Something Old, Something New

[Gemmster]

Something to consider:

Last week at church there was significant disharmony within our choir (average age of 26) when one of the members sang the old words to one of the hymns. Two of the other choristers became offended by this and demanded he stop.

Now I was playing the organ at the time but I'm sure I too may have slipped into the old words had I been singing. Sometimes they just slip off my tongue before I've even read the words in the book.

My suggestion: let people singing whatever words they want. Who cares if it isn't exactly the same as the person next to you. We're all singing the same thing with the same meaning.

The musical director is concerned that not singing the same words doesn't promote unity. My argument: it isn't true unity when you are being forced to sing things you don't feel is right!

Any thoughts??

[Nigel Poole]

Absolutely, couldn't agree more!!!
I often sing the old words, sometimes out of habit, but often on purpose, because modern desecrations of the language makes me so angry. If music directors want us singing hymns angrily...?
I am all for modern compositions, fresh original hymns in whatever style the author chooses. Just don't mess with the old ones.

[Nigel Poole]

And another thing...!
Sometimes in the course of our BCP services, a priest will throw in an unexpected "The Lord be with you" before addressing the congregation. The response is a cacophonous mixture of "And with thy spirit" from the BCP regulars and the lacklustre "And also with you" from those who've had more exposure to modern services.
Seeing as how the priests appear to be indifferent to the confused noise caused by meddling with the language, no-one should care if some of us continue to sing the proper words to the hymns!