America letter # 12. Speaking on tones.
February 24, 2008
Dear friends,
Last week I told about “Womanist Theology,” a Monday afternoon module which is soon finished. I also have a Monday evening module, which is finished tomorrow, “Chanting: Speaking on Tones.” I will not call it an exam, but we will tomorrow show that we manage to chant one of the ten settings in the new worship book of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran denomination in the USA), Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
I will probably not chant the liturgies of the ELCA very often in the future, but it has been nice to get to know their worship book. It gives me a better understanding of the worship service, and the musical possibilities the liturgy provides. A small written paper about good reasons for singing the liturgy has also given us an opportunity to reflect on the dynamic chanting can create. Technical voice practice is always good.
Have I mentioned that I sing in the choir at Wartburg? I do. It is a small choir, and our main task is the Psalm on the Wednesday Eucharist in the chapel. ELCA has understood that the Book of Psalms is a prayer book to be used in worship (the Church of Norway has not), so a Psalm is sung or recited in the chapel every day. We often sing back and forth between the “pulpit side” and the “piano side” of the chapel. Wednesday the assembly sings a refrain, while the choir sings the Psalm. I do not know how the work with the new worship book for the Church of Norway is progressing, but I hope they will include some Psalm tones. (If not, I will have to invent some if I happen to settle some place.)
My Sunday congregation (I am seldom there except Sundays) is not the most liturgically conscious, but now during Lent they use a little longer Eucharist liturgy than at other times, and I appreciate that. I had thought I would explore some more congregations, but I am a bit lazy, so I go to the one closest. Americans are lazier though, and they wonder about this Norwegian student always walking to church, whether there is a snowstorm, biting cold or melting snow. Yes, we have had varying weather, “the worst in ten years,” they say. That means that we have more snow, and it is colder than they are used to. It is a bit painful not to have skis when I have so much snow. Today we have had “Easter weather,” three weeks before the holidays start.
Greetings from Hanne.
Dear friends,
Last week I told about “Womanist Theology,” a Monday afternoon module which is soon finished. I also have a Monday evening module, which is finished tomorrow, “Chanting: Speaking on Tones.” I will not call it an exam, but we will tomorrow show that we manage to chant one of the ten settings in the new worship book of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran denomination in the USA), Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
I will probably not chant the liturgies of the ELCA very often in the future, but it has been nice to get to know their worship book. It gives me a better understanding of the worship service, and the musical possibilities the liturgy provides. A small written paper about good reasons for singing the liturgy has also given us an opportunity to reflect on the dynamic chanting can create. Technical voice practice is always good.
Have I mentioned that I sing in the choir at Wartburg? I do. It is a small choir, and our main task is the Psalm on the Wednesday Eucharist in the chapel. ELCA has understood that the Book of Psalms is a prayer book to be used in worship (the Church of Norway has not), so a Psalm is sung or recited in the chapel every day. We often sing back and forth between the “pulpit side” and the “piano side” of the chapel. Wednesday the assembly sings a refrain, while the choir sings the Psalm. I do not know how the work with the new worship book for the Church of Norway is progressing, but I hope they will include some Psalm tones. (If not, I will have to invent some if I happen to settle some place.)
My Sunday congregation (I am seldom there except Sundays) is not the most liturgically conscious, but now during Lent they use a little longer Eucharist liturgy than at other times, and I appreciate that. I had thought I would explore some more congregations, but I am a bit lazy, so I go to the one closest. Americans are lazier though, and they wonder about this Norwegian student always walking to church, whether there is a snowstorm, biting cold or melting snow. Yes, we have had varying weather, “the worst in ten years,” they say. That means that we have more snow, and it is colder than they are used to. It is a bit painful not to have skis when I have so much snow. Today we have had “Easter weather,” three weeks before the holidays start.
Greetings from Hanne.
posted by Hanne at 3:55 PM
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