Comments on: (02) Singing Down Mercy

By: D Laban

D Laban — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:00:04 +0000

It strikes me that the old gospel songs are best for touching the longing for something more — timeless harmonies that connect with some primitive brainwave that opens the heart, yet their words are sometimes objectionable. I sing them anyway (alone in my room or car, of course!) just for reaching a sense otherwise not available. Sometimes it’s the best way to viscerly connect with my parents who loved gospel music. This may actually be the opposite of (but not necessarily in contradiction with) your sermon’s point. What if, say, 2000 years from now a preacher’s sermon uses gospel music as an example of bad Jesus theology. But not having the score the power of the music to evoke aspiration, memory, a warm heart, etc. would be lost. For that matter, what if in hearing the music to the songs of Moses, Hannah, etc., it sound like Miley Cyrus or (fill in the blank)? Of course, what music evokes is tied to culture and tradition, but you get the point.

By: Ted Grimsrud

Ted Grimsrud — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:09:55 +0000

You’re so right, D Laban. When you sing it’s always different. After I read the texts at the beginning of the sermon, I asked the folks what they thought that songs do. It was a great discussion. One person said it’s too bad I didn’t sing them; I said he had a good point but if I had sung them it would have been a disaster.

I need to listen to “Hymns” again; it’s been awhile. I haven’t been playing much Van lately.

My big favorite now is Tom Waits. His voice takes some getting used to, but his songs can be very powerful.

Thanks for the affirmation.

By: D Laban

D Laban — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:02:36 +0000

Good friend T Glenn,

Love your approach to why we should listen to Jesus. Love the Kristoferrson song. And the Jesus turning into Willie story. Wish we could actually hear and sing along with the songs of Moses, Hannah, Isaiah, and Mary. The emotions actually touched in the hearing and singing may change your interpretation– the difference between reading the words to Cohen’s Hallelujah or Springsteen’s Land of Hope and Dreams or Simon’s Cool Cool River or Lord I Am Fondly, Earnestly Longing and an open windowed 80 mph highway full-throated sing-a-long. But still, bravo for cross cutting the normally routine, especially the meaning of the chosen people. By the way, have you listened to Hymns to the Silence recently?