Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Decorum and performance

I have, not infrequently, heard members of the church talk about how horrible and apostate—yes, the “A” word comes up occasionally—certain other faiths are because they allow things like drums and electric guitars and such into their meetings, and members of the congregation do things like dance or or shout or cheer.

All i can say is that if you don’t sometimes want to get up and dance or cheer in sacrament meeting, well, then your ward’s choir isn’t doin’ it right.

5 comments:

Heather the Mama Duk said...

Sometimes I think it's quite a shame that we don't allow a little more excitement in our music. You should see the looks some women give me for my music minute choices in Relief Society. No, I will not use MoTab. Yes, sometimes there are actually drums being played in the songs. The horrors. The bishop can't even play his saxophone in sacrament meeting because it's not appropriate. And, let me tell you, he can play some amazing saxophone (it's his profession after all).

David B said...

Actually, if you read the handbook, there’s no prohibition against saxophone, even in sacrament meetings. If he’s that good, and if he can play for the glory of God rather than as a virtuoso performance, there’s no reason he can’t.

Michelle said...

I have played the marimba in Sacrament Meeting. Of course, that instrument is comparable to playing a harp (depending upon the music selection). Once in San Antonio, I played with a full band during Sacrament Meeting (including timpani and other percussion instruments). The director of that band was a former AF Band commander and former bishop of the ward. We played a nice, orchestral-style piece, but it was loud and parts of it (oh, no!) quite fast. I know that some people in the congregation didn't approve, but the bishop made a point to speak about sharing talents and using music to praise God. I was impressed.

Michelle said...

In our current ward, about half the congregation is from Africa. I have heard their rehearsals for the Christmas Party drumming and dance performance. Man how I wish that could take place during a Sacrament Meeting. (After all, in most parts of Africa, drumming and dancing is how they worship.)

David B said...

I’d actually been hoping the new handbook would recognize that Western norms for what counts as reverent (in its dictionary meaning, not the normal Mormon one) music aren’t universal.

No such luck. [Insert heavy sigh here.]