Helping Your Congregation Sing
Sometimes church musicians get so caught up with making music, whether that be choral or instrumental, that they neglect or minimize (often unintentionally) their primary responsibility — leading and encouraging the people’s song in psalmody, liturgy, and hymnody. I remember being told (by my father no less) that while I might be able to play a very nice prelude, I should strive to be a good leader of hymn singing.
Mark Lawson, president of MorningStar Music, reflects on the importance of congregational song to Richard Proulx and Richard Hillert in the March edition of their e-newsletter. Special thanks to MorningStar Music for granting permission to post this article.
The recent passing of Richard Proulx and Richard Hillert has caused me to reflect on the extraordinary gifts that these two great men have given to us. Even though both wrote widely in many genres, I firmly believe that their greatest inspiration came in providing wonderful settings of liturgical materials for the congregation. Both of these men believed strongly that average, everyday people should sing the liturgy and that it shouldn’t just be left to the professionals. It makes me think of the way Paul Manz used to talk about inspiring the congregation to sing and how thrilling it is to sing with full voiced gusto on the great hymns of faith.
In many churches, I think we have shortchanged the congregation and have given more of our attention to the choirs. Educating the congregation and teaching them how to sing is no easy matter, but is certainly worth every minute we can give to helping them fully engage in the church’s song.
Some helpful suggestions include:
· Print brief histories of hymns and tunes used in the service on an insert in the worship folder.
· Look for concertatos and descants that engage both the choir and the congregation.
· Vary the accompaniments from full organ to a cappella singing, and incorporate various instruments for introductions or descants.
· Use readings such as those in From Glory Into Glory to set up the hymn and give added thought.
These are just a few suggestions. There are obviously many more, but the important thing is to give congregational singing added attention and priority. If we follow the model of those who have recently gone before us, it is worth our very best gifts.
Mark W. Lawson,
President
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It’s interesting that you mention your father telling you that leading hymns was more important than preludes and postludes, because my mom (also a Lutheran organist) once told me the exact same thing. I agree completely that leading hymns is a kantor’s primary responsibility and while voluntaries are good, they must be secondary.
I know this was an old post, but I couldn’t resist….. I agree with the statement that Hymns/Liturgy are more important in the worship service.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been dumbfounded to visit another church and walk in and hear excellent pre-service or a postlude piece. Then we start into the service and it’s a night and day difference. I had to take a double look to see it was still the same person on the bench. YUP! Wow…. I certainly appreciate the discipline they had in learning the pre-service/offeratory/postlude, but can we APPLY that same discipline to the actual service? Priorities were a little backwards in my opinion.
Certainly I understand that perhaps they are ‘newer’ or it comes harder to them to learn a piece, but lets focus on what’s more important.
Then I feel bad for even thinking this way. Then I realize that perhaps no one ever explained that to them.
One last quick comment. Has anyone ever watched people on YouTube in an actual live service playing a hymn? I won’t mention any names obviously, but I have to laugh at this one organist. Yes, this person is VERY good – but they play EXTREMELY TOO FAST. I’m not talking about, just a slight push of the tempo, I’m talking lighting speed. It’s actually commical listen to the congregation TRYING to keep up!! You can’t see them, but I can guarantee you some are turning blue, other’s breaking out in a sweat. Someone actually posted a comment (I don’t do that – I don’t feel it’s appropiate unless you have something nice to say….and I confess, I didn’t) and asked the organist that posted that “Were you in a hurry becuase you needed to use the restroom?” I died laughing!! It’s really not funny – but…..wow! It was like watching an old player piano turned up and pumping on HIGH speed!
Tactus and tempo — often overlooked, but they make the difference between night and day in hymn playing.