Music? Religion? Should I care?

[JazzManJim]

I'm a member of two choruses (chorii?) this year at school and we've had our first rehearsals last week. it's taken about this long for a few members of the Concert Choir to start complaining about something they feel is unjust. I feel differently. I figured I'd put it out here and see what everyone thinks.

We're doing the fairly standard Christmas songs, which generally involves a number of songs that would be considered "sacred" - parts of Masses, songs with religious themes. If you've sung choral music, you know the kind of classical sacred music I mean. This has a few members of the group unhappy. Many of them are either athiest or agnostic and feel that they should not have to endure singing these songs which do not voice the same religious beliefs they hold.

the other concern we have is that many of our choral performances will take places in various churches. Thus far the lineup seems fairly ecumenical: Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopalian. There doesn't seem to be any bias toward where we sing - anyone who wants us to sing pretty much gets us. But they do have concerns. First, they object to having to sing in any church, regardless of religion. Second, they object to having to sit through a service (because in one case, we sing before the service then after the service). In the second case, the Director/Teacher has said that the group should stay in the service as opposed to milling around outside for a 45 minutes, or leaving than coming back. He feels it's disrespectful to a group that is hosting our performance.

I, personally, don't have any problem with either one. I figure that when you sing in a classical chorus, you're going to sing sacred music at Christmastime. That's 95 percent of what's written for a classical chorus this time of year. As for the venues, well, we seem to not turn down any place that wants us to sing (short of a schedule conflict with another gig) and even having to sit through a service doesn't bother me much. It just seems to be respectful and I'm okay with showing respect, even if I don't hold ot the religious beliefs of the group hosting us. That's not really my problem one way or ther other. They asked me what I thought, ebing a new member of the groups. I told them that if I had a problem with either one, I'd just leave. I'm sure I could find another singing group somewhere in the area.

What does everyone else think?

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

I think you got a fine group of picky bitches and nastards, if they didn't want to sing that kind of music why did ythey join knowing full well it would come around sooner or later they would come up with singing something liek that.

They need to get over themselves.

 

[Pyper]

I'm in agreement with you, Jim. Being an atheist (*cough*, note the spelling) and a musician, I've pretty much accepted that being part of any large musical group is gonna land you in a religious situation at some point or another.

Part of the American tradition is singing traditional songs (i.e. religious) at certain times of the year, and I would imagine that this brings in a lot of gigs for a choir (it certainly did for the orchestra I was in). There's nothing wrong with tradition, and nobody's forcing them to believe what they're singing. It's just a job.

Sitting through a service might be boring, but I would consider it part of the gig and suck it up (hey, I did it). If they really object to this kind of thing, they can go in search of another group...but I think it would be quite hard to find a choir that didn't sing religious music at some point. They should concentrate on the beauty of the music, and ignore the message.

 

[freescorfr]

Yes, the moans seem to be full of rotten past experiences of boring services and religious beliefs imposed as absolute truths. In all respects, your colleagues are not making fundamentally intellectual points - they seem to be saying they are fed up with churches and churchiness.
Music, as you of all people know, Jazzman, transcends beliefs and talks straight to our hearts, our spirit. It is a pity that your friends, who rightly state their own positions, nonetheless feel that they may be compromising themselves by participating in what are essentially multi-cultural acts.

good luck

 

[JazzManJim]

I'm in agreement with you, Jim. Being an atheist (*cough*, note the spelling) and a musician, I've pretty much accepted that being part of any large musical group is gonna land you in a religious situation at some point or another.

Well as a Baptist, I'm forbidden to actually learn how to spell any other religion.

You've voiced pretty much what I believe. I've sung all sorts of music around this season, from all religions, and I've never really thought about it. I just figured that it's par for the course, along with the rest of the bum stuff that comes with gigs.

 

[cg_allstar]

The only problem I would have would be with sitting through the service. But that's probably my attitude problem talking. I hate the feeling of being tied down and having my time used up. But, I've been in similar situations before and went through it anyway because I enjoy the oppotunity to perform.

 

[patient1]

Did any of them offer to schedule a full slate of gigs without churches for next season?

Maybe you could sing JingleBell Rock in the Shopping Malls instead...Or "Here We come a Wassailing" in the mission...

 

[patient1]

College students should be accustomed to boring lectures. What's the problem?

 

[peachykeen]

Madness. If you're in a choir because you love music and enjoy singing, you should just be happy to fucking sing anywhere there are people willing to listen to you. I am assuming no one is being forced at gunpoint to sing in this group?

 

[ma_guy]

I think they miss the entire intent...

Is the purpose of the choral group to sing or to participate in religious events? ( and maybe I'm missing that point here, you'll have to tell me.)

If these same people were being paid professionals and scheduled to come on stage as the 3rd act would they expect to Just waltz in do their act and run?

If your chorus was to be awarded at some sort of recognition ceremony how would they feel if others got up and walked out when they were being called up to get their award and then came back in for the next award presentation?

I think they're focusing to much on the religion aspect and not on the aspect that is relevant to them - they are there to SING! I'd guess if they were invited to a "fun" event and were asked to leave when they weren't scheduled to be on stage and come back later they'd be highly insulted. Yes/No??

 

[Weird Harold]

We're doing the fairly standard Christmas songs, which generally involves a number of songs that would be considered "sacred" - parts of Masses, songs with religious themes. If you've sung choral music, you know the kind of classical sacred music I mean. This has a few members of the group unhappy. Many of them are either athiest or agnostic and feel that they should not have to endure singing these songs which do not voice the same religious beliefs they hold.

It doesn't sound to me like they're actually very fond of music.

I don't believe there is any (choral) music that is more challenging and satisfying to perform well than "Religious" music on the order of Handel's Messiah. Even sticking to Opera is going to involve them in singing religious themes at some point.

I suppose they could take up with a chorus that only does show tunes, but they'd have to stay away from "The Sound Of Music" at the very least.

Since religion inspired some of the very best choral music ever written, I can't imagine any true music lover who can't enjoy performing that music regardless of their personal beliefs.

 

[Unclebill]

I think most already are aware that I'm atheist; if not let me confirm that at the outset.

I really don't understand why they would get their panties in a bunch over what they are singing unless it's something they find offensive. And by offensive I do not mean something that espouses a philosophy or ideology with which they do not identify.

I have heard some really beautiful music of the religious variety. I like a large majority of Christmas carols. The music is beautiful even if the ideas it glorifies mean nothing to me.

If they're letting this upset them, then they should opt out of the chorus rather than participate to the potential detriment of the group.

Perhaps they are not as comfortable with their atheism as they would have others believe.

I can identify with not wanting to sit through a service if it was of any length. But that's just a personal thing because I'd be bored shitless in about 2 minutes and anxious to be doing something if it's only reading.

 

[phrodeau]

Objection A: You answered that yourself. Churches have long patronized composers and choral music is what they want, so there's a lot of great choral music with religious texts.

Objection B1: Most churches will have better acoustics than hotel banquet halls or Moose lodges. They should be grateful.

Objection B2: Here, they have a point. Any church should provide an area for the performers when they aren't "on", for getting robes on and off and otherwise preparing. It should be outside the sanctuary but inside the building. Your choir should enter and exit as a group. Anyone wishing to attend the service should return in their street clothes. The only way this could be disrespectful is if the choir trashes the greenroom.