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Missionary Anthems

7/1/2014

Next week, my youngest son leaves to serve a full-time mission in Arizona. Thirty members of our extended family came to our Ward to listen to him give his farewell talk and help provide a musical number. Together we sang my new arrangement of "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go" with piano and flute accompaniment. This hymn has become a wonderful missionary anthem. The message of going, doing, saying, and being what the Lord would have us be and serving His children throughout the world is a great send off for any new missionary. It also helps us resolve to remember to do our part on the home front.

After the meeting, a friend came up to me and said, "You are having a harvest day today." What she said was true. Five of my children and their families who live locally were there, as well as many of my brothers and sisters and their families. Not only did they come to offer support and encouragement for my son, they are talented musicians who love to bear their testimonies of the gospel through song.

Years ago, when the time approached for the return of our oldest son from his mission, I felt inspired to write a missionary anthem for his homecoming. "Go Forth in the Service of God" came about while I was contemplating some words of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He talked about how missionary work offered the joy of the gospel to the hungering souls of the earth. He went on to say, "For this is the joy of which angels sang when they sang at the birth of God's Son." This wonderful quote and its follow-on became the climax of my song.

The message of this anthem is not only for the departing missionary, but to all of us in fulfilling our callings and taking part in building the kingdom of God on the earth. In this respect, this anthem is not just a Missionary Anthem, but a song of exhortation unto all of us to "Press forward with faith and endure to the end 'til the work of the Master is done."

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It's the Load that Provides the Traction

4/7/2014

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What a glorious weekend to sing in the Conference Center and listen to the words of Apostles and living Prophets! The messages were timely and many were meant just for me. I've been thinking of Elder Bednar's example of his friend's truck getting stuck in the snow. He said that the friend went about his work of cutting wood in the forest, loading up his truck, and praying that he could have enough traction to get out of the snow and back down the mountain.

Turns out that the heaviness of the load provided the traction enabling the truck to get unstuck. How many times do we complain about our heavy loads, when all the time it is the heaviness of those loads that allow us to grow and gain the spiritual traction to move forward along life's path. What a great perspective! We should be grateful for our burdens that give us meaning and purpose. My dad always used to tell me that we need our troubles and problems. As a scientist, he well understood that without problems to try to solve, what a dull existence we would live. We need to have struggles and questions and hurdles to try to get over in this life. Without them, we would simply stagnate. Besides, "the idle mind is the devil's playground!"

So now the challenge is acting on the counsel we have heard. I have many projects ahead in the next few weeks. Instead of giving in to the feeling of being overwhelmed, I need to adjust my perspective and realize that it is the load that will give me the traction to move forward. I need to think about the wonderful knowledge and skills I will gain through the experiences. I need to be grateful that I have the opportunities before me and be happy that I can be productive and serve others. How wonderful to receive inspired counsel from our leaders every six months in General Conference!

The music was wonderful to sing, too. My favorite moments were when the men sang in four parts. The new arrangements by Ryan Murphy of "Come, O Thou King of Kings" and "I Stand All Amazed" were particularly meaningful for us to sing. Difficult, but meaningful. We even were given some kudos for how unified we were singing. The soft, unison sections are usually the most difficult to get unified. The next most difficult to unify are the ascending lines with sudden drops in pitch by dramatic skips. We worked very hard to do all that we were asked, and prayed that we could sing through our tears to make it all work. We have a difficult concert coming up in less than two weeks and a major recording after that.

We are working hard on memorization and mastering difficult singing skills in order to sing Handel's Messiah. Our directors tell us that this diligence is what will give us the stamina to accomplish our goals. We are doing all this while continuing to try to also carry the loads of our regular daily lives. We are reaping great rewards, though, by trying to leap over these hurdles while carrying these loads. Once again, it's the load that provides the traction to move ahead.

