Singing Advice from Luther
I have just started reading Luther’s Liturgical Music by Robin Leaver. While I’ve only finished the second chapter, I sense this will be a very in depth but readable study of Luther and music. Chapter Two focused on how music was a central part of Luther’s life from a very young age until his death and how he was surrounded by accomplished musicians. Leaver “sought to demonstrate that Luther’s musicianship was anything but superficial and is the essential starting-point for any discussion of his musical understanding of theology or of his liturgical use of music” (pg. 63)
And after reading this chapter, what do I remember? This practical bit of advice from Luther regarding the starting pitch of a song: “No one should try to sing such a song in a higher key, for he will surely become hoarse and make a botch of it before he reaches five notes.” Thus saith Luther.
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Even my sopranos would agree with and applaud Luther.
That’s why this very limited organist is so very grateful for the automatic modulation our organ can do. Doing the job this organist cannot do! (And God knows I’ve tried….)
I’ve done a fair amount of a capella hymn singing and found out that one should never “guess” the first tone to be sung. The guess will usually cause you problems further on when you can’t reach the high or low notes. Hence, get the pitch with something: piano, organ, handbell, pitch pipe.