feels like trying to prove you have good taste by dumping on a trend for ten years ago. Sure, that got a little out of hand, but I do know more than a few people who love those kinds of songs and feel the spirit when they hear them.

    If we are not going to look down on someone for singing gospel music, then we shouldn’t look down on the people who feel the spirit when immersed in full-on Rocky Mountain Mormon culture. What, we should respect all cultures except that one? Because it’s okay to make fun of Utah Mormons but not Detroit Mormons?

    Comment by Katie P. — September 25, 2009 @ 1:37 pm

63. Count me in as one who double hates sappy EFY type music. Just like the Especially For Mormons stuff. Yuck! Why do people confuse sappy with “the spirit”?

    Comment by cyclingred — September 25, 2009 @ 1:40 pm

64. But Katie, isn’t part of the point that it’s okay that different people like (and dislike) different styles of music in worship (as in all facets of life)? There is a composer who has been for popular for quite some time in mainline protestant churches. Her name is Natalie Sleeth. I suppose she is good at what she does and most certainly meets a need for easy, (arguably) fun choral pieces accessible by the average church choir. I, personally, however, find her works trite and repetitious, with an overwhelming “Fiddler-on-the-Roof” ambience. They bug the heck out of me to listen to, let alone sing.

    But many people enjoy them. So I have to tolerate them when they crop up. But I don’t have to like it. And I don’t have to find it spiritually uplifting. I couldn’t if I tried.

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 1:46 pm

65. It’s not that huge of a leap - both can involve emotion, both deal with subjects that are often close to people’s hearts, and both have similar topics.

    Some people feel the spirit while going without food and water for a length of time; I feel hungry, thirsty, ornery and probably have a headache. If they say they feel it, I’m not comfortable telling them they actually don’t.

    Comment by Katie P. — September 25, 2009 @ 1:50 pm

66. Katie, maybe it’s just me, but your comments are coming across as very dismissive. It doesn’t really add much to the conversation.

    If you’ve had great experiences with a variety of sacrament music, then that’s wonderful. But it doesn’t make my experiences invalid.

    There is nothing official that says I can’t sing the way I sing as long as I sing from the hymn book. That wasn’t my question. My question was: Is it Appropriate that I do it.

    Several people have said they don’t hear any difference. That’s cool. But several others, particularly those who have trained in different styles, *have* noticed a difference. If you don’t see it, no worries, it’s not a comment on your character, so why insist that there is none at all?

    This is a purely cultural discussion. Is it *culturally* offensive to add a blues flavor to a hymn, and if so, why? To some it is *culturally* offensive to use simplistic melodies or very emotional lyrics and they’re using Janice Kapp Perry to symbolize that. I have tried to explain over and over that there is no agenda to push here, I have no problem saying that Sacrament meeting is not the time and place for a gospel number, but if that is the case, I want us to think about why that is.

    If someone feels the Spirit in an EFY song, as I have many many times over the years, particularly in those younger emotional years, I’d like to hear a case for that.

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

67. But I didn’t hear anyone saying that NO one could possibly feel uplifted by a Janice Kapp Perry song (whoever she may be — I’m not familiar). I just heard them say that they, personally, did not appreciate her music — found it boring or trite or otherwise not personally moving. I didn’t hear anyone criticizing anyone else for liking her work.

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 1:54 pm

68. Your recording was beautiful.

    A few weeks ago we had a man sing “Oh, That I Were An Angel.” He sang without a mike and my children actually put their hands over their ears because he was so loud. He was obviously trained. But I felt his operatic rendition distracted from the beauty of the music and the lyrics.

    I think your song is much more appropriate for a sacrament meeting than his was.

    And as a ward choir nerd, I suggest you join your ward’s choir. I’d love to sing next to you. You really have a beautiful voice.

    Comment by wonder woman — September 25, 2009 @ 1:57 pm

69. If they say they feel it, I’m not comfortable telling them they actually don’t.

    Ah, yes. Here we go. I agree with this completely. There is more than one way to practice faith and some people are touched by things that I find treacly. Others are bored to tears by music that I find transcendent. I think this gets to the heart of my argument. Is there only one type of music that is appropriate? And if that’s the case than why?

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 1:57 pm

70. I think my point is that there is very little in the way of musical style that I would consider “inappropriate” for worship, and that it mostly depends upon the listener. And if there is a wide range of musical tastes represented in the group, then it is to be expected that everyone will have to sometimes tolerate music that is less-than-uplifting to them. Someone else in the group may find that very same piece of music the most beautiful and spiritually-moving thing they have ever heard.

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 1:58 pm

71. treacly

    Oh, good word, Reese! Brava!

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 1:59 pm

72. I am not trying to be dismissive of the issue, but I don’t think this is an Issue with a capital “I”.

    I am answering this question: “Is it Appropriate that I do it.”?

    It isn’t against the rules, it happens all the time, and some people object but people object to anything and everything, so that’s no guide. By all official guides, yes.

    It feels like asking if it is appropriate to wear a denim skirt to church. There’s nothing that says you can’t, and some people will wince, but most won’t even think twice, it certainly happens all the time, and so if it the person wearing it is doing it in the proper spirit, there’s no reason not to.

    There are so many things about which There Will Be Angst. There’s no need to make the list longer than it needs to be - there are plenty of things that are Not Appropriate already.

    Comment by Katie P. — September 25, 2009 @ 2:10 pm

73. I was born of pioneer stock, raised in a very Mormon family, went to BYU, etc, and I have lived in several places around the country. I am pretty familiar with the culture of the church (if I do say so myself), and I listened to your singing like five times trying to figure out what was inappropriate about it before I just gave up and read the rest of the post. If I had heard that in church, it would’ve been, to me, just another nice musical number. I don’t know what was up with the people who took issue with it.

    Comment by Megan — September 25, 2009 @ 2:20 pm

74. Why’d you stop singing? too short! We want more!

    Comment by Army_Wives_Don't_Whine — September 25, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

75. Janice Kapp Perry (JKP) is a very prolific, barely trained composer. She’s written some pieces I really like and a whole bunch of stuff I don’t like for one reason or another. JKP isn’t a bad composer, but she’s also not a great one. It’s a little sad to me that our culture has yet to produce a composer who even approaches greatness.

    I think it’s very reflective of our fairly superficial involvement with music, which I think is at the base of the reaction Reese has felt to her singing. I think a lot of us don’t want to be challenged musically (any more than we want to be challenged in any art form, to be honest) and so we’re uncomfortable with unfamiliar styles and unfamiliar songs. Unless, of course, we are exposed to more challenging music at home or school, or for whatever reason decide to explore music.

    My mom (a semi-profession singer) complains long and loud about the ‘dumbing down’ of the music in the LDS church. The hymn book is definitely a lowest common denominator collection, though I’m unconvinced that’s a bad thing (it is nice for everyone to be able to participate). Unfortunately, there’s a pervasive idea, encouraged by several of the brethren, that all church performances should be LCD performances–meaning just about anybody could produce them. No challenge, no showing off, no exploring other traditions.

    It’s frustrating.

    Sorry, Reese, I’m going off on what may be a bit of a tangent since we were originally discussing your particular performance and not the state of music in general. I do think our cultural attitude toward music in general does relate, though.

    Comment by kristine N — September 25, 2009 @ 2:56 pm

76. Katie, how can you say you’re not trying to be dismissive when two paragraphs later you completely dismiss the issue?

    What exactly is the point you’re trying to make? That there is nothing to talk about here? Obviously many of us disagree with you since we’re having a nice conversation about it. Do you want to make us stop the conversation? Why?

    I don’t know where you got the idea that I think this is an issue with a capital I. But at a blog known for discussions of poop, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a post goes up not about a Big Fat Issue.

    This is a simple, silly, cultural issue. But one that leads to a number of broader discussions - cultural forces on music appreciation, personal interpretations of the Spirit, using our talents to build up the kingdom, showing consideration for the faith experiences of our fellow ward members - which you seem to be trying to close off. If you truly don’t see a problem here, then why keep coming back to insist to those of us who do that There Is No Problem? Why do you care?

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 3:02 pm

77. Hmmm, I love the simplicity of the hymns. I like a lot of other stuff, too, but I think there is also beauty in simple melodies and even cheesy lyrics sometimes.

    Someone already commented that no one is going to be happy all the time, and what doesn’t touch you might be a very spiritual experience for someone else.

    Obviously there are some areas that stick straight to the book (as evidenced by many posters), but there are many others that allow for a lot of variety in sacrament meeting. And as the church grows more internationally, I think we’ll see that variety increase. I don’t feel bad for the state of music in the LDS world at all.

    Comment by Enna — September 25, 2009 @ 3:03 pm

78. I wish we had just a little more “soul” in our music. I have found spiritual music all over and there have been several songs of Peter Mayer or David Wilcox (my current favorite folk/spiritual guys. Just them on guitars) that I would love to hear in sacrament meetings. I wouldn’t nix our hyms just add to them. I cant tell you how many times I have wished to hear Amazing Grace just once. I loved your song and couldn’t find anything innapropriate to it at all.

    Comment by Samantha — September 25, 2009 @ 3:03 pm

79. No kristine, that’s exactly what I was hoping for. I *didn’t* want this to be about me, I was just sacrificing myself on the altar of the internet as a way in to a larger discussion about church music and the way “corporate worship” (Brava right back Lorian!) affects that.

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

80. I thought it was lovely, and I truly enjoy the deep voice and would love to hear more of it at church.
    Two things-I am a trained singer, and I do love to perform. Singing helps me feel the spirit more than anything else, and currently in my life it seems to be the only thing that brings the spirit to me, and this includes any type of music, from broadway, to church, to opera, and so on. However, I have been told that my performances have been too showy, and sadly for me, those times have been the times I have felt the spirit the most. I have a very loud voice, and when I feel the spirit, my projection sometimes follows it. So yes, I do wish we were more open with our music choices and acceptance in sacrament meeting. (I do not mean to say that I get all showy like I was a diva in a broadway show. I just can sing with a lot of volume, especially when I feel the spirit. I never use the microphone.)
    Having said that, there was a time when I was able to feel the spirit from Mormon pop songs, which I now do not enjoy. It was on my mission, and it was all we were allowed to listen to. I was so starved for music, as it is what feeds my soul, that I listened to anything and everything, and I found several that helped me through that time. After I had been home for awhile, I listened to them again, and found that I now did not enjoy them, and went back to broadway and other types of music to feel the spirit.