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Come and Sit With Us

3/7/2014

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March is the month which celebrates the anniversary of the Founding of the Relief Society. This women's organization of the LDS Church is recognized as the largest organization for women in all the world. Through their efforts, much service is provided for those in need. And yet, the Relief Society is much more. It offers a place for all the women to gather together not only to love and serve each other, but also to learn and grow by teaching each other gospel principles in word and action.

A couple of years ago, a call went out for music to be created that reflected the history and mission of Relief Society. Many of these songs were premiered at a Relief Society Music Festival held on Temple Square that fall. One of my songs was sung, as well. "Come and Sit With Us" was inspired by a picture of African Relief Society sisters. It was obvious that this picture was snapped as the women were actually just getting ready for the picture to be taken.

These women were indicating for the other women to join them for the photo. They were adjusting their positions on the benches to make room for everyone. Their smiles of welcome were infectious. The caption read "Come and sit with me." Is this not the great mission of Relief Society throughout the world? Do we not want all of our sisters to be included in the joy of our worldwide sisterhood?

As I was thinking through the ideas for the song, a friend of mine presented me with a lovely framed piece of art that she had penned in beautiful calligraphy. It was a quote by one of the first members of the Relief Society.

"We must cherish one another, we must watch over one another, comfort one another, and gain instruction that we may all sit down in heaven together."
-- Lucy Mack Smith

This quote became the perfect pairing for the other ideas for my song. I went to work and had the song finished relatively quickly. Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the prophet Joseph Smith and founder of the Mormon Church, knew how important it was for women to come together, to work together, to love and serve each other, and share that special bond of sisterhood. She also used the word "sit." (It isn't the physical act of sitting that is important, it is what sitting represents - making a comfortable place where love is a common bond.)

Sister Smith talked of the hope that we will be able to sit down in heaven all together. That is the idea I wanted to connect to the first part of my song -- women making space for all to sit down together in love and sisterhood on earth connecting to the idea that we may someday also be able to sit down in heaven all together.

As you plan your celebrations for the Relief Society Birthday this year, give a thought to how we invite all to "Come and Sit With Us" in a worldwide sisterhood. Perhaps you could include this song in your celebration. Enjoy!

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Church Musicians - A Vanishing Breed?

2/3/2014

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As I sit in the loft and sing the glorious music set before me in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I reflect how in the everyday world of Church Music the reality is very different. I have occasion to visit many different church meetings in many different areas and wonder if church musicians are a vanishing breed. The quality of the organ playing and hymn conducting and choir performances and even the hymn singing of the congregations is generally very low and on its way to vanishing completely.

As a visitor in the congregation, when I open my mouth to sing the hymns, I suddenly realize I am singing a solo. It is a rare occasion indeed when I get to visit a worship service where the congregation is truly uniting their voices in singing praises to God in a purposeful, joyous, and effective way. It isn't that they are unfamiliar with the words or the tunes. They just don't put forth any effort.

No, I do not think I am being a musical snob because I sing with a group of highly skilled musicians. This is not about wishing the lay ministry could be of professional quality. It is more a comment on our society as a whole nowadays. We are a consumer culture. We want to be entertained with no effort on our part beyond turning on our device. We want to do no work and definitely take no responsibility. How very selfish! What we are missing is so great.

Music is a gift from God. It has great power to lift the spirit and calm the soul. It can be used to motivate and influence mood and underscore life's dramatic moments. It can be used for good and evil. It has great power to unite people in a common experience.

Creating music is powerful, too. Live performance in creating worship music is a wonderful thing. It can channel thoughts and influence emotions. It can help invite the Spirit into your life. The simple act of hymn singing can do so much good.

My hope is that the people who play the organ and lead the singing will prepare themselves to reach a higher level of expertise and never stop working to get better and better. I hope that they will encourage better singing in the congregation by their preparation and example. I know that this can happen. I have witnessed it in my own life. We have moved many times in the course of my life. In nearly every place we moved to, the hymn singing and musicianship of the members was pretty lack luster at first. But after a good dose of our family's example and encouragement, things improved. It can be done, but it takes effort and preparation and encouragement and a belief that there is a better way. Being a church musician is a great responsibility. Only you can make sure church musicians don't become a vanishing breed!

