My theme is Musical Memories: The Memories that music brings rushing back.
Church. The Baptist Hymnal and Fanny Crosby hymns. How I love those songs! I can sing most of them from memory. The joy and elation I feel when singing them! And while I love them most any way they are presented, my favorite is a piano and organ duet.
I remember back when Mama took me to First Baptist. They often sung The Doxology. And even today, it embodies worship for me. And I remember singing at the top of my lungs, "Bringing in the sheets. We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheets." It never made much sense to me, as I never saw Mama looking so full of joy when she brought in our sheets off the line. Had to learn to read before I understood it wasn't sheets, but sheaves. And then I had to continue learning some more to understand what a sheave was.
Pinecrest Baptist. Carolyn Graham at the piano. Played totally by ear. Me and Mary Lou would ride bikes to her house and eat apple pan dowdie and she'd play on her piano. Outside of church she could boogie-woogie like Jerry Lee Lewis!
Throughout most of my life I sat by my mother in church. Except for a few teen years when I thought it was cooler to sit with the other youth. How I cherish those memories of hearing her alto voice beside me. If fact, after she passed away, I tried going to church a time or two. But when the song service was going on, I missed her presence in my life more than any other time. Played a major role in me dropping out of services for about 12 years.
Now, I'm blessed to attend Wiley Mae Community Baptist that has a praise team unlike any I've heard. Bro. Eric, who is the Minister of Music and leads the team, even writes original songs in a country/gospel style that are incredible. But that little girl inside of me is just as happy when for some reason the praise team is out and one of the ladies plays the piano for us instead. Because to me, still, nothing says worship to my soul like the piano.
What is your favorite type of worship music?
I love the old hymns too, but the biggest treat for me is listening to Youtube videos of congregations singing acappela. I was raised in the Church of Christ, and while I am no longer affiliated with that group, I love good acapella singing where everyone sings their parts. I always thought Baptists sang as though they didn't want anybody to hear them, although of course the larger congregations had choirs, and they were easy to hear.
ReplyDeleteI know Baptist churches like that, but none of the ones I ever attended were that way. Our present church does a wide mix of music and we do have a praise piece we end doing a' Capella and it gives me the tingles when I hear out voices like that!
DeleteBeing from the UK, I am used to music played on big, ceremonial organs and there's nothing quite so rousing as Thine Be The Glory with all the stops out. I was in our church choir for years before my father (he was the vicar) retired and I think my favourite type of singing is Taize, quiet meditative singing where I can hear all the other voices flowing together.
ReplyDeleteSophie
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That is a beautiful hymn! And I have heard pieces on Christian radio like you speak of and it can be very restorative.
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ReplyDeleteCouldn't edit my original comment - I prefer old fashioned hymns over what they sing in church now.
DeleteThat's one of the things I love about my present church. We do some of everything. For everyone and every age.
DeleteWe're holy rollers so the louder the better.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you are feeling the joy of the Lord that is awesome! Used to visit my MIL at her church when she was still alive and the music service was the best part.
DeleteI had to laugh at Stephen's comment :)
ReplyDeleteHow sweet with the memory of singing and sitting next to your mom at church singing those wonderful songs. I honestly think over the years (I've discussed this with hubby too) that praise/worship songs have changed with what we sing in church. It seems sometimes the emphasis is put more on us than on Jesus, the one we should be praising, so I like the songs that really emphasize praise and worship.
betty
That is exactly why I don't listen to much Christian radio! So, I'm not crazy, someone else sees it, too! Thank you. One reason I love Fanny Crosby's hymns right there.
DeleteBeautiful memory. I could sit all day and listen to this music.
ReplyDeleteAs I See It Daily
I used to have a tape of a Southern Gospel group called the Northams I'd listen to all day. When we moved up here were we live now, hubby had a big old music system out in his shed. I'd go put that tape in there and have "church" all by myself.
DeleteAmen - glad you went back! And found a church where you feel at home with the music and are fed spiritually.
ReplyDeleteOur church does all contemporary. So does the Christian band I play in.
Another new factoid about you, Alex! Thank you for sharing.
DeleteIt took a while before I thought signing hymns was cool. Wasn't very musically inclined in my youth. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a typical boy to me!
DeleteMormon Tabernacle Choir! I wrote about one of their songs that really grabbed me awhile back, here: https://seezooeyrun.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/weekly-writing-challenge-music/
ReplyDeleteLove this theme--I can't imagine how you will do it with the whole alphabet!!
Thank you, actually it has been very easy to me. I have only seen the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on television, but they do sound amazing.
DeleteOne of my favorite things about going to church. Richard and I both loved singing while in church. I haven't gone since he died! His absence would be too much to bear
ReplyDeleteSmidgen Snippets & Bits
As you can see, I totally understand that. But please don't wait twelve years like I did.
DeleteMy church plays mostly contemporary Christian music but they also sing many of the old hymns that mean so much like How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. My husband is the drummer for our Church worship band so I enjoy watching him play any song.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful Holli!
DeleteLovely memories.
ReplyDeleteLiz A. from Laws of Gravity
Thank you, Liz!
DeleteLOL on the Bringing In The Sheets!!! Bringing In The Sheaves didn't make much sense either! My Mother and I always shared a hymn book and before I could read she would point out the words as we sang. Sweet Bye and Bye those are special memories...thank-you for this 'Church Music' post. Is it possible to laugh and cry at the same time?
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Why, certainly it is, Sue! Glad I could put you through the full range of emotions today.
DeletePlaying hymns is how I learn to play the piano. Laughing about some of hymns that get sung by children, with great gusto and words that make sense to them. "Jesus Saves" has been sung as "Jesus shaves".
ReplyDeleteOh, that is hysterical!
DeleteI enjoyed this post so much! I have a small hymn book collection (mostly Baptist) One of them looks just like the one in your picture. Inside it says 1956 Convention Press, 10th printing. I love traditional hymns best, southern gospel 2nd best and then modern worship songs. I am in my late 40's and my husband is in his early 50's, and we live in Arkansas, so this probably won't surprise you. :)
ReplyDeleteI am an alto, and my husband is a baritone. He plays piano by ear which means I am spoiled. :)
How nice that you both sing and he can play piano by ear! Glad you enjoyed the post.
DeleteMy son plays a lot of Christian contemporary and it really grows on me! We're a bit musical around here, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteWell that's good. My favorite contemporary Christian group is an older one "Point of Grace".
DeleteSINGING!! I'm sorry to say that the most impactful worship music I experienced was at a Gospel Easter Brunch at the House of Blues in Hollywood over fifteen years ago =) They had 2 choirs join together and sing. It brought me to tears and they just kept coming for the whole hour.
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ClarabelleRant
Oh, I bet that was an awesome experience!
DeleteI think singing, especially together with others, must be a powerful experience.
ReplyDeleteI'm useless and singing, so I don't know :-(
Ah, but that is the beauty of the whole congregation singing. No one can hear a particular voice except maybe one of two close to you.
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