Newsletter
DEAN’S MESSAGE for December 2011
Greetings,
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing religious establishments today is “Post-Modern Culture”, with its emphasis on popular values and relativism. Church music people with “classical” training tend to view the use of popular music—early manifested in the U.S. as folk groups, now as rock (=”Praise”) bands—with disdain. And it would seem that the groups themselves give people lots of ammunition: a seeming glorification of the mediocre in music skills and choices; too much emphasis on the performance aspect; an apparent shallow “hand-clap” mentality over a deeper spiritual reflection . . . . Sadly, it would seem that many “pop” people view the “traditional” people with equal mistrust, seeing them as arrogant elitists.
All of this is the product of today’s enculturation movements (originally called “Diversity”) which try to adopt worship (and product commercials) to the specifics of each culture group, creating a consumerist mentality where things are judged by our personal likes or dislikes. It has created a splintered church. At St. John’s Cathedral, we have six Sunday services, each with a specific cultural emphasis, running the gamut from “Classical” to “Rock” to “Hispanic” and even “Polish” on Christmas.
The challenge in all this for musicians is, first, to try to find the commonalities in order to bring as much unity, at least among the musicians, as possible. And musicians have more in common than in difference, beginning with a love for expressing their divine devotion through music. The choice of musical style is merely like a language chosen: it is the medium through which our common experience is expressed. Essentially, there are no “good” or “bad” styles, just “good and “bad” versions of a style. Which brings up a second point: try to do pieces that we feel to be better musically and textually—and, especially, do them well—in tune, blended and balanced. A third thing is: work to understand the language of the style and the message underlying it. Pop Culture is, and will be, an important part of Western life today, and we should accept it as part of our tool kit. Dr. Eileen Gunther remarked that today’s organist must be able to play keyboard with the Praise Group at one service and do a movement from a Bach Trio Sonata on the organ at another. Such is life today.
--Ray Morvant
Dean, Les Bois Chapter AGO
Job Posting
Svetlana Maddox is available for substituting in Boise area churches, including Liturgical services. She can be reached at 695-3454.
For Sale
One feature of the website is being able to sell organs, pianos, and other music related items. Go to the Membership page and click on 'Classified Ads'. Anyone is able to post a listing.
BYU Organ Workshop
This workshop is held each August on the Provo, Utah, campus. As quoted from their website, "Whether you use your organ skills to play for your own enjoyment, for church service, or for teaching, here’s an organ-specific workshop to help you develop or enhance your playing skills." Several Chapter members have attended in years past and have expressed their amazement at how much they learn each time they go. If you are interested in finding out more information from previous attendees, please email .
The New LDS Organist
An online training program for LDS organists, or anyone else new to the organ. This free course of twelve lessons is designed to help pianists adapt their skills to the organ as soon as possible. Visit www.organ.byu.edu and click on "The New LDS Organist" link. Free downloadable podcasts and printouts.
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