    Comment by Maren — September 25, 2009 @ 3:07 pm

81. Reese, you asked for my Grandma’s perspective. My childhood voice was low and breathless. I couldn’t actually sing a whole line of music or run a whole block until inhalers became available to asthmatics. Anyway, I thought I was a wonderful singer until I was 9 when Grandma told me to “just mouth the words in Church, ’cause your voice is too low for a girl and kinda scratchy.” I didn’t sing out loud for decades. My voice slides around a lot and often doesn’t find the right note. I finally started to sing out loud while teaching Seminary. Those kids wouldn’t sing if if I didn’t. I figured if I had to suffer them, they had to suffer me. They learned quickly to drown me out, and I got a little less embarrassed about singing. The scriptures tell us to make a joyful noise; they do NOT say we have to sing on key. That said, you’d never get me to record my voice to post, let alone stand up and sing alone(except at the start of Seminary). Your voice, however, was as good or better than at least half of those I have heard sing solos in Sacrament Meetings, and your style is wonderful. As the Church becomes more worldwide the influences of western culture generally, and Utah culture specifically, will become a progressively smaller influence. Viva la difference!
    I attended the YSA Branch in Cincinnati for years. CCM attracts lots of LDS graduate students in music. We had opera, oboe, viola, violin, cello and bass performance, and conducting Masters and PhD candidates in the Branch. We also have a significant Black presence. We heard, and sang, some great music that brought the spirit strongly that I’m sure would have raised eyebrows elsewhere. We also had a convert Branch President whose love and knowledge of the gospel was as deep and certain as his disdain for unwritten rules and non-doctrinal mormon culture. He delighted in having the least favorite song of one staid counselor in the SP played or sung whenever said counselor visited. Former YSAs sprinkle all the units of the region and it’s amazing how often I hear that song was played as prelude when he visited. hee hee.

    Comment by Karen — September 25, 2009 @ 3:09 pm

82. Maren, I know exactly what you mean about feeling the spirit when I sing. And I, too, have a voice more intended for filling a concert hall than a small room. Fortunately, though, my church loves it when I sing for them (or at least they tell me they do!). Anything. Bach. Schubert. Mozart. As long as the thematic elements are roughly appropriate to the Sunday, they’re happy. They like to see a printed translation if I’m singing in German, Latin or another non-English language, but they’re open to almost anything musical. I don’t always love the hymns or choral pieces that are scheduled, but I really can’t complain too much, because no one ever complains about the music I choose, and I get nothing but love and appreciation for doing it. I even have the congregation singing a little plainchant now.

    Comment by Lorian — September 25, 2009 @ 3:20 pm

83. I loved the song, I too can’t imagine why it wouldn’t be considered appropriate.

    Actually, the ward I moved from had a sister who had a good voice and sang in the appropriate style, etc. and everyone complimented her every time she sang, but I just couldn’t stand listening to her. She really, really loved to hear herself sing so she sang louder than the entire congregation and would add vocal flourishes often (not sliding notes or anything, just adding notes here and there or raising an octave). I almost laughed out loud on the Sunday we sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and she went up an octave on “free” as in “in the land of the freeEEEEEE”. Maybe if we were in a larger ward and she wasn’t front and center in everything musical it wouldn’t have annoyed me so much.

    But my point is that the “inappropriateness” of her singing as perceived by me (and only me as far as I know) wasn’t in the type of music she sang or even the singing style, and if regular hymns can be rendered inappropriate while non-traditional music or singing style can be perfectly appropriate, then there isn’t really any sense in having strict guidelines on the music.

    I’m fine with limiting what types of instruments (a brass band or electric guitar would be too much for the chapel) and using discretion for songs (I’ve never listened to EFY, having joined the church at 21, so I don’t know for sure how I feel about it).

    When I went to church with my grandma (a Southern Baptist) there was always steel guitar, hands raised in the air, and lots of hand-clapping. My cousin and I used to clap on slow songs to see if we could get a hand-clap going. Generally people would join in no matter how somber the song. I was really glad when I started going to the LDS church with my husband (then boyfriend) and found out they didn’t sing like that. But I love the “O, Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, especially “I’ll Fly Away” which they sang often at my grandma’s church.

    I should say, too, that I have always hated Christian pop music. I don’t listen to my local radio station on Sundays because they play it. I always think of the South Park episode where they turn pop music into Christian pop music by changing the “ooh, baby” lyrics to “ooh, Jesus”. It just always feels insincere to me for some reason.

    Comment by Kimarie — September 25, 2009 @ 3:38 pm

84. No one would blink an eye in our ward if you sung that, just that way. It took me a while, coming from another church music background, to understand why our music in sacrament meeting was …fairly staid and limited, but I finally got it…that our songs are to glorify God and not to PERFORM. They are prayers. We are a congregation there for a purpose of sacrament, not an audience for the performers. ( I have heard the difference, even in our own church…)

    Music in the general protestant world is BIG BUSINESS. SHOW BUSINESS. Get people there BUSINESS.

    We have the truth to bring people, and it is what ultimately keeps us.
    We have had people leave our church because they missed their old church music! And that is ok with me.

    Your song was wonderful and would add to the spirit of sacrament meeting. I was expecting something shocking…I waited, played it 5x, and never heard anything of conflict. Thankyou, it was beautiful. What is wrong with an alto voice?

    so many people say ” I don’t sing” or ” I can’t carry a tune”…I always tell them SING ANYWAY, its a prayer to God. Don’t worry…SING!

    I have come to love and appreciate our hymns for their intent. I have tried to understand why some instruments are allowed and others are not. Some styles are allowed, others not. Our ward experience very much includes songs sung in the Southern gospel style. Some of our folks just don’t know how to sing or play any different. Some try to reel it in a bit! A sister formerly of Idaho did get a little out of sorts about it. Oh, well.

    BUT I know that when you are in different countries, the songs do carry a certain flavor of the locals that is entirely appropriate and expected. I think more and more of the handbook will fade quietly away …the parts that are American culture. LDS culture is a whole different thing, that I will continue to reflect on.

    Comment by Melissa P. — September 25, 2009 @ 3:48 pm

85. I agree with Livi - I don’t get why anyone would say your musical number was “inappropriate.” I thought it was beautiful and inspirational. I think whoever gave those remarks was the “inappropriate” one.

    Keep on singing!

    Comment by Patti — September 25, 2009 @ 4:08 pm

86. I am with the people that don’t see the problem. I have heard many people singing like that and I have lived all across the country.

    I was in a ward once where the woman was singing “His Hands” and got very emotive at the end “THEY PIERCED THEM! THEY PIERCED THEM!” It was a bit ridiculous, but maybe that is just my immaturity.

    I have to say that sometimes I am a little embarrassed by the musical selections in the ward and just concentrate on the ward program or whatever my kids are doing. Ok, I said it. I guess I am immature.

    My husband comes from a very musical family and it does get a bit much at times. I have seen many a Sacrament Meeting featuring the “K” family singers. To top it off, my BIL signs and my MIL makes him sign all the songs that the family sings. It is a very Napolean Dynomite “Happy Hands” moment.

    That said, I do enjoy a range from classical to gospel from time to time.

    Comment by Katie — September 25, 2009 @ 4:10 pm

87. Since the only thing I’ve ever composed was for my elementary school Reflections contest, I certainly don’t hold JKP up to total disdain. “I’m Trying to be like Jesus” actually is a favorite of mine because, well, I am.

    Very interesting comments. You’re inspiring me to go listen to some great music.

    Comment by Lupita — September 25, 2009 @ 4:17 pm

88. Surprisingly, one of the songs I find most inappropriate to sacrament meeting is the Star-Spangled Banner. I love my country, I love the song, and I’m all for singing it before every ball game. But it isn’t sacrament meeting music. I find it very inappropriate, but we sing it every year around July 4th.

    I don’t know why it bothers me so much.

    Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 4:20 pm

89. It’s a pet peeve of mine too Martin. I think it’s time for our international church to let go of some of the patriotism. It especially bothers me that all these American patriotic “hymns” are in hymnals used in other countries.

    Comment by Reese Dixon — September 25, 2009 @ 4:22 pm

90. Martin-
    I have a friend who is British and a member in our ward. She is always a little off put around 4th of July….Actually, they moved in around that time and were asked to talk about patriotism for their church talks. True Story.

    Comment by Katie — September 25, 2009 @ 4:24 pm

91. I have a friend who had to explain to her coworkers (all are mormon) that the reason that God Save the King is in the Hymn book is that there are British members of the church, and they may want to sing patriotic hymns as well.

    Comment by Maren — September 25, 2009 @ 4:28 pm

92. #53,

    And yet, if one just sits with eyes closed and lets the sound wash over one, the intent of the composer is so clear: to quiet the noise of the mind and draw the soul into pure contemplation of the Divine. If one listens with the heart, it seems to me nearly impossible not to feel the presence of the Spirit of God.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD4MPHsSAWE&NR=1

    That is stunning. There’s not just one way to feel the Spirit - I’ve listened to similar performances in various cathedrals while traveling through Europe, and all have some element of the divine.

    Comment by skippy — September 25, 2009 @ 4:31 pm

93. Quick question, I’ve seen a couple of mentions how brass instruments would be inappropriate for the chapel. Why? When played reverently, they are quite meditative and beautiful…..Like a low-brass trio reverently playing “I Know My Father Lives”?

    I mean, I know that there are styles of music that are debatable…but why do an overarching ban on instruments? A piano can be just as inappropriate.

    Comment by NicoleB — September 25, 2009 @ 4:34 pm

94. NicoleB, the church handbook of instructions discourages the use of brass instruments. The handbook is full of a lot of general instruction to priesthood leaders. For most things, the local leadership is given a little lattitude for their specific circumstances, but generally speaking, they don’t like to go against the handbook.

    Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 4:39 pm

95. Martin, is that the current handbook? I’ve heard both ways from two bishops. One said they weren’t allowed, and the other said that was just rumor-mill that’s spread into false-policy.

    Besides, if it’s just “discouraged” it sounds like insturment-bias to me!

    Comment by NicoleB — September 25, 2009 @ 4:44 pm

96. what’s the problem????

    seems perfectly fine and beautiful by me, wouldn’t be out of place in the uk at all

    Comment by debrauk — September 25, 2009 @ 4:44 pm

97. Since I started the JKP fest I’ll say something. I like Perry’s poetry. Many of the words to the songs she has written are beautiful. I heard in an interview that she wanted it to be accessible. It’s very easy to sing and play…I guess I let the sameness and simpleness of it distract me. I understand why she did it that way though.

    I’ve heard some of the non sacrament meeting stuff she’s done and I’ve thought it was okay. It’s not my style…

    It is a challenge to have the entire audience sing. I know the OP is talking about a special musical number, but we as members sing a whole lot. It can be quite challenging to be tone deaf and LDS. I do wish we could worry less what we sound like and sing with emotion.

    I wouldn’t mind a brass trio

    Comment by britt — September 25, 2009 @ 4:47 pm

98. NicoleB, it’s in the current handbook. I don’t have it with me, or I’d give you the exact wording. I’ll check tonight and let you know tomorrow.

    Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 4:48 pm

99. I have heard the brass instruments thing too. But, I also think it is at the discretion of the Bishop. We had a french horn once for a Christmas program. I don’t see a problem with that. I think they just don’t want a full band up there. Sometimes I really don’t think Heavenly Father cares about any of this stuff and it is only us who get in a tissy about it.

    Comment by Katie — September 25, 2009 @ 4:50 pm

100. Thanks Martin! I appreciate it!

     Comment by NicoleB — September 25, 2009 @ 4:50 pm

101. Britt, I sang next to a guy in choir who was terrible. He was an 85-year-old convert, and he truly worshipped when he sang. The spirit he brought would bring tears to my eyes, even as I’d clench my knuckles at his pitch!

     Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 4:52 pm

102. Reese - Many people have said that your singing was beautiful, so i will not bore or embarrass you with another comment on your absolutely fantastic, mesmerizing, make me so jealous because my voice is terrible and your voice is so good comment- wouldn’t want you to get a swelled head! But I thought that i would let you know a great benefit of your singing voice that you probably do not know. Some people cannot stand to listen to soprano voices and no matter how beautiful the music, they cannot feel the spirit. My son is one of them. We have to leave the room for 90+ % of hymns and special musical numbers or he starts to scream, cover his ears and cry. (trust me, the spirit is hard to hear with a writhing, screaming child in your arms). Hymns and songs on tape are almost never good because they also have a soprano voice and the music itself tends to be loader than the vocal accompaniment. So I have had to get creative and use ‘alternative LDS music and other forms of Mormon music (such as the All Abouts’s -they are great!)

     I was driving home from the Common ground fair today my friend was reading your post to me and down loaded the sound to listen to it on the way home. I have now listened to your 37 second piece at least 100 times (I listened for over 45 minutes). He loved it and it was wonderful! So…. when are you going to put out an album? …I’m willing to pay!

     I think that sometimes people think that only hymns and certain ‘adoptive’ songs are allowed in Sacrament meeting because that is what many of us grew up hearing. And I have found that if women sing in Sacrament meeting, they are almost always soprano. It is almost like a low voice on a female is taboo. And I really think that is very sad. After all… not everyone can be a soprano, not everyone likes a soprano… and wouldn’t life be really boring if we were all sopranos? I think that your voice is very appropriate to Sacrament meeting and I hope that you will continue to sing in the meetings. If you ever want to come to Maine, I bet President Martin will happily give you a spot on the schedule! Heck, if you want to come, I would go to church that week just to hear you sing. It would definitely be worth it.

     Comment by Sonia — September 25, 2009 @ 5:03 pm

103. I get really tired of the standard “if it’s a piano,woodwind, or string instrument it’s ok” crap. Personally of all the music I can think of that moves me spiritually, the bugle playing taps is the most touching to me. I see no real reason for our leaders not to allow brass instruments to play in meetings as long as the music isn’t Nirvana I have no issue with it.

     Comment by Aprillium — September 25, 2009 @ 5:09 pm

104. I’m pretty sure BKP has said explicitly anything not in the hymn book or childrens’ song book is inappropriate for sacrament services.

     I’m pretty sure he has said that about as often as he’s said that you were all generals in the war in heaven.

     I wish people wouldn’t hide behind Elder Packer when trying to impose unwritten rules on sacrament meeting music. (And I wish the two unwritten rules they’d tear up are the one about how softer is more reverent and slower is better than at tempo.)

     And, Reese, I thought your singing was lovely.

     Comment by Mark B. — September 25, 2009 @ 5:16 pm

105. Honestly, I think the only issue, here, perhaps is jealousy? As in, people without your talent (and your ability to honestly express yourself) are jealous of it? In my limited personal experience, jealousy often masquerades as resentment–and people make themselves feel better for being close-minded, or ordinary, by holding up arbitrary “rules” (everybody must sound like me) as somehow virtuous.

     In college, a certain segment of the female population in my student ward was very judgmental. They were judgmental of our free spirits for being free spirits; they were judgmental of me for being too “Molly”. They were judgmental of themselves for being too academic; one girl, who was attending an ivy league medical school at the time, told me that she was angry at her parents for teaching her and her sisters how to excel in school instead of how to put on makeup and attract boys; she felt like a failure as a woman, and a Mormon because she wasn’t as excited about marrying an RM and having thousands of children as she thought she should be.

     Ultimately, they were judgmental, because they were unhappy in themselves–and when you’re unhappy with yourself, or insecure in your own identity (as a woman, as a Mormon, as a human being, whatever), it’s hard to appreciate other people for their wonderful, unique selves–and I think, on some level, they saw it as a threat. My then ward-mate, now doctor acquaintance was convinced that there was only one way to be a “correct” Mormon woman–and she wasn’t it. She loathed the sight of anybody who appeared to disagree with her–just as much as she loathed me for actually enjoying crafting bees and mini golf.

     Sometimes, it can be hard to take pride in who you are, and just enjoy being yourself. But you have a lot of talent, as well as a lot of courage in your honesty. I admire that, and I’m sure everyone else who’s commented here does, too. Don’t let the people who can’t appreciate you, or your wonderful talents, get you down. You’re a Daughter of God, and He made you just the way you’re supposed to be.

     Sometimes, everybody forgets that God celebrates diversity.

     Comment by CJ — September 25, 2009 @ 5:26 pm

106. I’ve always heard that brass instruments weren’t allowed. I assumed it was because of the loudness. My husband plays trumpet and even with the mute it sounds pretty loud to me compared to my flute. Although I do try to play the lower octaves on flute, especially if I am accompanying singers, so that it doesn’t sound too overwhelming. I was in primary when the kids were learning “Called to Serve” and I would have loved to have trumpet accompaniment for that.

     Comment by Kimarie — September 25, 2009 @ 5:35 pm

107. “Sometimes , everybody forgets that God celebrates diversity.”
     CJ , I couldn’t have said it better myself

     Btw,I loved the music..and how could such music be considered inappropriate? I think we need to seriously rethink the way we sing…it shouldn’t be a chore or make us yawn..

     Comment by Jillian — September 25, 2009 @ 5:42 pm

108. I have not read all of the comments yet, so forgive me if this has been covered, but I was just discussing this topic in e-mail with a good friend who is LDS. He mentioned a study he had seen which showed that musical taste is actually a major factor in church selection. This is why some of the larger Protestant churches have taken to offering services in multiple styles, a “contemporary” style with guitars, drums, keyboards, and upbeat music, and a “traditional” style with choirs and soft hymns. I visited a Presbyterian church this last weekend which did just this.

     As for me, I suppose I like the type of music that Lorian says she hates (sorry Lorian). My favorite type of worship music in the world is an acoustic guitar type style, something along the lines of Caedmon’s Call or Jars of Clay. I used to play guitar and lead worship for my college student youth group. It’s not a matter of adapting tastes; I’ve attended the LDS church about once a month for the past 10 years, and I still can’t be satisfied with piano-only hymns. Trust me, my tastes aren’t going anywhere.

     What Mormons usually tell me about my worship music is that it’s “irreverent.” You want to call it that, fine, but you know what? My “irreverent” music helps me connect to God in a way that your mournful piano hymns don’t. If the LDS style of music helps you connect to God better, I’m fine with that, but I think it’s cultural imperialism to expect everyone to embrace the 19th century white American Protestant pietist method of worship.

     In short, I really wish the LDS church offered other styles of music in its Sunday morning services. If I were LDS, I’d have a hard time coping with the way things are currently done.

     Comment by Bridget Jack Meyers — September 25, 2009 @ 5:45 pm

109. I actually liked the clip. I’ve been thinking of the song recently because (a) it is a favorite and (b) it is much more suited to funerals than some music I’ve heard recently.

     In my old ward we would often (especially as a part of Gospel Doctrine) have some of the edgier material the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has done as a part of the lessons.

     They’ve done a good job of breaking away from some things.

     They sing a lot of material not in the hymn book (including Come Thou Font of Every Blessing) and I’ll note that How Great Thou Art made it into the hymn book because of the way it was adopted.

     All I can say is “bless your heart” the people who have not been happy with you don’t know what they are missing.

     And you are welcome to sing at my funeral (or any other time I have any input in the music).

     Comment by Stephen M (Ethesis) — September 25, 2009 @ 6:32 pm

110. I graduated with a music degree from BYU and the only problem I could hear is you stopped after the first verse. I wanted to hear more!

     Comment by lache — September 25, 2009 @ 8:04 pm

111. That first line is my personal favorite..it says nothing about anyone else’s opinion.. it simply says “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,all ye lands” and that we should serve the lord with gladness;and”come before his presence with singing”

     I have to agree about all the “patriotism” in the hymnals it is a little weird since we are an international church..on the other hand since it’s been revealed that Eden is somewhere in the states and that the New Jerusalem will be in Missouri I am not surprised..although I do believe quite a bit of the Bible and following scriptures some revelations are a little hard for me to swallow…

     What’s funny to me is that our HF/God is not a nationalistic god but rather the creator of all things..a God of all lands of all nations the hymnals should reflect that..

     Hmm..I wonder what my taste in music says about me..I prefer JC Superstar myself..

     I would love to hear more of your part. style in church..it would be nice for a change..

     Comment by Jillian — September 25, 2009 @ 9:11 pm

112. I would defer to the local congregational standards (spoken/unspoken).

     I have found that there are differences in the sacrament meetings (music and worship) within wards dominated by specific regional ethnic groups e.g. Southern Blacks, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. I have seen some musical numbers that work for one congregation but would distract worship at another congregation.

     Comment by .... — September 25, 2009 @ 9:16 pm

113. Gotta say, I wanted to hear more too. I would say that there was nothing at all inappropriate about your performance.

     I agree wholeheartedly with #40 - “… we shouldn’t be afraid to -gently- push the envelope.” The key is gently. Strident demands tend to detract from the spirit, in my experience. Sudden changes tend to make people nervous and uncomfortable. We fear what we do not know, and it takes time to get to know the unknown. Kind of like the old boiling of frogs parable, you have to turn up the temperature slowly.

     I think it is important that we be more open minded than close minded, in music as well as in other things. By narrowing our focus too much, we risk hedging ourselves about with the law, and missing the whole point of the gospel.

     On that note, I have to say that I abhor the sunshine songs (they certainly are not hymns). Moral platitudes should not be substituted for real worship. In fact, I will go so far as to say that I find those songs more inappropriate for sacrament meeting than any genuinely worshipful performance of a Christ centered hymn.

     Comment by Matt A — September 25, 2009 @ 9:28 pm

114. Okay, getting back to NicoleB,

     From the Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, pg 289 (typos added):

     The hymns of the Church are the basic music for Latter-day Saint meetings and are standard for all congregational singing. Hymns are also encouraged for prelude and postlude music, choir music, and special selections. If other musical selections are used, they should be in keeping with the spirit of the hymns of the Church. Texts should be doctrinally correct.

     Music in Church meetings should help members worship, feel the sacred spirit of the Sabbath, and feel the spirit of revelation. This music should not draw attention to itself or be for demonstration. Some religiously oriented music in a popular style is not appropriate for sacrament meetings. Also, much sacred music that is suitable for concerts and recitals is not appropriate for a Latter-day Saint worship service.

     Organs and pianos are the standard instruments used in Church meetings. If other instruments are used, their use should be in keeping with the spirit of the meeting. Instruments with a prominent or less worshipful sound, such as most brass and percussion, are not appropriate for sacrament meeting.

     Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

115. Oh, and follow-up on pg 290:

     Special musical selections or a congreagational hymn may be scheduled between speakers. Such selections may be presented by the ward choir, other choirs, small groups, or individuals. The bishopric decides what music is appropriate

     Comment by Martin — September 25, 2009 @ 10:19 pm

116. I would simply think, “That’s the song they played right before the Titanic sank.”

     Comment by The Rev. Dazzle — September 25, 2009 @ 10:19 pm

117. Reese, you have a wonderful voice, one I’d enjoy hearing any day. I love your what-if question about an African Joseph and what impact that might have had for the church. Excellent food for thought. Keep singing sister!

     Years ago we had a guy (in So. Cal) get up on Sac. meeting and sing a cowboy ballad with guitar at the pulpit. It felt a little strange I admit but he was a well known, longstanding member and I think everyone took it in stride. All depends on the Ward and the culture and how well folks know you I think. I really hate the by-the-book SPs/bishops that refuse to allow anything but hymns. “Oh Divine Redeemer” anyone?

     Comment by Rich — September 25, 2009 @ 10:29 pm

118. Ah, the sunshine songs. We have a huge supply of Victorian treacle in the Hymnbook (those chief among them). There is a place for a little of that, I suppose, but it is far too consistent with the our tendency to substitute sentimentality for the spirit at the drop of a sniffly handkerchief. One of my great frustrations.

     It is, sadly, an embedded part of our tradition (lousy Victorian hymns and quasi-hymns) and it isn’t likely to be going anywhere soon.

     Interesting side note: I’m a serious amateur trumpet player and a former bishop. I’ve played on many many occasions in sacrament meeting, especially on Christmas and Easter. I’ve played everything from I Feel Like a Motherless Child to The Trumpet Shall Sound from the Messiah. I know I’m not nearly as loud as some of the glass-shattering sopranos, though I do make a conscious effort to keep the volume on the softer end of the spectrum. No one would mistake me for an escapee from the local high school marching band and that has to help. The response in my ward as always been very positive, but I admit it is possible that I am a sufficiently intimidating presence that nobody has the courage to tell me that I can’t do it.

     Reese, go for it. What’s next? O My Father? A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief?

     Comment by Jim Donaldson — September 25, 2009 @ 10:43 pm

119. well I love diversity myself but a good hymm sung or played from the heart is just always appropriate, IMHO.

     I think the rules got tightened up because there was just too much strange music that only meant something to some and I hate to say it but I kinda understand.

     on the other hand, there used to be a ward in oakland, ca that had a gospel choir. we went and heard them every year at christmas time at the interstake center. it was awesome and gave me hope. then the church shut them down. still upsets me, such a great loss.

     and you just have not heard JOY TO THE WORLD until you have heard it from the gospel choir from king solomon’s baptist church in benicia, california. every december the lds church in benicia invites other local church choirs to come and sing in a christmas concert. it’s my new highlight of my year at church. they have drums and guitars and we get to stand up and clap and sing and everything.

     Comment by jeannine — September 25, 2009 @ 11:13 pm

120. I made sure to play the clip where my husband could hear. He’s a very straight-forward, here-is-my-honest-opinion kinda guy. He goes’ “Who’s this? Its nice.” And I agree. As a musician in the church and one who is constantly around other Mormon musicians, its the hesitant and contrived stuff that I find awkward, bordering inappropriate. And somewhat to my surprise, I have had WAY more “success” singing in a more passionate, true to my own style kind of way than when I bust out my BYU trained chops. (No offense to BYU trained peeps. I just felt the style I was taught to sing there was stifling to me, albeit helpful to me in terms of a good singing foundation.) So embellish away, sing it in your sultry key, close your eyes and feel it. And know that as you do, my heart is saying AMEN and HALLELUJAH.

     Comment by staceface — September 26, 2009 @ 12:27 am

121. Might I add that passion and sincerity of song delivery really do mean so much more to me than technical prowess. I have directed many choirs over the years and there is usually one person singing their heart out and not really blending and/or sticking out like a sore thumb. Soooo many people ask me what I am going to do about the person. I just smile and say, “I’m gonna thank them for sharing their gift.” A few examples…

     My mother in law. She is one of those people who is truly tone deaf. But she does NOT care. Singing is her joy and she does it constantly. She sings off key lullabies to my kids and it warms my heart like I cannot describe. And the kids adore it. She does not whisper her worship in church. You hear that voice whole-heartedly singing away. I just adore that about her.

     I once was walking up to the stand with a choir I was directing and a young man who was handicapped got up and joined us. He sang from the depths of his soul! I loved it so much. I was so surprised that there were so many expressing how mortified they were after the fact. Come on people.

     Comment by staceface — September 26, 2009 @ 12:37 am

122. I love hearing singing that is different from the cookie-cutter singing we usually get in Sacrament. In our last ward we had a huge Micronesian population, and I loved the Sundays they would all get up and sing acapella in their language…I didn’t understand the words, but the joy and Spirit was unmistakable. I also loved hearing the Sacrament blessed in other languages. I have really missed that diversity when we moved to a very homogenized ward with mostly lifelong members.

     Comment by bookharlot — September 26, 2009 @ 8:12 am

123. Not only do I have a problem with the musical style of our church, I am also annoyed that it’s such a low priority (”since Brother Longwinded went ten minutes over on his talk and we want to make time for Brother Boring from the High Council to say a few words, we’re cutting the intermediate hymn and going straight into Brother PutMetoSleep’s talk”). We say music is the song of the heart, but boring speakers always get to trump the opportunity to sing. Less talking, more singing! Not only do I feel more spiritually fed after a good musical number than I do after listening to a speaker, I think it’s important to sing more so that everyone has an opportunity to be connected to and join in the worship.

     As for styles, I’m not a huge fan of most praise music, especially when it’s a reworking of a popular song and involves really cheesy forms of audience participation, like this:

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYrKgrkIrg8

     But I’d be cool with trying it. And I DEFINITELY want more instruments (brass especially would be nice), though I agree with the previous posters that mentioned set up time being a distraction.

     And I *love* Catholic music, particularly when they sing the psalms and everyone responds with a refrain. I managed to sneak that in to my ward a couple years ago when I sang “Press Forward Saints” and asked everyone to join in with the alleluias. People loved it and there were no complaints. Of course, I do have that aforementioned “YSA young and stupid enough to get away with it” cred.

     Lastly, my special musical number horror story. Three years ago, I was in my stake’s Nativity pageant playing the Virgin Mary. In the show, I had a musical number called “The Song of Mary” and the lyrics for the song were pulled directly from Mary’s psalm in the New Testament. This was the first year for the pageant, so I volunteered to do a special musical number a couple months early to promote the show. I recruited a Catholic friend of mine to be my accompanist on the organ. He is a professional who plays for several churches around town and is all around AMAZING. So we show up for church that day and he’s wearing a tuxedo to make an extra nice impression, and our musical number has been removed from the program! I managed to work in a minute to grab someone from the bishopric and ask why, and I was told it was because we hadn’t “submitted it for approval to make sure the lyrics were appropriate.” Flabbergasted, I told him that 1) no one told me I was supposed to do that, 2) my song’s lyrics came directly from the New Testament, so it better pass the appropriateness test, and 3) unless we wanted a really rotten impression on my guest, we were going to be put back on the program RIGHT NOW! So he did, but not without a comment lamenting how we were cutting the rest hymn. So before I got up to sing, I pulled out my scriptures and told the congregation how my song comes from the Gospels, where exactly the text is found, and that they could follow along if they liked.

     Fortunately, my friend wasn’t horribly scarred by the experience, as we got TONS of positive feedback and he did do another musical number with me after that. Though the second time he came for a musical number, the speaker before us ran over and took all our time because he was ranting about how “girls need not to give it out so easily.” He (and his neighbor that he brought with him) have not been back in an LDS church since. =/

     Comment by Phoenix — September 26, 2009 @ 8:33 am

124. Just out of curiosity, why is it called a ‘rest hymn?’

     Comment by Jim Donaldson — September 26, 2009 @ 9:14 am

125. Honestly this seems like a straw man argument. I can’t even begin to fathom why anyone would object to your singing this in church. Not that such people don’t exist somewhere, but they are so far out of the main stream of Mormon thought and attitudes as to be no more representative of the membership as, say a practicing polygamist.

     If a person thinks this would not be welcome in a sacrament meeting, I would guess they either have not spent much time in Mormon sacrament meetings, live in a very unique ward or have a sad, sad view of Mormonism.

     On the other hand, I personally think it is a little sad we don’t welcome the timbrel. The Hari Krishnas frequently parade down my street making a compelling, joyful noise with their music. I once found myself caught in their procession for a very enjoyable five minutes.

     Comment by Mathew — September 26, 2009 @ 9:25 am

126. Great discussion everybody! Reese, I loved your rendition, and think it’s very appropriate. And that’s the topic of the whole discussion, isn’t it? “Appropriate.”

     I kinda disagree with some of the comments about church music. I think the church does embrace, and even encourage, a broad spectrum of music styles. We’re often encouraged to develop our talents, make a place for ourselves in the world, share the gospel using our own unique talents and abilities.

     The issue/question is “what is appropriate for sacrament meeting service?” We need to remember that the focus is supposed to be on the sacrament - preparing ourselves, the congregation, to partake of that ordinance.

     As much as I would love to have other music styles and genres in sacrament meeting, I also realize that they may not necessarily prepare me, or the congregation as a whole, for the sacrament. As frustrating as it is to say, there are plenty of other opportunities and venues to perform different styles of sacred music. If you think about it, even some of the Tab music sung in General Conference would not necessarily be appropriate for a sacrament meeting, based on the guidelines. While being beautiful, spiritual, uplifting, etc, those performances don’t focus on preparing our spirits and thoughts on the sacrament and all it involves, but rather on the performance of the music.

     Our bishop is very supportive of music in our ward, yet constantly reminds me (the ward choir director) that the focus should not be on the performers or the performance, but rather on the music and the message.

     I’ve wondered if the music standards/guidelines for sacrament meeting were set by the brethren in order to help all of us - the world church, full of different cultures and traditions - be prepared for the sacrament and focused on worshipping for that one hour a week the way the Lord wants us to be, not the way we, as individuals, would choose.

     Comment by Mel — September 26, 2009 @ 9:58 am

127. I’m not sure those concepts are mutually exclusive, though, Mel. I think that idea of “take the focus off the performer and put it on the music and the message” is often used as an excuse for mediocrity. If a performer performs music above the level of “average,” then they are accused of “attention-seeking.” Personally, I find mediocre performances and simplistic musical selections far more distracting and far less uplifting than beautiful, well-done performances of great music. I can be far more spiritually uplifted by music performed in a concert hall than the average music performed in churches much of the time.

     I’m not saying that music shouldn’t include all styles and all people, and all ability levels, or that there is anything wrong with having people give the gift of their participation even if they are not professionals. Not by any means. But to limit inclusion to only those who specifically do NOT sound like professionals, and to only use simplistic, pedantic musical selections because this somehow seems more “spiritual” because there will be no undue attention directed to the skill of the performance (because there is very little skill involved) seems like backwards thinking to me.

