(From July, 1999
Nativity newsletter)
WHAT IS THIS?
If you know what the above is, you probably don't have to come to the class on basic
music reading starting on July 8, 1999. And, no, that is not the way today's music is
written! But if you would like to find out the answer to the question, come along to the
church at 6:45. The class will end promptly at 7:45. We'll do a basic course of study on
music reading for vocal and handchime choirs. The goal is to "go hands on" as
soon as possible so that by the end of the course, participants will actually be playing a
song using the handchimes. No need to pre-register; just come the first night of
the class.
Meanwhile, taking another look at hymnody ... Isaac Watts (1674-1748) authored
the words to over 600 hymns after taking up a challenge issued by his father. At the time,
only Psalms were sung in the church and this singing followed a very rigid pattern. Isaac
Watts tired of this rote singing and is reported to have said, "The singing of God's
praise is the part of worship nighest heaven, and its performance among us is the worst on
earth." That is when his father, a leading deacon in the church, said, "Young
man, give us something better!" Today we have 17 hymns in our hymn book with words by
Isaac Watts, among which are When I Survey the Wondrous Cross(#474), Come, Holy
Spirit, Heavenly Dove< (#510), and Jesus shall reign wher'er the sun(#544).
— Karla Porter
Music Director
