Why do some people hate "Here I am Lord" so much?

[RKO]

I am musically conservative. The post Vatican II stuff was either borrowed from protestants or written in a far too simple style in order to make it easy to sing and play. part of the "dumbing down" I reckon. Having said that, I find this particular hymn to be fair at best, and overplayed. I feel the need to wash it out of my brain with one I consider to be new and spectacular ( written in the late 1800s)

http:// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-i1ESIRKdA

 

[JimR-OCDS]

part of the "dumbing down" I reckon.

Kinda oxymoronic to use the terms, "dumbing down" and "I reckon" in the same sentence.


Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

FYI, the words to the song, "Here I am Lord," are based on
on Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3.



Jim

 

[Fantine]

That was beautiful. I have heard the chant "In Paradisum" many times, and when my pastor was visiting my Dad for the last time in hospice I asked him to sing it with me to my Dad, but I never heard Faure's.

I do differ with you on the simplicity of contemporary Christian music. Usually they are much more complex rhythmically, and generally I find that the lyrics give me much more to ponder than the lyrics of traditional hymns. (When I say contemporary, I do not mean Christian pop songs, some of which are excellent, but most of which are brain numbing.)

If you have ever looked at the piano arrangements in Spirit and Song you will see plenty of complexity, particularly in rhythm. Occasionally, just as I've done with classical music, I have subdivided measures into four parts with a pencil and looked at them 1/4 measure at a time...of course, once I "got" it it was repeated throughout the song--thank God!

The St. Louis Jesuits music, the first contemporary Christian music (think Schutte and Foley), was pretty simple--but they are both extraordinary musicians and liturgists now, with advanced degrees in music and theology, both of them involved with universities.

I give them a lot of credit for picking up their guitars and filling an immediate need---and developing their skills to such a high level later.

 

[AMDG]

FYI, the words to the song, "Here I am Lord," are based on
on Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3.

That's what I said. It isn't our words. Those are the words of Samuel. We needn't "puff up ourselves". Seems most can't even follow "thou shalt not kill" when it comes to the convenience of abortion vs. carrying the baby to term and giving it up to loving parents for adoption, or God's command to have nothing to do with sin, or being brave and not succumbing to political correctness instead of doing God's will. Most of us cannot even "hold a candle" to Samuel.

The thought that we actually are "wretches" seems to be so abhorrent that most parishes even change that word when it comes to the Protestant hymn "Amazing Grace"! If we are honest with ourselves, we'd probably be singing "Oh please God, don't pick me" instead of "Here I am".

 

[RKO]

Kinda oxymoronic to use the terms, "dumbing down" and "I reckon" in the same sentence.


Jim

Ah. You must not be a southerner.

 

[RKO]

That was beautiful. I have heard the chant "In Paradisum" many times, and when my pastor was visiting my Dad for the last time in hospice I asked him to sing it with me to my Dad, but I never heard Faure's.

I do differ with you on the simplicity of contemporary Christian music. Usually they are much more complex rhythmically, and generally I find that the lyrics give me much more to ponder than the lyrics of traditional hymns. (When I say contemporary, I do not mean Christian pop songs, some of which are excellent, but most of which are brain numbing.)

If you have ever looked at the piano arrangements in Spirit and Song you will see plenty of complexity, particularly in rhythm. Occasionally, just as I've done with classical music, I have subdivided measures into four parts with a pencil and looked at them 1/4 measure at a time...of course, once I "got" it it was repeated throughout the song--thank God!

The St. Louis Jesuits music, the first contemporary Christian music (think Schutte and Foley), was pretty simple--but they are both extraordinary musicians and liturgists now, with advanced degrees in music and theology, both of them involved with universities.

I give them a lot of credit for picking up their guitars and filling an immediate need---and developing their skills to such a high level later.

That particular piece by Faure is a longtime favorite of mine. I get your point about the interesting rhythms in contemporary liturgical music (you must be a musician too!)

I always found those type things to be sort of gimmicky. I guess when I say they are simplistic I mean that they decided to basically write liturgical music in the same form as a folk song. One voice and a.harmony or two. Lots of guitar chording. I get that after V II the idea was to present the liturgy in a style that was easily relatable. I just orefer music that the choir has to work for. I'll take a three or for part Palestrina piece over just about anything written in the last 50 years.

 

[Fantine]

Have you ever heard any of John Rutter's choral pieces?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOIhzqutZuQ#t=62

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDa-Mab4SoU#t=10

I remember singing the second one (or perhaps playing it) in choir--can't remember which...I probably sang it and played it at some rehearsals.

Rutter is a wonderful composer.

 

[RKO]

Have you ever heard any of John Rutter's choral pieces?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOIhzqutZuQ#t=62

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDa-Mab4SoU#t=10

I remember singing the second one (or perhaps playing it) in choir--can't remember which...I probably sang it and played it at some rehearsals.

Rutter is a wonderful composer.

I did not know him. I like it. I do know and lke his classmate and contemporary, John Tavener.

 

[RileyG]

It reminds of my first communion- so I love it.

 

[PurpleRabbit187]

I am musically conservative. The post Vatican II stuff was either borrowed from protestants or written in a far too simple style in order to make it easy to sing and play. part of the "dumbing down" I reckon. Having said that, I find this particular hymn to be fair at best, and overplayed. I feel the need to wash it out of my brain with one I consider to be new and spectacular ( written in the late 1800s)

Since you mentioned this... do Catholics sing alot of Anglican stuff? I mean we do have great hymns

 

[Fantine]

Marty Haugen is Episcopalian.

 

[Fish and Bread]

Marty Haugen is Episcopalian.

Wikipedia says he now belongs to the United Church of Christ, after having grown up a Lutheran, but doesn't cite a source, which of course means that it could just be someone editing the entry for him who knows less than some here might about the subject.

So, you may well be right and they may well be wrong. I'm just curious what the answer is and if maybe you have some first hand knowledge, perhaps having met him or something of the like. Not that what church he goes to really makes a difference when it comes to his music. I just figured since the topic has come up, maybe you could set Wikipedia straight and fill us in.