     I realize that I’m simplifying the issue somewhat here, but this is the underlying attitude I see, many times. Kind of the “Peter Principle” of rewarding the lowest common denominator because we can’t have people who excel at things doing the things at which they excel.

     Comment by Lorian — September 26, 2009 @ 10:49 am

128. Excellent points, Lorian. Well said, and I totally agree. If only we could figure out how to read that fine gray line….and make everyone happy.

     I have a hard time believing that when the “grand finale” arrives we’ll be singing/playing sappy, pretty little “spiritual” songs. So, the challenge is how do we prepare the saints? I’ll be p.o. if the Tab is the only group who gets to participate!!

     Comment by Mel — September 26, 2009 @ 11:22 am

129. Phoenix,
     You bring to mind the apostolic quote from Adam S. Bennion, “What we need in the Church is better music and more of it, and better speaking and less of it.” I’m old enough to remember him, and I sure liked him.

     Comment by Karen — September 26, 2009 @ 11:28 am

130. #124 Jim,
     It’s called a “rest hymn” so old sisters like me who had 10 pregnancies can get up and go to the “rest”room. Seriously, though, I go during the talks of Brother Longwinded, Brother Boring, or Brother PutMetoSleep’s so I can enjoy the hymn.

     Comment by Karen — September 26, 2009 @ 11:33 am

131. Yeah, I copied that ” ’s ” from Phoenix. oops.

     Comment by Karen — September 26, 2009 @ 11:34 am

132. This thread amuses me as it follows an interesting discussion with my brother in law. He sang professionally throughout his life, and is talented. He prefers folk music and likes spiritual music.
     He asked if he could play guitar and sing at church. His wife is endowed in the temple and active, however he is not. He was cautioned about the type of music he would be allowed to play and that he could not bring a guitar.
     He did not pursue the topic following the conversation with their Bishop.
     I had a rather amusing conversation about the “devil guitar” music that they feared he might play. He has some guitars that were used by famous artists in the 70’s - 90’s.
     What qualifies as a “devil guitar” and what qualifies as “devil music” makes an amusing discussion point.
     Thank you for bringing up the level of awareness regarding the stereotypical music we sing at church. It is ethnocentric to think that our church music is :”holy” and other music is “unholy” when it is dedicated to spirituality.

     Comment by Jo — September 26, 2009 @ 11:35 am

133. one year we were in charge of the music for the sacrament meeting music nearest to christmas. we had a number including a brass instrument (angels we have heard on high, I think?) and we had our ward “folk singer” play the guitar and sing silent night (that’s how it was originally sung, I believe.) all pre-approved, of course.

     Comment by jeannine — September 26, 2009 @ 12:59 pm

134. People should stop bashing Janice Kapp Perry.

     The JKP pieces that are most popular and famous in the church are, by far, her primary songs. And they are fantastic. They are much better than is typical of the newer songs in the book (including the lyrics, by the way). Songs like “Love is Spoken Here” and “We’ll Bring the World his Truth” are truly works of genius. If only all our primary songs could be this good.

     As for her more pop-style pieces: I agree that it is not to my taste to use them regularly in sacrament meeting. But it is extremely well done pop music writing, again much better than average.

     Also, it’s a complete fallacy that she uses “the same three chords” over and over. The JKP primary songs are not less harmonically complicated than the average primary song, they are MORE harmonically complicated than average. If you know a little music theory you can easily verify this for yourself. (Although I don’t know why on earth you’d want to judge the quality of a piece by counting the number of chords it uses. Many great and beloved hymns and other songs have very few chords.)

     Comment by ed — September 26, 2009 @ 1:59 pm

135. Reese, I read your post completely before listening to the audio clip and was expecting you to sound like Mariah Carey or an American Idol audition.

     Instead, you sounded lovely. I think your voice is beautiful and can’t see why anyone would find your rendition of “I need thee every hour” inappropriate.

     Comment by Allison — September 26, 2009 @ 2:11 pm

136. What qualifies as a “devil guitar” and what qualifies as “devil music” makes an amusing discussion point.

     Too true. “Sympathy for the Devil” being a great example of “devil’s music” that actually isn’t.

     Comment by kristine N — September 26, 2009 @ 2:13 pm

137. well, looks like, by the number of comments, that this is a very common question among all mormons– everyone has something to say about it! so admittedly, I haven’t read through all the comments, so i’m only responding to your post. and actually, when i heard your voice, my immediate reaction was, this is very familiar! i hear this in church all the time! it seems to lend itself more to the “mormon pop” tradition, if i can call it that– the OTHER mormon cliche.

     but look, i’m a musician–classical violinist–by profession, and this subject is very near and dear to my heart. because most of the time, when i look at the hymnal i think, UGH, where did we even get all of this? is any of this music even “ours”?? what IS mormon music anyway? why do we cling to the new england protestant STYLE (because that’s really all it is– a style) and call it holier than any other kind of music? pardon me, but that is just bullshit. what makes it OUR music, then, is the contexts that we bring it to, that we grew up singing it, that we make it our own when we think of it or sing it during hardship or in joyful worship. but any music can work toward this end. it’s religious and traditional associations, context, topic/content are what “bring the spirit” when we sing it.

     because music is emotional and music is personal. that’s what makes music work. if you put your own personal emotions into something, especially music (and i’ve been studying/learning this my whole life), it can only make it better.

     the reality is, the church is no longer all-white and all-american. we have to face this reality as a people and stop calling everything that isn’t white new england protestant america bad.

     i could say more, but probably this rant has gone on long enough…

     Comment by isobel — September 26, 2009 @ 3:02 pm

138. ps. i’d really love to have a long side conversation with sara bay

     Comment by isobel — September 26, 2009 @ 3:17 pm

139. I’m not Mormon and know nothing about Mormon music ( besides ‘Long Haired Lover from Liverpool’ by Jimmy Osmond ) but just as a listener, you have the type of female signing voice that I love. You sound great. I instantly thought ‘hmm, Alison Krauss’.

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FQqSGxBso

     Comment by barmy stoat — September 26, 2009 @ 3:19 pm

140. Me, too, isobel (#138).

     Comment by Lorian — September 26, 2009 @ 5:16 pm

141. I very much liked your rendition of this hymn. When I lived in Utah for a good number of years and found that the only type of music that did not go over with the congregation and leadership was in the area of off-key renditions by inept operatic-types. I recall country-western all the way through good high soprano solo presentations.

     However, I do remember a sacrament meeting at BYU in the 1970s that “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” about sent the leadership seated on the stand into cardiac arrest!

     I enjoyed listening to your music file.

     P.S. Being 30-something is good! No apologies or qualifying statement are necessary. ♥

     Comment by Robin — September 26, 2009 @ 6:15 pm

142. I really don’t think that this piece would be inappropriate for Sacrament Meeting, as long as it is done with the right spiritual intent and not done as a performance. If my attitude is “What can I do to shake things up and bring a little life into this meeting?” it’s most likely going to be an inappropriate performance. My attitude should really be: “What can I do to enhance the spirituality of the meeting, testify of Christ, and present a worthy offering to the Lord on behalf of the congregation?”

     I really think that one way a piece of music crosses the line from musical offering to “performance” is when the method of presentation becomes distracting. A simple song (such as Reese’s example) would probably not offend very many people (let’s be realistic - almost everything is bound to offend someone!) if it were sung from over by the piano on the stand - but go stand front and center and sing into the microphone, and the same song starts looking like a pop performance rather than a musical offering. A few years ago a sister in my ward sang a very lovely piece for a musical number in Sacrament Meeting. Although it was musically and textually appropriate for Sacrament Meeting, and was sung nearly flawlessly, it left a lot of ward members feeling very uncomfortable. Why? The sister sat down at the piano and accompanied herself while singing into a microphone on a stand with a long arm. It looked like a performance in a nightclub or piano bar. Had she had someone else play the piano, and if she had stood near the piano and not used the mic, it probably wouldn’t have bothered anyone in my ward. Besides, when someone stands 10 feet away from the piano and their voice is amplified, the vocalist will pretty much never be in balance or in sync with the pianist. (A little digression: the sound systems in LDS chapels are designed solely for reinforcing the spoken word, not for amplifying musical instruments or singing voices. They just don’t have the capacity to reproduce a piece of music clearly over a broad frequency range.)

     Comment by Paul S. — September 26, 2009 @ 6:16 pm

143. Mormon music in general sounds like someone is singing a dirge.

     In addition, the tune to “I saw a mighty angel fly” is the tune to john barleycorn—i can’t sing it without giggling…….

     Comment by fuzzy — September 26, 2009 @ 6:55 pm

144. I don’t think that any type of singing is inappropriate when we’re celebrating our love for Heavenly Father. He loves all of us, so it follows that he’d love our different styles as well.

     Comment by Sherri — September 26, 2009 @ 8:02 pm

145. Whenever the subject of church music gets brought up, there are always several comments disparaging praise music. I would venture that those who dislike the praise style of music are life-long members, or at least not converts from other Christian churches, and are basing their opinion of it from only a few songs. While there is some bad praise music, and I don’t like when they get down too much with the drums and electric guitar, acoustic guitar praise music can be downright wonderful and worshipful. You often repeat the chorus over and over and it leads you into a very meditative state that truly brings you closer to God. When people say that don’t feel the Spirit from such music, I think it is because they’re simply unfamiliar with it. I’ve sang both praise music and hymns and I have to say I’ve more often felt the spirit during the former.

     Kudos to Bridget for mentioning bands like Caedmons Call and Jars of Clay. I have had many, many Mormon friends who swore they hated contemporary Christian music before I introduced them to these bands. And they quickly became fans. Turns out they hadn’t really listened to Christian music before.

     Bridget is also right on in saying that music has a lot to do with people choosing a church. While more modern music would tick off many current members, I think it would greatly help in our missionary effort.

     Comment by Katie M. — September 26, 2009 @ 8:21 pm

146. Katie, I believe I was the first to mention my absolute dislike for praise music (I believe I used the phrase, “whoof my cookies…”), and I am not Mormon, lifelong or otherwise. I was raised in the Assembly of God Church where I suffered through far more than my fair share of it.

     I respect the fact that many people enjoy it and find it very worshipful, and I by all means encourage them to sing lots of it, but I avoid places where it is sung, like the plague.

     Comment by Lorian — September 26, 2009 @ 8:31 pm

147. Touche Lorian. Although I was referring to Mormon commenters who do not like the style.

     Comment by Katie M. — September 26, 2009 @ 8:38 pm

148. …..which is to say, if one has tried it and does not like it, that’s great. I’m not arguing for its universal likability. But a person should truly give it a thorough go before deciding its not their cup of (herbal) tea.

     Comment by Katie M. — September 26, 2009 @ 8:42 pm

149. Probably good advice.

     Comment by Lorian — September 26, 2009 @ 8:45 pm

150. I think a fascinating theme this discussion has brought up is a general abhorrence of show-offy-ness. And yet we’re supposed to develop our talents. As a group we’re a bunch of ridiculous overachievers. Look how often American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance et all go to SLC. I’m sure it’s WAY more often than a similarly sized city.