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Christmas Is Coming

12/2/2013

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December 1st ushers in the wonderful Christmas Season. For singers this is the busiest and most pleasurable season of all. Seems we work all year for this climax. Our most elaborate and meaningful concerts are usually planned for Christmas. If we are lucky and healthy enough, we have the opportunity to sing many concerts during this happiest of seasons. The untold varieties of Christmas music provide something sure to please every ear. And musicians and singers revel in providing the songs that underscore this beloved time of year.

Already I have sung a Messiah Sing-In with the Utah Symphony and a Christmas-themed Music and the Spoken Word with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and that was just the first day of December! (Not to mention all the stacks of music yet to sing that we just got recently!) One highlight of this season we performed yesterday on the Broadcast: "Christmas Is Coming" is a new arrangement of an Old English Carol sung as a Round. What fun! Mack Wilberg has done another 5-Star arrangement, indeed! The orchestrations are masterful and exciting and the singers have new words that bring deeper meaning to this wonderful old Christmas Carol. I would not be surprised if this is the theme song of our up-coming Christmas concerts. (Though, remember, you did not hear this from me. We don't get to know any particulars about our concerts until we perform them. I guess we are prone to let the surprises out of the bag!) Anyway, it is sure to be exciting!

My sister and cousin had an unexpected, sweet experience the other evening. They were sitting on a bench at Temple Square waiting for a concert to begin, watching the visitors enjoying all the lights and Christmas decorations. They thought that they themselves represented all the other people throughout the world who would dearly love to be there on Temple Square enjoying the beautiful lights and music. But wait! Something was missing. Usually, Christmas music is being played along with narrations of the Christmas story while lights focus on the characters set to represent the action.

But, while they were sitting there, none was playing. It seemed strange to have the lights spotlight the shepherds, and the wise men, and the baby in the manger with no music or narration, so they just decided to start singing the songs that would usually accompany those parts of the Christmas story. Soon they found that people were gathering to listen. After they finished, many people came over to thank them for providing such an important part of the evening's events.

Music plays such an integral role in festive occasions. It can enhance the mood, create excitement, provide a unified experience for many, and touch lives individually. Inspired music can be a conduit for the Spirit.
Yes! Christmas is Coming! And in our festivities let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas. Let the music of this special season testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer, Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

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Cacophony

11/15/2013

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Cacophony is an interesting word. It is a noun that means discord or dissonance. Some people use it to describe the noise of our day to day lives.
Finding quiet amidst of the cacophony of our world can be a mighty quest, but one well worth mounting.

In 1991, we moved our family from the Los Angeles to the "country" near Monterey where night is deafeningly quiet and pitch black. The sudden change was cacophony in reverse. It was unsettling for the children until they learned how to listen to subtle sounds such as the rustling of leaves in the trees or the crickets chirping or the distant sounds of cars on the highway, or even the sporadic dropping of the ice cubes in the ice maker. We spent time playing listening games every night so that they could become familiar with the new sounds in their world and feel safe. Soon they were able to sleep through the night and began to enjoy waking to hear the birds singing in the early morning sun.

It is said that "music hath power to soothe the raging beast." Music does indeed hold great power to influence our moods. Anyone who has been to the movies knows that. Composers have learned just what to do to heighten the drama and punctuate the action in the movies. Music and rhythm in our world are freely used to excite the basest drives of the natural man. But worthy music can also be used to soothe and calm and exalt and bless. Music that is a conduit for the Spirit can be used to teach and comfort and is powerful indeed. That inspired music can work to bring peace to the soul. It can help that person find quiet in this world of cacophony.

