Have you ever participated in a crowd of people singing what they know and love?
On July 1st at parliament hill, the nation sang together in real time. Some standing on the grounds of our capital, others singing over the internet with astronaut Chris Hadfield and Ed Robertson of the Bare Naked Ladies – Is Someone Singing? It was electrifying! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeEctN8sA0c
This summer I attend a conference where every evening over 700 people gathered in song. It too was electrifying! This annual gathering of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, had just over 200 people registered. So where did all the other folks come from?
Well, during the day we enjoyed the facilities of Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, and at night we were bused to various churches within the Waterloo/Kitchener area, and the local folks just came out in throngs. I must give credit to the strong singing tradition of the Mennonite and Lutheran communities in that area. If you love to sing hymns, you just are drawn to places where you can feel comfortable doing so. The next link is not professionally recorded, but you can see the size and participation of the group.
https://www.facebook.com/thehymnsociety.org/videos/vb.255329053939/10154904065138940/?type=2&theater
The Hymn Society has this attitude about why we sing: “Because we believe that the holy act of singing together shapes faith, heals brokenness, transforms lives, and renews peace.” I well imagine that the same thoughts were bubbling up in the minds of the advocates of congregational song during the discussions at Vatican II, when we Catholics experienced a shift toward encouraging everyone in the assembly to sing. The breath of the Spirit weaving together the voices of people longing for mercy, justice and compassion in our world.
This year we mark the five hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther’s call for reform of the Church. He was also a musician and composer, recognized that singing be taught in schools and encouraged a renewed energy in community song. There are so many groups celebrating Luther’s movement, reflecting on his insights, researching his influence, and recognizing the deepening of faith that is achieved in song.
You may want to listen to a lecture by Fr. Anthony Ruff, Protestants and Catholics Singing together: Rich Traditions, Challenging Future. https://www.kings.uwo.ca/campus-ministry/veritas-series/
And finally may I encourage you to check out events in your local area:
St. Paul’s Cathedral London Ontario: http://www.easternsynod.org/event/2017-10-22-190000-500th-anniversary-reformation-lecture
Blog submitted by Loretta Manzara, CSJ, musician, liturgist. “Strong congregational singing makes my heart dance and my spirit soar with gratitude for what God is doing among us.”