     So I wonder how that came to be…develop your talents, use them to build up the kingdom, but if you get *too* good then it’s no longer appropriate.

     Comment by Reese Dixon — September 26, 2009 @ 9:21 pm

151. Exactly so, Reese. There have been several comments from people who said something along the lines of, “I’m a classically-trained singer (of one sort or another), but when I sing in church, I tone it way down and try to sound like an average joe, because nobody wants to hear opera/professional-singing/fancy-stuff/too-high-soprano-voices in church.”

     What a shame to have all that talent and training wasted or used only for secular stuff, instead of being able to use it to worship God, simply because other people might not appreciate it or might find it “boring.”

     Comment by Lorian — September 26, 2009 @ 10:07 pm

152. …Or threatening…. or “show-off-y.”

     Comment by Lorian — September 26, 2009 @ 10:08 pm

153. I honestly didn’t think it was strange at all. I’ve heard plenty of people sing that “way” in sacrament (although, really, it sounds normal to me). It just sounds like…singing. And quite beautiful. The only thing different was that it was more alto than the normal soprano (which I prefer anyway, b/c quite frankly, usually the sopranos can’t hit their high notes)

     I was expecting it to be a jazzy, holy roller rendition by the tone of your post, LOL.

     I think your wards are crazy.

     Comment by anon — September 26, 2009 @ 10:26 pm

154. #18- I get annoyed by the pop Christian boy band songs, Michael Mclean, etc. I’m glad they ruled them out of sacrament meetings. I was sick of hearing that “We can be together, forever, someday!” song. lol

     Comment by anon — September 26, 2009 @ 10:39 pm

155. Reese, your singing is wonderful. I wonder if any objections would be a generational/geographical thing. There’s a new convert in my ward, an African American man in his early 30s, and when he blesses the sacrament, it sounds like he MEANS it. It’s wonderful. He’s gotten several compliments from people in our ward. (His intonation/expression is such that I generally associate with more of a baptist background.) There’s a woman in our ward I’ve heard sing twice, hymns in a gospel fashion, and I would rather listen to hear than anyone else, any day. Both of those people bring more spirit to sacrament meeting (for me) than anything else that happens there. (I was raised white, CA Mormon, and I’m 33.)

     Comment by librarysarah — September 27, 2009 @ 12:35 am

156. yes yes, to 150-152.

     being a professional musician in the mormon church is down-right awkward. it is a church of laypeople and amateurs. in many ways this is one of our greatest assets because it allows people to learn new skills and offers opportunities to reach out and help and teach others. this is one of my favorite aspects of mormon community and worship. so obviously i’m conflicted, because i want to be able to bring the fullest of my knowledge, talents, and skills to church to praise god, but let’s face it, i’m a performer by trade– i’m always going to look and sound like i’m “performing” to someone.

     so i think, for me, the shift came when i decided to be honest with myself about my audience. we have to do this professionally– let what our audience wants and expects influence what we present to them on stage, while little by little stretching the boundaries a little bit, keeping ourselves artistically fulfilled. it’s a delicate balance. so when i go to give a musical offering to church now, i try to aim for that sweet spot in the middle, where me and the rest of the congregation can meet, where i reach out my hand, where they trust me and take it, and we worship god together. i’m not always successful, but when i am, even with completely non-traditional arrangements, the results are awe-inspiring. and it’s actually been in this very intimate sphere that i’ve discovered the fullness of my professional artistry. and what a very christian thing, to find so much growth in the struggle and conflict.

     Comment by isobel — September 27, 2009 @ 2:46 am

157. why are mormons so easily offended?!!!

     Comment by jeannine — September 27, 2009 @ 5:31 am

158. why are humans so easily offended?!!!

     Comment by Karen — September 27, 2009 @ 10:09 am

159. “Oh sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things…. Make a joyful noise unto the lord, all the earth: make a loud noise and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp and voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of coronet make a joyful noise before the Lord. Let the see roar and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth. Let the floods clap THEIR hands: let the hills be joyful together.” Psalm 98

     Reese - I think the song you posted was lovely. We should all be so lucky to have timber in our voices - mine sounds sorta like the Chipmunk Christmas song.

     I have of late been re-reading John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”. One commentator notes that “Much of the power of the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ comes from its many and subtle confrontations with fear…. The problem of ’slavish fear’, as far as Bunyan is concerned, is that it makes people take more notice of their reputation among others than of their standing with God. As Hopeful puts it about those who are awakened but then fall back, ‘they have slavish fears that do over-master them; I speak now of the fears that they have of men’.”

     When ever is expression of love for God inappropriate?

     On a recent visit with the Grand kids, we participated in one of their favorite dinner table games wherein everyone relates a “new fact” they have learned. I said, “OK, so here’s a GREAT FACT! I picked up Sadie the chicken the other day. I was holding her, cooing at her, and scratching her behind her ear. She close her eyes and FARTED. So my new fact is that CHICKENS FART!”

     It brought down the house. The little girls loved it. However son-in-law thought that fart facts were a bit inappropriate for the dinner table. He might have been right. Any who would, on the other hand, complain of inappropriateness in your song would be, in my opinion, instead suffering from the “Slavish fears” alluded to in Pilgrim’s Progress.

     Comment by Betty Jo — September 27, 2009 @ 10:52 am

160. I just wanted to point out that the church isn’t the same everywhere. I’ve been to church in lots of different wards in different parts of the world, and the majority of them wouldn’t have a problem with the way that was sung. I read the post and then listened to the song. I didn’t find anything unusual about it, and I thought you did a beautiful job by the way. I think in Utah and other places where the church has been around a long time and is mostly full of people who’s history stretches back to the pioneers you’d get that kind of reaction. But where the church is “newer” and consists of lots of converts it’s different. I think it’s important to remember that the church consists of more members outside the USA and so those people all bring bits of their culture and experience with them.

     Comment by Christel — September 27, 2009 @ 1:46 pm

161. re: 160 “I think in Utah and other places where the church has been around a long time and is mostly full of people who’s history stretches back to the pioneers you’d get that kind of reaction.”

     aw now…. I always figured that a Mormon history stretching back beyond the pioneers means we don’t have to worry about what others might think of us approving a lovely expression of love for God.

     Comment by Betty Jo — September 27, 2009 @ 1:56 pm

162. I haven’t a clue where anyone gets anything inappropriate out of singing a hymn. Your rendition was terrific. To tell you the truth, I guess my untrained ears can’t really tell how your version is very different from any other version. (I don’t mean this negatively!!)

     When I was home in my home ward this past summer, an African American brother got up and sang a very soul-sounding/almost pop rendition of a hymn (I can’t remember which one). It was completely hipsterized in a way that you might hear on a black, soul radio station, and it was great! I didn’t hear any negative comments about it, and it blew me away in a refreshing and positive way.

     Comment by meems — September 27, 2009 @ 2:01 pm

163. I think that hymns and gospel-type music bring the Spirit in different ways. At LDS services we get lots of the “quiet pondering” and “deep thinking” spirit. But not too much of the “communal feeling together” and “my cup overfloweth” spirit present (IMO) in a lot of Southern and Appalacian hymns. We miss out.

     I mean, who doesn’t love a good, rowdy rendition of “put your shoulder to the wheel” once in a while, to break up the steady stream of “to Christ Crucified” and “More Holiness Give Me” ’s? (Two of my favorites, by the way.) People say you can’t feel the spirit in the presence of noise and boisterous feelings… I disagree. I think you can’t tell someone when they are or aren’t feeling the spirit. I think there’s a place for both types of music in our sacrament meetings. Hopefully more Gladys Knights will come along and break boundaries and we’ll bring a little bit more diversity into our sacrament programs.

     As a belt singer myself (musical theater style, in case some of you don’t know what I”m referring to) I find that I very seldom get a chance to prepare something for a sacrament meeting, and when I do get a chance, I have to hold back quite a bit in order to make sure it’s within the bounds that are normally looked upon as “good”. But I sure do feel a lot when I sing all out. And I wish more of us would sing, all out, in sacrament meeting, instead of mumbling through four verses and shutting the hymnbook halfway through the last one.

     Anyway, I say you have a great voice, I can’t imagine anyone objecting to the way you sang that hymn, not even the most conservative of bishops, and if they do I feel sorry for them because that means they have a very narrow field of experiences, muscially, that they feel they can allow themselves to draw Spirit from. I say be open to the spirit wherever you find it and welcome it.

     Comment by sare — September 27, 2009 @ 2:37 pm

164. Betty Jo #159, Great story and I laughed out loud as I have a dog who does the same thing when scratched behind the ear.
     What I like about this thread is that we have the opportunity to listen to something of beauty, Reese, your song and voice were lovely. Then we can discuss facts and feelings.
     Allowing everyone in the discussion raises awareness and is the first step to requesting a change of attitude. Here is the acronym for the process: STATE
     1. Share your facts.
     2. Tell your story.
     3. Ask for others’ paths.
     4. Talk (even tentatively).
     5. Encourage testing.
     from “Crucial Coversations, Tooks for Talking When Stakes are HIgh.” K. Patterson, J. Grenny, R. McMilland and A. Switzler.
     Your exercise was a lovely way of teaching a skill that will serve your little girls well in their lives.

     Comment by Jo — September 27, 2009 @ 2:50 pm

165. I would *love* it if you sang in our Sacrament Meeting. Heck, I’d love it if *anyone* sang in our Sacrament Meeting. We never have musical numbers and it totally sucks.

     I’d also love to hear some folky renditions of hymns like David Johannson did at the end of New York Doll in tribute to his former bandmate.

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdWg7nUud_Q

     Also this

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4axKHtMNKw

     Comment by Susan M — September 27, 2009 @ 8:16 pm

166. Back when Britney and Christina Aguilera were popular, there was a teen that sang a hymn in sacrament meeting with all of the crooning, swaying, purring, dipping and wandering that her pop idols were famous for. My singing teacher would have classified that style as “vocal masturbation” and it definitely coloured my opinion on that music style. I thought it was garbage, and not sacrament appropriate. But trying to look at it from her perspective, she was singing the best she could, and considered it a beautiful rendition.

     HOWEVER - No matter how beautiful she felt her piece was, the only image that came to mind while she was singing was Britney grinding against a fire hydrant or something. There are some singing styles that are overtly sexual, and those are in no way appropriate for sacrament meeting.

     Since the control in this test is Reese’s sample, I’ll throw my two cents in on her particular clip: It sounds fine to me. If I had some sort of authority over music selection, I’d let that pass. Of course, I may be a bit biased. I think lower voices on women are kinda sexy. But, in my opinion, the selected clip is sex-y without being sexu-al. Big difference.

     Tech tip - putting a bit of tissue paper over a microphone will reduce the noise that’s made from airy sounds like “th” or “love” but will still maintain most of the clarity. Just in case we have any prospective digital divas here.

