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ClearNote Church Bloomington's worship this past Lord's Day...

by David and Tim Bayly on April 26, 2011 - 11:32am

Hallelujah Chorus from ClearNote Church on Vimeo.

When we say we think our musical prayers in worship should be in the vulgar tongue led by instruments and with tunes and rhythyms someone walking in off the street would be familiar with, it's inevitable that our readers will comment by waxing somnolent about the absolute superiority of pianos and organs and old tunes and singing four part harmony.

As if this were foreign to us--something we'd never considered.

Well, each Easter Sunday we end the service by handing out sheet music to all those present who...

are willing, and having a Hallelujah Chorus flash mob. No rehearsal and many strangers present for this one.

As you can see, we're not intimidated by highbrow music or singing parts. Our elders thought carefully about moving from classical instruments, tunes, and rhythyms to a more accessible and contemporary--what the Reformers called the "vulgar"--tongue. With us it's a principle.

By the way, I took my iPhone up to the balcony and sat it on a box for this ultra-sophisticated recording. Then I went and sang.

(TB)

Tags: 
Music
Worship & idolatry

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Comments

Submitted by Adam Spaetti on April 26, 2011 - 11:43am

I love the two boys exuberantly conducting in the foreground!

Submitted by David Talcott on April 26, 2011 - 12:03pm

Adam,

That was precisely my thought as well. Beautiful. All the other children are delightful, too -- sitting in the chairs, walking to and fro behind the singers, and so forth. Carver (my 7 year old son) is even standing next to his grandfather in the bass section, following along as best he can. They're all learning how perfectly normal it is to lift up voices exuberantly to the Lord. Once we got home he remarked to me that "his voice was not a bass voice, at least not yet."

The other part I loved was seeing Bob in his wheelchair lined up with the other men. A child of God singing praises, blending his voice with the people of God, sharing in the worship as a full member!

David

Submitted by Sue McKeown on April 26, 2011 - 2:15pm

Absolutely wondrous to both the ears and eyes! Have to see it in full screen though to get the most out of it.

Submitted by bert perry on April 26, 2011 - 2:31pm

As one who has struggled with the lower two parts, my hat is off to the guys and gals who managed to NAIL their parts with no rehearsal.

Regarding the peoples' music vs. that of high culture, I was told once that Handel deliberately wrote more simply to make his music accessible to the masses....and probably not coincidentally to make sure he didn't have to pay Italian-trained singers, whose wages were higher. Any truth to that idea?

Submitted by Rebecca Nugent on April 27, 2011 - 11:22am

I can hear Dawn:)

Submitted by Carole Canfield on April 27, 2011 - 8:40pm

The best part for me was seeing Lexie raise her arm in praise to the Lord on the final "Hallelujah!"

PS to Rebecca N.: Would have loved to have heard you, too! ;D

Submitted by David Baker on April 28, 2011 - 8:09am

But can you hear Pastor Baker and me singing "watermelon, watermelon" during the difficult part of the base line?

Submitted by Rebecca Nugent on April 28, 2011 - 8:46am

You mean "watermelon, watermelon" ISN'T in there??

Submitted by Michelle Holder on April 28, 2011 - 5:14pm

Beautiful! Praise the LORD!

Submitted by Stephen Baker on April 29, 2011 - 7:38am

Yes, but don't you think all that endless repetition is beneath our sophisticated magnificence?

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