A few weeks ago, Jesh and I were looking at psalm singing videos online, and came across this video. These are some Primitive Baptists singing the hymn Amazing Grace, a capella, lined out with a precentor.
The people in this video are walking around shaking hands and greeting one another as they sing, which is kind of distracting, but you get the idea anyway. Watch for the precentor who comes into view about six minutes in.
I recognize that this video will be entertaining to those who are used to hearing lined-out singing done Gaelic style--and I can't blame you for smiling when they sing "warsh" instead of "wash." :) But in my personal opinion, it's also kind of beautiful. I think that music is almost always beautiful, and stirring, when performed from the heart by humble, ordinary people. Even more so, of course, when it's the Word of God that is being sung (i.e. the Psalms of David).
Our next psalm sing, or psalmody class, or whatever you would like to call it, is this Saturday. Lunch at noon, singing to follow; I'm looking forward to seeing at least a few of you there. :)
You should put this on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteAck sounds too much like country music to me! I've heard English metrical psalms sung with the precentor giving out the line and that is quite nice. :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing Grace is a pretty standard melody in most of Christian worship from most denominations and backgrounds. But in other lined out singing, I am not at all familiar with the tunes. How does one learn the tunes? Are they ever written out?
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