Cathedral invites people into a new rhythm with traditional music

Trinity Cathedral in Miami Florida is finding that classical Anglican music sung in its traditional setting is just the thing for people who are rushing past its doors.

Speaking of the Anglican Chorale, the only group performing such music regularly in Southern Florida, the director points out:

"''In today's world, things are so immediate,'' Steynor said, ``but music practice still takes the same amount of time. I guess people's patience is diminishing, and so achieving something that's worthy of a true cathedral Evensong is getting more and more tricky.''

These are times when religious institutions are moving toward more contemporary music. Just this past Memorial Day, there was a gospel hip-hop concert in Miramar. Organs and harps are being traded for drums and guitars and theatrical numbers.

Anglican music itself is very detailed and requires intense focus. Practice begins and the chatter of modern life fades into lessons on enunciation."

Read the full article here.

There is something ethereally beautiful about our historic music. Perhaps its time the church was more intentional about sharing it.

Posted by Nicholas Knisely on June 15, 2009 9:10 AM | |
Comments (2)

The great hymnologist Eric Routley used to 'preach' there is a place for contemporary music in the modern church. I remember him mentioning 90% should be 'traditional' music and 10% modern/contemporary. I have found this ratio to be effective while maintaining high standards for beautiful music which is meant to edify God.

[Dear Mr. Mozart - Please sign name in future. Thanks - eds.]

Posted by mrmozart [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 15, 2009 12:34 PM

"There is something ethereally beautiful about our historic music. Perhaps it's time the church was more intentional about sharing it."

You betcha!

Probably best to stick with Rite I for Evensong, e.g. The General Thanksgiving just isn't right any other way. Keeping in mind A Prayer of St. Chrysostom probably is a good thing also.

Go to BBC3 Radio's weekly Choral Evensong (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tp7r/episodes/player) or to St. Thomas-Fifth Avenue (http://www.saintthomaschurch.org/Stream.html) to listen to the finest of the Anglican Choral tradition.

Posted by Pete Haynsworth [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 15, 2009 1:45 PM

Add your comments

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Reminder: At Episcopal Café, we hope to establish an ethic of transparency by requiring all contributors and commentators to make submissions under their real names. For more details see our Feedback Policy.

Advertising Space