In Tempo, Or Not?
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a practical resource for Lutheran church musicians ALCM No.1, 2015 In Tempo, or Not? In this first issue of by Nancy Raabe Music is a glorious gift of in tempo : he notes are under our God that unfolds in t fingers. The rhythms are time... a narrative formed mastered. But what should by the composer and In Tempo, or Not? p. 1 our tempo be? viewed through our Tempo is arguably the most over - interpretive lens. Dear St. Cecilia p. 3 looked aspect of music, probably because it is the least well under - Music for the Masses stood. Pitch results from sound We would never dream of waves generated by the vibration purposely playing wrong notes Through the church of a certain length of string or or rhythms, but the choice of the song goes on: column of air. Rhythm consists tempo is left completely to the of patterns of sound by which performer. On the surface we p. 4 Lord, Have Mercy pitches are organized. But what don’t have much to go by. Tempo is tempo? indications allow for wide vari - ances, and metronome marks The Care and Basic resources tell us that tempo Feeding of the (Beethoven’s for example) may is “the rate at which a piece is not always represent the compos - Church Musician p. 6 played” or “the speed or pace of a er’s intentions. (And never given piece.” We know that that choose a tempo simply because tempos can vary according to “that’s the way it’s always played.”) Suceeding with external factors such as the instru - Small Choirs p. 8 How, then, can we discern what ment used and the size and the best tempo for a piece acoustics of the hall. One needs should be? in review: to factor in occasion as well as ability. A good rule of thumb is to Definition and Lent and Easter set your tempo no faster than the discernment p. 9 speed at which you can play the Choral Music Music is a glorious gift of God most difficult measure. Bach, that unfolds in time. How the per - Orgelbüchlein p. 10 n o i l e d e t n e d / k c o t S i © Tempo is far more than the rate at which the Welcome to In Tempo! former controls that element of notes occur. It is what time determines whether listeners To complement our fine journal become engaged. Do we find our - takes place between the CrossAccent, we are delighted to selves swept up in the compelling notes. Tempo is where be able to bring you this new semi - musical narrative? Are we vaguely the music happens. annual publication focusing on aware that substance is being sac - ideas and resources for the practice rificed on the altar of technique? of church music. Each year the win - Or do we find ourselves bored, the actor might call it pacing— ter issue will concentrate on Lent standing idly by while we wait for that a work’s most profound and Easter, and the summer issue it all to end? truths may be absorbed and will look toward fall festivals, understood. Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Conductor David Epstein once observed that conducting is far The desire for such a resource was more than a matter of following Strategies for hymn- expressed by many of you in a pub - the score’s directions. Instead, he playing lications survey ALCM carried out a said, “it’s almost like having We can’t apply nuances of tempo few years ago and reinforced in the molten clay in your hands, and to hymns, for we have our congre - survey conducted last fall. So really you’ve got to sustain the piece, gation to consider. But we can it is your idea—but we also want to shape its phrases, and carry on choose our tempos intelligently in hear your voices! All ALCM mem - the underlying motion that is a way that allows each hymn to bers are invited to contribute, unique to every piece.” live and breathe. whether through a short essay on a Tempo is key to this sustaining Ponder the inner nature of the practical topics of interest to other and shaping. Far more important tune apart from the text. What is church musicians, a reflection on a than being the rate at which its true character? Perhaps you recent recording of sacred music or notes occur, tempo is what takes hear it as a yearning ballad such that for use in worship, or thoughts place between the notes. This as SLANE or a rustic dance like on the self-care and spiritual well- where the music happens. KINGSFOLD . Or perhaps you imag - being of the parish musician. Control of music’s element of ine it as procession of heraldic Please send ideas to me at time governs how one note leads trumpets and fluttering banners, [email protected]. Comments or to the next, how one phrase such as SALZBURG , or as an out - letters regarding this issue or the opens onto the next, and so on burst of childlike joy on the order resource as a whole can be direct - across the span of a work. It of BACHOFEN (“God’s Own Child, ed to that address as well. affects our perception of whether I Gladly Say It,” LSB 594). the music has anything say, how Next, factor in the text. The tune In our inaugural issue we warmly well it is said, and whether we are GETHSEMANE , inconsequential on welcome Kevin Hildebrand and his stirred deeply (each in our own its own, assumes the character of recurring column on seasonal way) by participating in the a compelling dirge in “Go To resources and worship planning, process of disclosure. Dark Gethsemane” (ELW 347, “Through the Church the Song LSB 436, CW 104) and “Chief of Goes On.” Other contributors How, then, do we decide what the best general tempo for a given Sinners Though I Be” (ELW 609, include three former ALCM regional piece should be? LSB 611). The text to which presidents: Linda Kempke (Region SHADES MOUNTAIN is sung (“There 1), Donald Armitage (Region 2), and First, discern to the best of your in God’s Garden,” ELW 342) Bruce Bengtson (Region 3), along ability what the music is trying to infuses the tune with a sense of with Tom Leeseberg-Lange , express and what its larger pur - awe and timelessness, which is ALCM’s administrator for many pose is. Then place your under - best conveyed through a tempo of years and also a former editor of standing into the dimension of q = 88-92, as opposed to the more CrossAccent . Dear St. Cecilia is time. What subtle adjustments of perfunctory q = 112 (or h = 66) rejoining the world of print as well. tempo will clarify the music’s than one often hears. The tune Not bad for our first time out! shape and project its deepest MARTYRDOM may have started out truths? Imagine a great actor as a simple Scottish folk song, but Blessings to all as we approach the reading a Shakespearian mono - when joined to “Alas! And Did My season of Lent, logue. Dynamics and articulation Savior Bleed” (ELW 337, LSB 437, play a part, but it is by harnessing Nancy Raabe, editor CW 129) it assumes a mantle of tempo’s great expressive power— mourning. 2 ALCM in tempo no.1, 2015 A matter of survival Dear St. Cecilia Ron Koch Tempo can spell life or death for “Dear St. Cecilia,” previously published in ALCM’s Grace a hymn. At a ponderous tempo Notes, is back in print by popular demand. Pastor Ron Koch, the “Dear Abby” of the Lutheran church music your congregation may not sur - world, is the voice behind St. Cecilia, and he welcomes vive all six stanzas of “Thy Strong your questions and concerns. You can reach Ron at Word” (ELW 511, LSB 578, CW [email protected] or by snail mail to Good Shepherd 280) or even the four of Lutheran Church, 1735 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy, CA 95020. Phone calls are also welcome at (408) 842-2713. “Through the Night of Doubt and If the writer wishes, his/her identity may remain Sorrow” (ELW 327), both set to anonymous. EBENEZER . Instead of a life-drain - ing tempo such as = 80, try mak - h Music for the Masses with a choir, maybe a community ing the whole note the unit of Dear St. Cecilia, college, or perhaps another com - beat. The effect is spectacular: We munity church that could evalu - find ourselves carried aloft by I am a new choir director at Faith ate the music for their purposes. text’s great proclamation instead Lutheran Church, NJ. We have of becoming entangled in seem - many old SATB and SAA octavos Meanwhile, may I suggest that ingly endless chains of heavy that we no longer use. Can you church choirs keep some of the triplets. recommend an organization for music they no longer use? There donating music? yet may be a purpose for having it This same matter of life and around. Without a choir to sing death applies to hymns that con - Thank you, Becky Majewski it, or without the usual comple - sist largely of a succession of ment of SATB singers, some smaller note values. This tempts music can be adapted for singing us to focus on that foreground Dear Becky, by a soloist. Often the accompani - level, a recipe for tempos that are ment can carry the harmony, so too slow.