     Comment by Cross — September 27, 2009 @ 8:31 pm

167. Cross: would you consider this too sexual? Because I find it deeply spiritual: Heaven Help Us All

     but there’s all the crooning, dipping, etc you talk about. Maybe there’s something more indefinable in what you mean? Anyway.

     Comment by sare — September 27, 2009 @ 9:46 pm

168. #168, Cross - I agree with your statement:

     I think lower voices on women are kinda sexy. But, in my opinion, the selected clip is sex-y without being sexu-al.

     We see a larger effect with women who speak in a higher breathier range when at the podium, which I attributed to stress or stage fright. The idea that femininity is often portrayed narrowly, in both how women sing and how women speak or act can impact how they present themselves in a culture or a subculture. Maybe Reese did not present as the usual stereotype by her Bishop. That would explain what may have affected his judgment of her singing. It is called a “Halo Effect” in psychology. Maybe she was physically attractive to him, so therefore he viewed her voice or song as too sexy. Freud brought up some valid concerns regarding sexual roles and sexuality in a culture.

     Comment by Jo — September 28, 2009 @ 12:11 am

169. #114 & 115 -

     Thank you Martin! I’m really glad for the info.

     I guess I disagree with the way it’s written…but hey, that’s just my opinion. I feel that it shouldn’t discriminate against specific insturments, just the way that they’re played. I feel that a trombone or say french horn, can be just a reverently played as say a violin or a flute. But oh well! At least they leave a “little” wiggle-room for the discretion of the Bishop!

     Comment by NicoleB — September 28, 2009 @ 11:38 am

170. I
     

     nstruments with a prominent or less worshipful sound, such as most brass and percussion,

     What a shame. Few musical pieces bring me closer to Heavenly Father’s comfort, love and support in my grief, than Taps, played mournfully and worshipfully on a bugle. A brass instrument can certainly adapt to a worshipful tone. It’s this narrow-mindedness that drives me stark-staring crazy at times.

     Comment by Kimberly — September 28, 2009 @ 11:52 am

171. No objection out here. You were on key without a bunch of unnecessary embellishment.

     Recently we had a gentleman, who, rather than give a talk, invited his friends from neighboring churches to come sing, “How Great Thou Art”, the congregation joined in on the chorus. The bishop was uncomfortable, the man behind me went bizerk calling it Penecostal while my husband and I wept. It was a deeply moving gesture of sharing the gospel of Christ.

     Comment by Sarah in Alaska — September 28, 2009 @ 12:03 pm

172. Reese, you have been a fantastic addition to FMH. I loved the recording. I used to sing in the Portland Mormon Choir and my friend would substitute direct at some rehearsals. We were singing a spiritual and my friend was trying to get the women to infuse some soul and feeling into what they were singing, particularly in a part about Samson and Delilah. My friend wasn’t having much success and so she resorted to asking them to channel their inner slut. First time I’ve heard the word slut from the podium in a chapel. It was amazing.

     Comment by Jon — September 28, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

173. I do not have a high voice. Soprano and most alto are above my range. I never thought of it with any sexual connotations though.

     I do agree that in sacrament meeting there is the consideration of the ordinance. Some things are not appropriate, for example: drum sets and guitar rips. I have always thought that doctrine, tone, and intent of the singer were more important than sticking to a particular style. One the other hand, I do love less reverent styles of singing and music. It would be wonderful to have some of that in sing-a-longs and other meetings. Betelehemu is one of my favorites. One of our Primary pianists was fantastic and his renditions of primary songs were phenomenal. We contacted SLC to get some finality about what was allowed in Primary, since he really rocked some of the songs, and there are such restrictions for sacrament meeting. SLC basically said that it was primary, not sacrament meeting, and to go for it.

     Our choir director is professionally trained. Our pieces for the next few months and Christmas include two Randall Thompson works: “The Last Words of David” and “Alleluia”; Robert Millett’s “Amazing Grace”; and John Rutter’s “For the Beauty of the Earth.” She has gradually moved our combined wards beyond the familiar and traditionally arranged hymns. We have several people who sing in our small choir that are not great, or even “good,” but love to sing. I would rather have someone sing with joy in their heart and be technically “off” than miss the blessings of singing.

     Completely off the topic: I was just released from my calling as organist. I have had the calling for over 12 years and it is my favorite. I have never had any training (the first few years were rough for both me and the congregation) but I grew to love it, and everyone else was glad to have someone else doing it. For a couple years, I incorporated primary songs for reverence contests– who could later name the primary song played during sacrament prelude? I have also played some reverent hymns not found in our current (or even Mormon) hymnals. I think it’s nice for some investigators/ converts to hear familiar tunes that are not in our current hymnal- and the hymnal certainly doesn’t have a monopoly on “righteous” music. I am totally for the 13th article of faith and seeking after good things, wherever they may be found. For prelude, oftentimes I would play the music in the hymnal while another sister would play the piano adding in fantastic runs, trills, etc. It was lovely and the congregation actually listened to the prelude. Now, if the new organist is who I think it’s going to be, that will not be happening. She has been actively pushing-pestering-whining to the bishopric since she moved into the ward some time ago for a music calling, and is the only one in the ward with any formal organ training. Whoever has been called, I will truly miss this little bit of service that has been such a large part of my personal Sunday worship for so long.

     Comment by JJ — September 28, 2009 @ 1:22 pm

174. This is a topic that hits a bit close for me. I don’t sing, but I was a saxophonist all through high school and I was pretty good. I was first chair in concert band and jazz band, and I played at a few YW-type activities, but never in sacrament meeting. I could kinda understand it at the time — I mean, the saxophone has a lot of connotations with prohibition-era smoke-filled speakeasies. But I could express myself through my instrument, and I loved doing it.

     With little exception, I’m pretty set in the opinion that there is no such thing as an inherently spiritual/nonspiritual musical instrument. Even percussion–I heard a marvelous classical piece that moved me to tears, played on a vibraphone in my HS band hall. Maybe drum sets I could see as being inappropriate for sacrament meeting, but maybe I’m just thinking too narrowly. I knew some fantastic trumpet players. My own brother played trombone, and even played in a brass quintet with some other highschooler that would ‘tour’ to local churches, playing church music. But never to our church. I still think that was a missed opportunity to fellowship outside of our ward, and I still wonder if it didn’t reinforce some of the “Mormons aren’t really christian” ideas from the bible-belters we knew.

     Comment by Ashley — September 28, 2009 @ 2:21 pm

175. Reese, I think you must have encountered some major jerks. You sound lovely.

     Comment by ErinAnn — September 28, 2009 @ 4:22 pm

176. I am curious to know the demographic of the individuals who told you your singing was inappropriate - specifically age and gender.

     Comment by Rachel — September 28, 2009 @ 8:25 pm

177. 167 - The sort of thing that I’m referring to is easily identifiable if you listen to, for example “Hit Me Baby One More Time.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bsniYwSaWg Listen for the little growls, gasps and moans at the end of every other line. That’s the sort of style the girl in my ward was singing.

     Egad, I feel like Merv the perv for typing that.

     But back to Ray Charles: I’d say that song was spiritual, not sexual, but still not appropriate for sacrament meeting. Sunday night music devotional, sure. JJ has it right about ordinance. Sacrament meeting should be about sacrament, and anything catchy enough to get stuck in your head should be kept for later in the day.

     Comment by Cross — September 28, 2009 @ 9:09 pm

178. “Taps, played mournfully and worshipfully on a bugle. A brass instrument can certainly adapt to a worshipful tone. It’s this narrow-mindedness that drives me stark-staring crazy at times.”
     The Marine Corps Band, playing at Arlington, at funerals were excellent and emotional. I know, as our 8th and I, Ceremony and Escort Division presented the colors at these events.
     There is an element of emotion in being in touch with our authentic selves that can be overpowering and is not well accepted by many, who prefer a low-key, solemn and controlled approach.
     If we open our hearts,and broaden our minds to the joy of God’s creativity we can more fully see the beauty of the spark of the divine in all of us.
     I am only formal and careful in situations where I cannot fully trust in someone on my team. Let us trust in each other an in the Lord, enough to know that there is beauty and divinity in every soul. Thank you for speaking your truths.

     Comment by Jo — September 28, 2009 @ 11:42 pm

179. Well what do you know - I was just about to post a link to what I think is some wonderful praise music only to find that Jack had beaten me to it - the exact same clip. My mom grew up Evangelical, and I inherited my love of folk music and praise music from her. One year when she and my dad were in charge of youth conference she composed several praise-style songs around the theme “The Lord is in our midst” and she accompanied them on guitar. It was so much fun, and I’d be willing to bet that everyone who attended that year (15 years ago now) could still belt out a chorus or two from those songs.

     I love attending church with my sister and her family (they attend an Anglican church that embraces traditional hymns, classical music, and modern praise and worship songs) just because of the music. I rarely feel the spirit in the same way at LDS services, and that’s sad to me. But once again we run into the problem of not being able to please everyone - many here have commented that they find praise music off-putting. Not everyone is touched by the same type of music. Unfortunately for me, I feel the spirit more readily with classical music, gospel music, folk music….pretty much every type of music other than the very rigid and (to me) boring style we sing in every Sunday. It’s fine though, I just get my music fix elsewhere.

     I recently discovered some really fun arrangements of LDS hymns - Clayton Pixton’s Hymns Anew. You can listen to samples at that link. I especially love his version of “Nearer my God to Thee.”

     Comment by Chelsea — September 29, 2009 @ 7:50 am

180. Oh, also I remember one year when my mom was the choir director in our ward she wanted to have trumpets as part of a classical Christmas piece we were doing. The handbook said no brass instruments in the chapel, so she had the trumpeters stand just outside the chapel doors and play from the foyer. It was great.

     Comment by Chelsea — September 29, 2009 @ 7:55 am

181. cross:

     I understand what you’re saying, but I wonder if we ought to feel that way. In the original post, Reese discussed how we come from a pretty rigid musical tradition, therefore the music we’re “used” to thinking of as spiritual and solemn is the music we think of as the only kind we find we can think of as solemn and spiritual… a sort of a reification process. There are plenty of people who find praise songs as mentioned in other posts and gospel music like what I posted as a very solemn, spiritual experience… albeit perhaps a more rejoicing sort of spirit, too, in that genre of hymn or arrangement.

     I think that when we limit our idea of what is appropriate in sacrament meeting the way you described, we limit the number of people who feel they experience what they consider to be the most musical spiritual experience they can have in a Sunday meeting. Someone coming from a southern baptist tradition might arrive in one of our sacrament meetings and feel that everything is flat, and morbid, scary almost… and unethusiastic as far as group participation is concerned.

     I honestly think we really need to reexamine our concept of what brings the spirit and what is appropriate in sacrament meetings.
     I really like the definition I”ve read a few times on here: that anything that is meant to bring glory to the performer and not necessarily for the purpose of bringing a spirit or message into a meeting, might be deemed innappropriate. But that is such a subjective definition. It would basically be up to each performer to figure it out on their own…

     which, when you think about it, is how sunday talks work, anyway. How many of you have suffered through a completely self-indulgent, “pat myself and my family on the head because we’re so great” kind of talk that just makes you want to get up there and shake someone, hard?

