Hymn singing

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 20

Hymn singing

Sir,—Bishop Pyatt remarked that the hymns as sung in some parishes were “an unworthy act.” Maybe, but however poorly hymns are sung, it is the right of the people to sing them. Tuition might be a good idea, and in 66 years as an active church musician, I can state that people will sing well, if only they are taught. Many, many clergymen are tone deaf. Their use of the beautiful Liturgy is execrable, they cannot even read, and they persecute the ears of the sensitive, and what they do must offend the ears of God. Also, they are exceedingly discourteous, for often they remove whole cogent sections of the poems which we do use as hymns by saying, “We will sing three verses of this” or "We will sing the first and sixth only” which destroys all continuity and such treatment is rude. — Yours, etc., H. B. WELLS. October 5, 1982.

Sir,—The Bishop of Christchurch, the Right Rev. W. A. Pyatt, has been reported as saying that the music of church services in the Anglican Church was the responsibility of the clergy. This pre-supposes that clergy are expected to be experts in the field of music, and I find this a very debatable, point. In my long experience as a choirmaster and organist I have found the opposite to be the case, and any qualified man or woman in this sphere of activity should be able to decide on the quality of music appropriate to the services of the church and to ensure that it is presented to the highest possible standard without the often inexpert direction from the clergy. With reference to his remark that hymns should riot drag and need to go fast, I would agree that this might apply to some, but not all hymns It largely depends on the content of the words. — Yours, etc., DOUGLAS J. PALMER. October 6, 1982.