Hello everyone, Tyler Allen here :). I am happy and honored to be a Guest Blogger on Jeanelle's Random Ramblings. I have a few questions I would like to share with the group as well as a few comments on blogging. Thanks for humoring me here.
I was sitting in PEC meeting this morning at church (Munich 4th Ward, Munich, Germany) and I noticed that our Bishop was chewing gum. Since it is fast sunday today - and he was chewing gum - I immediately thought of Jeanelle's question a few weeks back about whether it is "illegal" to chew gum while fasting. I laughed to myself - and was entertained for a few minutes thinking about it. Anyway, while sitting in sacrament meeting today I had a few questions I thought would be most appropriate for this blog. Here they go:
1) What do you think about singing the "additional" verses of hymns in Sacrament Meeting?
You know, like How Firm A Foundation verses 5 &6 (Hymn # 85); If you Could Hie to Kolob verses 4 & 5 (Hymn # 284); or Behold the Great Redeemer Die verses 5 & 6 (Hymn # 191).
2) What do you think about the Sacrament Meeting Chorister singing so loud you can hear her above everyone else?
3) What do you think if the Sacrament Meeting Chorister mentioned in #2 above is singing the Alto part instead of the melody?
4) Is it OK to mark in someone else's scriptures? I loaned my scriptures to someone who had forgotten theirs and they made some marks in them - underlining a few verses that the class read in the lesson. Can you believe this?
My thoughts on the 4 questions above:
1) It depends. A few years ago I would have said, Yes, sing them all. But with three small children, a chapel that is 100 degrees, and church nearly running overtime - I would have to say no thank you on the extra, "optional" verses. Plus, how cool is it when church ends early!!! My wife thinks that maybe the writer would feel bad if we didn't sing them all. Should we ask Orrin what his opinion is? Kim can you help us here? :) (no disrespect meant here by calling him by his first name)
2)This one is obvious to me. Tone it down a bit Sister this isn't a special musical number here.
3)I'm not sure what all the Altos out there think, but my opinion is that if they are going to sing loud enough to be heard (and not just mouthing the words) they should sing the melody - to "lead" all of those in the congregation who are musically challenged.
4)NEVER mark in other people's scriptures! My scripture marking is like artwork and now it is ruined! Guess I"ll have to start over with a new set.
Would love to hear what Jeanelle's followers have to say about these items - and forgive me if my responses seem mean...I didn't intend them to be.
Last of all, I think Blogging is awesome - I especially love to hear about Jeanelle's ramblings since we no longer can get together after chuch and sit on the overflow couch and discuss these things. My wife let me know tonight that we have been keeping our family blog going for over 3 years now! I can't believe it - time really flies. If you want to see the latest on our European experience - check it out at http://allenworld.spaces.live.com
9 comments:
Oh I am SO thrilled to comment on my own blog. And no, your answers weren't mean - they were hysterical! I especially loved the "this isn't a special musical number" part. Ha! Here are my answers: 1. Sing extra verses only if the priests aren't done breaking the bread. 2. Your answer was perfect. 3. As an alto, I generally sing the melody when leading the music because then you don't have to look at the book and follow the parts that are tricky. You can stand up front and smile while you sing. 4. A big huge N-O on that one. How rude is that?? Did you ask him if he read your patriarchal blessing while he was marking your scriptures too? Sheesh. Thanks for being such a fabulous guest blogger. You're welcome anytime!
As a fellow Latter Day Saint and follower of Jeanelle, I feel I must also add my two-cents to these blog question.
#1. I think extra verses are good (like jeanelle said) if the priests are still breaking bread. You know, like when the 4th verse is over, and the 5th is about to begin, and they're not done breaking bread yet, and everyone sits there with their books open, looking around, holding their breath, mouths hanging open, waiting to let that first note out for the 5th verse if everyone else will. haha --been there--done that!
