Remixed

[AVERT303]

Hi would have put this in the music review thread but i think it's okay seperate.

I have a question and wonder if I could get some feedback. I myself am a lover of all kinds of music, and I would love it if there was a CD put out by the CSPS that was something like Radiohead, Bjork, Autechre, Squarepusher etc. meets the CS Hymnal. I have no idea what how it would work or sound, but I guess I am looking for and hoping to someday hear something ultra-modern, something with nice rhythm, and maybe even something with nice beats.

Does anyone feel the same?

I could even imagine it being a modern classical album but still something semi-rhythmic, with loops, etc.

I don't know but I wonder if I am all alone on this...or if everyone really just want hymns to be hymns and nothing more???

Just brainstorming....trying to think outside the box. let me know what y'all think.

thanks!!! =) tad

[Golda Orwa]

Hi,

I think that would be great being a great music lover myself.

Golda

[Adedeh]

Hi Tad, this is an interesting thread you started here!

I think this is an issue which should be addresed. Besides not everybody knows how to go by the hymns. Since the church is growing into a very modern era, artists which are talented in this field should come up with compositions which are consistent with the teachings of the church, something ultra-modern, which the current youths can very easily identify with....

I am for the idea that we should not just sing the hymns in our churches every Sunday, but should come up with some new songs! You see, in Africa, most churches cannot hear of it. But some time ago i was chatting with Chet on this issue and he brought to my attention that it is not indicated in the church manual that we MUST sing from the hymnal only! So this field is for us to explore and come up with something radical in its own way.

Or rather, wouldnt it be terrific if the hymnal was redone in a modern way with modern rhythms and beats- am reallyu looking forward to something like that! COMMENTS on this please

.......Adedeh

[AVERT303]

Yeah I hear ya, Adedeh! I guess overall I am thinking about possible CD's that could be produced by the CSPS.

However, I love the idea of breaking into new songs and styles as long as a particular branch church wants to...that's one of those things tho where I think it woud become highly individual, and for individual churches to decide what they want to groove to. Although, in the Appendix in the Manual is pretty clear that organ or piano is the instrument to be used "in all cases where this is possible" in most services (see pages 121, 122, 124, 126). But that doesn't mean people could have drums to play along with piano, again as long as the church members agree and feel it is appropriate, and if it sounds good! I love that she made it sooo simple, though, so that the music can stay fairly consistent.

I have a feeling that recordings would be the easiest way to go in order to "get modern" in the area of music...because that way people of older generations can buy if they want to or not, plus everyone can get a choice of the sound the prefer, without it causing rifts within churches...this is my thought at least.

So I wonder tho, do you (anyone) get a sense that people around our age, say between 13-35 have a desire to hear more modern sounds?

[Inge]

So I wonder tho, do you (anyone) get a sense that people around our age, say between 13-35 have a desire to hear more modern sounds?


I have to say, I go both ways on this one. On the one hand, I think some of the more modern stuff that is being done in terms of solos and CDs are great, and wholeheartedly support more of that. On the other hand, do you know how HARD it is to find a CD of just people singing the hymns to the melody that is in the hymnal? Maybe I'm just weird, but I find a lot of comfort in just singing plain and simple hymns, and usually remember a fair amount of verses from memory if I'm singing along with a CD or in church. But I have yet to find a CD that is just plain hymns being sung by a pretty decent congregation/chorus/band of musically inclined monkeys!

So I guess my vote is that as long as its not at the expense of the familiar tunes, I'm for it. .

[Fuzzyjefe]

I've been listening to the podcasts of spirituality.com's "live audio events". One of them featured a hymnologist (evidently someone who studies hymns!). He essentially said that hymns are a kind of music specifically designed to be sung by a congregation. They have a melody that is straightforward for most to catch on to.

So when something designed for easy group singing is taken and revved up to techno, it might be like trying to put new wine into old bottles. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed Mindy Jostyn and Larry Groce. They've done folk renditions. There was also reggae and dub/re-mix of hymns on the album "Choose God". But I think we can take it to another level.

Can we produce music with the underpinings of Christian Science in original lyrics that could fit into the Christian rock genre? Can we find a producer and publisher outside of the CSPS? I don't think that would make it antithetical to TMC; it would mean that we have a healing message that speaks to a wider audience. One guy named Peter somebody, recently featured in the Journal has done this. Sorry I can't give you more information than that.

After I listened to that podcast, I had a deeper appreciation for hymns in church. Instead of thinking we had to modernize the hymns, I saw that there could be another outlet for the modern music genres through which we want to express our message.

I have another idea related to hymns in Sunday services. When I lived in Jamaica a few years ago, I was far away from the CS church in Kingston. So I occaisionally went to the local churches in my village. They had no hymnals (perhaps out of cost or of the tradition of just singing a limited collection enough times to memorize them). They did have a keyboardist and drum player who took liberties with the sheet music to add syncopation, gospel off-beats, and accelerated rhythms. I recognized some of the tunes from the CS Hymnal (lyrics are often different between denominations), but the performance from the musicians was more animated. The music that the congregation preferred was played out by them. If our churches had enough members who preferred a different genre of music, they could hire musicians and soloists who perform in those genres. What do you think about that?:)

[SummerMW]

You are not alone! the hymns themsalves are inspired works, and with any kind of inspired music to go along with them, could only have a good outcome!

"all things work together for good to them that love God" Romans 8:28

Much love - Summer

[ajmusic]

It's awesome this has been brought up as it's something I've been thinking about and working on for several months now. I'll keep you all posted as things progress...

[Neisan]

Hey Tad,

Thanks for starting this thread. The whole reason I put up a music review thread [deleted for lack of activity] is precisely because I want more modern music to listen to, but I want it to reflect the values and teachings of Christian Science.

I find music often replays in my mind after I listen to it, so I prefer to have good messages popping up later. So until a good Christian Science modern alternative appears (keep in touch, ajmusic), I'm interested in hearing what modern music with appropriate lyrics TMC Youth posters enjoy.

(Hey Inge - you might like the Candlewood Singers)

[AVERT303]

Yeah i dig it Nate. Music has always been a big part of my life. In high school I really got into jazz and that blew my thought wide open. I loved the idea of 'spontaneous music' and the idea of exploring and playing music, but never playing it the same way twice, intentionally. As well as the amazing understanding a jazz musician has to understand music as well as his/her instrument.

Since then I think music that has played a big part is music without lyrics. I love music, sound, and all the sounds that can exist. And electronica has played a big part in my own exploration.

One thing i recommend for any music lover is the film "32 Short Films About Glenn Gould." It's a great film about music in that it also gives a wonderful visual experience to the audio.

But I think becuase music, and sound in general, is so individual and has infinite possibility in expression. So I guess when I thought about the music the CSPS has been producing I thought it would be cool to explore ideas like
hymns with beats? Honestly since I am not a musician I don't know if it could work, but I hope someone finds out. What about hymns that have a jungle/drumn'bass sound? What about down right funky? Or nice blue grass?
Or some hard hittin' bebop? All of which I love, I just wonder if there's a way to take our beloved hymns and explore the "inifinite range" of our thought through musical creativity. =)

IN the mean time, it sounds like AJMUSIC has something tasty brewing in the studio, eh? I look forward to hearing more about it.