God has chosen me

[Nick Baty]

Bernadette writes music of today. These arrangements turn it into music of yesteryear.

[Psalm Project]

What in heavens does that mean?
Does the label 'yesteryear' mean it is past it?
Is one not missing something here?
Hmmm...

[Nick Baty]

It means that, stylistically, it's been shifted back in time.
Just don't see the point of doing that.
It wasn't "past it" – it was fresh and new but this arrangement makes it sounds so dated.
Admittedly the old folks will probably love it – it does sound rather like Sunday Night at the London Palladium – but for the youngsters it's likely to be totally cring-making: A bit like watching your dad attempt the birdie dance while you're all moshing.

[mcb]

Bernadette's been writing music for a while now, hasn't she - what makes her music contemporary (or timeless?) for you, Nick?

[Nick Baty]

I wouldn't say all her music is timeless – this discussion started on one particular piece.
Clean-cut lines.
Accessibility.
Cross-genre style.
Strong melody.
Why take something so pure and bastardise it?
And, I'll admit my bias: I can't stand anything which sounds vaguely evangelical. A former producer told me I had "a low cheese threshold". Totally. But there's some terrible Christian music out there – that's fine for those who like it but why take a serviceable piece and trash it when there's plenty of other crap around out there?
The first piece quoted sounds like the sort of thing Bette Middler used to sing in the gay bath-houses.

[Psalm Project]

OK... re Bette Middler... please have a listen to this one from the same OCP website...
http://www.spiritandsong.com/articles/s ... 86/current
Opinion please?

[Nick Baty]

Can't give you my opinion because of the bleep system.

But it did remind me of days gone by: You're alone with the squeeze of your choice, you've had the meal, finished the last bottle of wine and you're hoping the music will lead towards the first snog.

As Donald Duck used to say, "Everything's nice if you like it". And I'm sure there are those who'll love this. If it was on a par with the genre it's trying to imitate then fair enough – but it isn't. Give me almost anything by Barbara Streisand any day.

[Vox Americana]

You're alone with the squeeze of your choice, you've had the meal...

Like ketchup after the fries have gone?

please have a listen to this one...

This song - and many of the ones that I've gotten to listen to - would be OK on the radio for a road trip: background, easy-listening and not really being absorbed. Does it make me wanna pray? If I let it, perhaps, but not in the way the webpage directs: my response ain't what's on their page. Trouble is the more I listen to it, the more the lyrics should be on that thread about words you don't dig.

[Psalm Project]

"You're alone with the squeeze of your choice, you've had the meal, finished the last bottle of wine and you're hoping the music will lead towards the first snog.

Oh, I wish!
Despite all my mis-spent late teenage years (now a distant memory - and Pedrotti did not do much for the hormones in those days) - the first snog eluded me every time!

So, do I take it that Barbara Streisand would be acceptable for next Sunday's psalm?

I'm trying hard to appreciate where you are coming from. I do not believe the last link I suggest is necessarily an emulation of any particular style, even though we all make associations, naturally - we compare things all the time. This artiste has talent and the production of the recording is pretty OK. The sentiment and stuff being expressed will resonate with a huge amount of people - As a musician in a position of pastoral 'responsibility', it is surely more sensible to view this material in a more receptive way? There seems to be a judgement standard at work which I am a little uncomfortable with...
Back to the original thread... God has chosen me. Right, how 'bout this argument... (I'll try not to be silly )
Bernadette's is analogous to Chant... the OCP version is analogous to taking is a step in another direction like what Palestrina did with a cantus firmus in his polyphony... one grew organically out of the other.
I feel the wrath of someone coming on!

[Psalm Project]

VOX...
"This song - and many of the ones that I've gotten to listen to - would be OK on the radio for a road trip: background, easy-listening and not really being absorbed. Does it make me wanna pray?"

Ahhh - this is revealing!
Don't play it as 'trip' music... already it has been categorised.
There is a element of 'resonances' being missed here. Dig deeper into the emotion of the music - the words are very simple.
I am very traditional in my taste in church music but some of this material moves me. I don't confuse it with other pop genres. I take it literally for what it is.

[Nick Baty]

So, do I take it that Barbara Streisand would be acceptable for next Sunday's psalm?

If she's free I'd be delighted as our psalmist might be away.

the OCP version is analogous to taking is a step in another direction like what Palestrina did with a cantus firmus in his polyphony... one grew organically out of the other. I feel the wrath of someone coming on!

Quite. But the piece in question hasn't grown out of anything. It has taken the piece back to a pop style of a previous age. Nothing against pop and rock (you should see my iTunes list!) but pop and rock move on. If you're suggesting using pop and rock in the liturgy – no reason why you shouldn't – why use a variety which has now been passed over? It's something that's always irked me about this sort of evangelical style – it belongs to a different era. Palestrina moved with the times, and Bach was positively ahead of them. Why is that which has been thrown out of the commercial world considered OK for the liturgy?

[NorthernTenor]

Isn't this conversation a little like one comparing the virtues and vices of the Prime Minister and his predecessor: fruitless and beside the point?

I'm off for lunch. Now, which end of the egg shall it be?

[Nick Baty]

I am very traditional in my taste in church music but some of this material moves me.

And no reason why it shouldn't. We are all moved by various things. But would you foist it on your assembly? It could be enough to send them running to The Daily Mail and thereby placing their immortal souls in danger!

[Psalm Project]

OK... OK... OK...

White flag flapping in the wind!

Pints on me!
I bet you would be good on a debating team!

[Nick Baty]

Could we make it red wine?