I was visiting a church service once where it was obvious that an inexperienced organist was playing the prelude music. The volume and settings were so loud that my ears and my heart heart. Perhaps she was new to the job and was more concerned with trying to hit the notes correctly than being aware of the volume or the registrations (the selection of which sounds are being played such as flutes or strings or reeds).

It struck me that maybe she had not been instructed in the art of playing soft, reverent music for prelude. People coming into the chapel should be invited to sit quietly and the prelude music should set the tone for reverent worship. The ears of the people should not be blasted with full organ registration and volume that should be reserved for accompanying the congregational singing of only the most majestic and powerful of anthems!

As the church service progressed, I could not help but notice that the registrations and volume never changed. It had one setting - VERY LOUD with FULL REGISTRATION! Because I am so sensitive to musical dynamics, I left that meeting with a headache and an offended spirit. You organists out there really need to be aware of your registrations and volume settings. Remember that the room empty will be different than with it full of people, but DO NOT OVERCOMPENSATE!!!!!! Have someone in the room signal to you when you have the volume set appropriately. Do not assume that you can hear everything you need to hear from the organ bench. Please do not allow the music at church to add to the CACOPHONY of our daily lives!

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Of Choirs and Congregations

11/15/2013

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One Sunday, a member of the congregation got up to speak and thanked the music director for choosing just the right music that day. Each of the hymns and the special music of the choir were the messages of God's love and comfort that she desperately needed and helped her feel the Spirit's influence and healing that day. She was so grateful that joining her voice in the singing of hymns helped her feel guided in her personal worship and united with the others in the congregation in singing praises to our loving Heavenly Father. And she also thanked the choir for the beauty of their interpretation of a meaningful text.

Singing hymns together as a congregation is altogether different from the singing of a choir. In congregational singing, each person can join their voice and heart and soul with no regard to precision, technique or beauty. The point of congregational singing is to provide a vehicle for community worship, for uniting in purpose, and inviting the Spirit's influence into the meeting. Through the act of reading and singing the words of the hymn together, individuals can add their focus to the larger community's focus, to strengthen the combined faith of those present. There should be no judgment of how proficient the singing is because the entire purpose is more about individual worship than listening to collective body's performance.

But then, there are always those colorful conductors who treat conducting congregational singing as if they were directing the Tabernacle Choir. They flamboyantly wave their arms around signaling various voice parts to do dramatic dynamic changes or other vocal virtuosities. Probably better not to draw so much attention to yourself as a conductor with techniques that are lost on the congregation. Rather, model the pathos of the hymn and give appropriate motions to keep the organ and congregation together in the right tempo. Setting the right tempo and mood for each hymn is so important for worship. Singing a joyful upbeat tune at the speed of a funeral dirge does nothing to promote true worship.

Choirs, on the other hand, are definitely judged on performance. Each time the choir sings, the listeners will attempt to understand the words and feeling portrayed, but unfortunately many times are blocked from any real understanding the message because of the lack of performance quality. Choirs should be expected to do more than the congregation could do. They should have beautiful line and phrasing. They should sing in harmony. They should interpret the words with dynamics and expression. They should appear prepared and polished. They should display good choir etiquette. When the members of the choir do all they can do to be prepared and follow their conductor, their offering will be acceptable to the Lord as well as the audience.

My gratitude goes out to those music directors who thoughtfully and prayerfully choose the music for worship services. As a choir director, I appreciate when I am given advanced notice of the theme of the meeting so that the choir can adequately prepare suitable music. I appreciate singing hymns of praise that support the messages of the talks and uplift my soul. I really appreciate it when the hymns chosen for the meeting vary in character and message and tempo from each other. And I am especially appreciative when the mood and tempo is set according to the suggested markings by the composer.

I do so love singing joyful upbeat hymns in a joyful upbeat tempo!!!

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Forward>>

Missionary Anthems

It's the Load that Provides the Traction

Come and Sit With Us

Church Musicians - A Vanishing Breed?

Christmas Is Coming

Cacophony

Of Choirs and Congregations

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