#2. Ok. totally LOL at this one! We ALL know that lady and just PRAY she doesn't sit behind us in Relief Society!
#3. I definitely think that the choruster should stick to the melody. But those altos in the congregation NEED to sing as loud as they can to be heard, because the majority of the people sing the melody. It sounds nice when we can all harmonize and not drown eachother out.
#4. I think your friend might have gotten beaten with the 'stupid stick' in heaven before he came here. I think he is the only person in the world who DOES think it's ok to do that. WHY? I don't get it. You mark scriptures for YOUR future reference! I'd throw them in his face next time you see him at church.
GOOD BLOG TYLER!
(i uhpologize to my grammur polees offisur, jeanelle. i did not spell chek befor I postid this)
1. Being in a singles ward at college, I love singing the extra verses, but I can understand how family wards with small children would find it more difficult.
2. We had a chorister a few years back that you could hear over everyone else. If that is happening, either they are singing too loud, or you don't have enough people in the congregation!
3. Way confusing
4. I agree, it is rude to mark other's scriptures. Boo to whoever that was.
It is so good to hear from the Allen's again, and Jeanelle, I have decided to stay at school for summer. Thanks for your comment though! It is nice to have someone who agrees with you!
1. I like the additional hymns. I wish there was something I could do about the speakers. At least singing hymns isn't boring and there is a visible end to them.
2. I hate those choristers.
3. I still hate those choristers. HOWEVER I think alto parts are awesome and that they should drown out the melody at least half of the time. I always try to, at least. I also played the viola so I have a bone to pick with people trying to shush my part so we could hear the screechy violins.
4. NOT OKAY. WEIRD.
Oh, but see, when there was just 20.. I knew who they all were! Those were the good 'ol days. Now I am just obssessed with knowing who on earth is visiting and why don't they ever say anything! I even had someone who put me on their google reader who STILL did not give me a comment! COME ON! I am on your reader!!!
Hmmm...in our family ward Sunday school is much more boring than sacrament meeting so I loved it the other week when we sang all the verses of How Firm a Foundation for the closing song. However, I have no babies to take care of...yet. No one should mark in other people's scriptures. On a side note, I remember Brother Allen saying how fun/cool it would be if church was just like the early church was (in the movies) where people just stood up and started singing and then everyone else would join in. :) He asked how many of us would join in if he did that in a meeting. I guess he wouldn't think that was so cool anymore...haha. Loved the pictures of your family on your website Brother Allen.
Haha..."ckmorgan", you're an adult now and can call him Tyler!ha ha
So, I am finally commenting on this oh-so-interesting blog entry. It made me think a bunch! As for singing all the verses, I was just getting back into thinking it was cool to throw that curve ball at people by continuing to play the organ for the extra verses, but I can totally understand the young kids issue...maybe we'll be singing some shorter hymns here soon. :) Not to mention, if you've ever conducted, your arm starts to sting! I used to switch arms every other verse...trying to work off those relief society arms at the same time!:) Singing alto while conducting takes great talent...don't knock it! haha Oh yea, the question before...I think there are many wards where you can hear the chorister -- that means that YOU need to sing louder! :) It would be like those two choirs going at it! Marking in someone else's scriptures...bizarro! All I can say is that that person must have been so absorbed by the Spirit of the scriptures that they truly forgot they weren't his...or maybe they're trying to tell you something TBA (see comment on above post)! :) We miss you Allens! Come home!
Great Comments everyone! i think I must have been having a hard day with the kids becuse I usually like singing the additional verses (EXCEPT if we are going overtime at the end of church)....i especially love the verses of How Firm...anyway - looking forward to coming home again this summer. Jeanelle, ready to go to Best Buy with me? :)
BTW, the comment above was from TBA not from Jen. I am just too lazy I guess to register on Google when I can just use my wife's account. - TBA
Kim, want to come shopping with Jeanelle and I in Aug. Ask her about our shopping spree last year...
Post a Comment