     Anyway, as you can see I have a lot of feelings and opinions on this topic

     Comment by sare — September 29, 2009 @ 10:08 am

182. I don’t read MFH very often, though my wife is a regular. I’m a semi-pro musician (studied organ at the SL Tabernacle, played in a jazz trio since high school, sang with the UT Symphony Chorus, etc.) who is also the stake music chairman. I think that a big part of the job of church musicians is to raise the level of music awareness of our members. I’ m perfectly happy to listen to just about anything Bach ever wrote for a quick spiritual high, but realize that many people do not have the background to appreciate that kind of music. Ward choirs have the wonderful opportunity to introduce many kinds of really fine music to their singers, and by extension to their wards.

     Our ward has virtually no real sopranos, no really trained voices at all, in fact - yet has the best ward choir in the stake, because our director (a lawyer) and ward music chair (my wife, also not a trained musician) have consistently chosen fine music for the choir to learn and present. Our recent Christmas and Easter programs have included everything from a carol arrangement by Sting (terrific, by the way!) a art song by Brahms, portions of Handel’s Messiah, and arrangements also sung by the Tab Choir, plus original arrangements by either myself or the ward organist. As our ward’s familiarity with good music has grown, we’ve been able to do increasingly diverse things.

     Fortunately, our music people have been trusted by the leadership to do it well. Those places that permit only hymns seem to believe that only the leaders can possibly do it right. My conclusion (and the main reason for this post) is that music problems in the Church are a often problem of leadership taking too much authority to themselves in areas where they know very little. Most (unfortunately not all) church music people really want to use music to increase spirituality, and are willing to draw on our culture’s 400 years of musical heritage to achieve that end.

     So let’s be happy that people are willing to participate at whatever level, then teach them how to expand their musical horizons to include all kinds of good music. I think jazz sax player Charlie (”Bird”) Parker put it best: “Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn. They teach you there’s a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary line to art.”

     Comment by Alan — September 29, 2009 @ 1:20 pm

183. But there *is* a boundary line to sacrament meeting. We’ve all come to the conclusion that the kind of music one person finds spiritual will be distracting/annoying to somebody else.

     There’s a time and place to have fun with music, and it’s not in sacrament meeting. That’s why the sacrament Hymn selection is the boringest common denominator. Sacrament meeting is about renewing covenants, not about good music.

     My conclusion (and the main reason for this response) is that music problems in the Church are often a problem of choir directors taking too much authority to themselves in areas where they know very little. The areas in question being: why we have sacrament in the first place.

     Comment by Cross — September 29, 2009 @ 9:59 pm

184. Re: 183: Following your logic:
     “that the kind of music one person finds spiritual will be distracting/annoying to somebody else. There’s a time and place to have fun with music, and it’s not in sacrament meeting”

     Therefore, sacrament meeting music must be boring.
     

     Comment by Jo — September 29, 2009 @ 11:53 pm

185. This discussion brings to mind a couple of programs I watched recently. One was the documentary “Jesus Camp”, I forget the other. In both cases, the persons being interviewed (Pentecostal, I believe) stated with firm conviction that God doesn’t like “dead churches”– churches where the members sit quietly with arms folded, never expressing their joy in the spirit. God wants everyone to feel His love and to show it physically and vocally.

     I’m sure it would be easy to find members of the LDS church who will state with equal conviction that God doesn’t like churches where members dance and sway and listen to electric guitars during the service. God wants everyone to feel His love and to hold it close, showing humble thankfulness.

     I wouldn’t claim to know what God likes or wants, but I suspect He’s happy when His children are sincerely expressing their love for Him, whether it be hands held high, swaying to the rhythm of a snare drum, or head held low, thinking quietly of Him. The current form of LDS service is not objectively more worshipful or holy, it’s just cultural and traditional. As such it can change, and I see no problem with pushing the boundaries here and there to seek out new ways to express our joy in worship.

     That said, it should be unsurprising that I would answer the OP by saying that the rendition was beautiful and most definitely appropriate.

     Comment by Sheila — September 30, 2009 @ 10:14 am

186. 184 - I… sort of beat you to that in my post. “Hymn selection is the boringest common denominator.” I really meant that.

     Comment by Cross — October 1, 2009 @ 10:19 pm

187. What is your gut reaction? Would you give your spouse a glance meaning “How very inappropriate.” Would you be refreshed by a different sound? Would you even think it was worth remarking upon?

     1. Sounds like thousands of “special music numbers” I’ve heard before.

     2. Not at all. You can’t honestly think there is anything so risque or “unorthodox” enough about your voice to merit any member taking offense to it. If any member ever has, I hereby declare that member to be a total idiot. Really. That member probably gets offended if wheat bread is used instead of white for the sacrament. Idiot.

     3. This isn’t a different sound at all. It is a pleasant sound. I like your voice very much, but it isn’t different.

     4. The only remark I’d make is that it is about time someone who can really sing is given the podium in my ward, where the soloists are the same each time: a handful of mediocre talent in a ward that offers them no competition.

     There is a problem if we think that excellence is equal to showing off and taking the glory away from the Lord, where it rightfully belongs in Sacrament Meeting. The glorification of artistic mediocrity in the Church culture really has to stop. Yea, I don’t doubt one can feel the Spirit when an untrained child gets up to sing a sacred song that is dear to her/his heart. But these are rare moments. Inspiring music is excellent music, well-crafted and well-performed. If we don’t have good music in church, most people aren’t going to get it anywhere else.

     Comment by sam — October 3, 2009 @ 11:35 am

188. “Hymn selection is the boringest common denominator.”

     Comment by Jo — October 4, 2009 @ 9:46 pm

189. Hi Cross:
     The following your logic statement and quoting you with reference to #183 was a meant as an “I second your comment” and extending your observation to sacrement meeting in general.
     “Hymn selection is the boringest common denominator.”
     It doesn’t have to stay that way, unless we like boring. Unless we find some safety in remaining boring.
     It is when a system exterts little tolerance and high control it is considered authoritative. Only a certain seems to be stereotype is tolerated, therefore diversity and joy can be oppressed.
     I don’t believe that your statement is limited to music selection and tolerance of musical variation, as it is just an indicator of a larger attitude toward tolerance and diversity. The narrowmindedness that we see in our LDS religion limits us and our spiritual growth. Let us open our hearts to hear the spiritual music of all of God’s children and we will broaden our understanding. It will not take away from who we are to listen and love a song sung in a newer key or from a less ordinary member of our group. Reese’s lovey hymn was a breath of fresh air and deserved nothing but appreciation from her leaders.
     Leaders set the tone in their wards and stakes and it takes due diligence to recognize the contributions of others in a group, who are not like us. We should warm our welcome to those who can bring us a fresh perspective and develop the empathy to see God through their eyes and understand the divinity in each of us.

     Comment by Jo — October 4, 2009 @ 10:00 pm

190. 188 was a dupicate error, sorry for any cofusion.

     Comment by Jo — October 4, 2009 @ 11:24 pm

191. I just took a test on this subject as part of my music degree, and it is very important to note that this test was written by a mormon professor that is over 40 (not that I have any biases…just good info to remember)

     Elder Packer has actually spoken quite a bit on the type of genre and technique that should be used in specifically sacrament meetings. he has said (and I am paraphrasing, so please look up the talks for direct wording):
     1. Music used should be from the hymn book (He actually mentioned directly to our class in a forum that the reason farwells we done away with was because they couldn’t keep the families from using “seminary songs” or “gospel tunes.”)
     2. Any “scooping”, “sluring”, or “extreme” vocal techniques are frowned upon by the brethren because they tend to draw unneeded attention to the singer and have a tendency to disrupt the meeting.
     *Notice this is Sacrament meetings specifically!

     I am not out with a banner on this because not everyone has perfect technique (I most certainly am an embarrassment) and I really don’t want to offend anyone! Just thought it was food for thought and if you are really interested in what the brethren have said concerning music used in church (and there is a ton!) it is worth looking up and I would recommend talks from Elder Packer. By the way, I like your voice!

     Comment by Dev — October 19, 2009 @ 9:19 pm

192. My first response to the audio was that it sounded normal and would seem appropriate for Sacrament Meeting (i personally prefer and love hymns for Sacrament Meeting as opposed to some of the other stuff out there). I also liked the low tone of your voice. But after I listened to it again I heard some of the slides that I didn’t really notice before. I then also tried to picture a singer who might be visually distracting as they sing your rendition (i.e. closing her eyes or ‘making eyes’, maybe without really being aware of her pop-style visual effects). Maybe the reason you were getting comments was because of a combination of those things…I don’t know you, but it’s just a thought….

     Comment by Christina — October 21, 2009 @ 2:52 pm

193. I am a little late coming into this discussion because I just found this website while searching for a song I heard on BYU radio, a “non-hymn”, but very spiritual. I couldn’t listen to your song, the link wouldn’t work, but as for singing in meetings, as long as the song brings the spirit into the meeting is fine with me. We have some lovely Swedish church hymns in the church hymn book, I love them. As for general conference speakers speaking in their native tongue - that would make it hard for most to translate. Even if the translator receives the talk beforehand they have to be ready to change if the speaker change his/her talk. One conference we couldn’t receive the Swedish translation over satellite so some of us sat and listened to it in English and that translated as they spoke, using a microphone to convey the translation. Had it been any other language we couldn’t have done it. On another note - we have loved it when our African members have come in their traditional best “costume”, colorful long tunics over flowing colorful pants.

     Comment by Inger — November 23, 2009 @ 4:03 am

194. This subject is of particular interest to me but the mp3 is no longer available for download. This makes it really difficult to take a reference point from which to gain an understanding of people’s attitudes. Is there any possibility of renewing the link somehow?

     Comment by Andrew — February 21, 2010 @ 6:48 pm

195. I am a singer and composer and have taught music in the public school system (choir and general class music). I have sung many times in our ward, both primary songs, original music, hymns, and the occasional Janice Kapp Perry or Sally DeFord. I also accompany myself because there is really no one in my small ward who can “follow” a singer who phrases creatively. I think that sometimes people do not like my songs, and feel that they are “showy”, or inappropriate, as when I sang Amazing Grace for a funeral and received some uplifted eyebrows. However, I have to be true to myself to truly feel the Spirit close as I sing. My harmonies, in my original choir music, sometimes bafffle choir members, (such as using 7ths or 2nds), but everyone can feel the beauty of the harmony uplifting the lyrics. I say, go for it. We were put on this earth to learn and grow and become more like our Heavenly Father, who is the creator of sound and our ears being able to hear it and our hearts being able to feel it, (or more specifically, feel Him near). What greater gift to the positive energy of the planet, than that of a person who truly feels the Spirit and delivers it in a musical way. I find it difficult to bear my testimony, but I do it all the time through my music. Be glad you were given the gift of song and always seek to grow and develop it. You will not please everyone who hears it, but God will know.

     Comment by Susan — April 4, 2010 @ 2:24 pm

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