Links Round-Up today:
John McNichol has up part 1 and part 2 of the Argument from Design for explaining God’s existence. The man breathes apologetics for teens. It’s as if he does this for a living or something.
Mrs. Darwin has a cautionary tale about writing. If it seems like people wrote better books in the past, it’s because you haven’t been made to read them all. I buy vintage books from thrift stores — I know. She tells the truth. (That said: I have found some absolute treasures in catholic non-fiction that are now out of print. Kills me.)
–> Mrs. D goes on to share Betty Duffy’s happy news, which is why Mrs. Duffy’s writing career is apparently again on hold for procreation. (Congratulations!). I’m so there. (Not pregnant, just educating people.) Ever used the expression, “Don’t you have anything better to do?” to criticize somebody? When I think about my vocation, that’s what I ask myself. Is there something better I could be doing? Well, I could put the kids in the school, any little ones in day care, and pursue a number of other more profitable and prestigious careers. They’d be fun. They’d be worthwhile. They would be good work. But none of them would be better. I’m doing the best one. The riskiest one, too. But worth it.
Dorian reviews a nice Catholic music curriulum. My two oldest did Kindermusik one year, and it was great — huge help — and so I’m with Dorian. These things are good. But here’s what, and follows my plea: I listened to the sample tracks. They are quite musical. But my fifth graders would fall apart laughing if I played one of those in class. Yes they would.
Dear Music Publishers,
Please, please, oh please record a plain, boring, musically non-descript sing-along CD for use in catholic religious ed. Miniscule ranges. Transparent accompaniments. NO CHORAL VOICES. Sung by some lady (or guy) who sounds like a fifth grade teacher, not a Famous Musician.
Thank you.
Jennifer.
And if you haven’t bust out laughing like a 10 year old after listening the music samples (perhaps you are not a 10 year old?), read this review of the IC’s Communion of Saints book by Allen’s Brain. It is funny. The Communion of Saints series is even funnier. Highly recommended.
I’m outta here. Happy Thursday.
Miniscule ranges. Transparent accompaniments. NO CHORAL VOICES. Sung by some lady (or guy) who sounds like a fifth grade teacher, not a Famous Musician.
Not a good idea to have children listen to really good music for CCD because then they will come to expect it in church and how sad will they be when they realize they are doomed to a life of Marty Haugen and David Haas?
Oh, listening to really good music would be fine — maybe I’ll try that next year. But what I want is to get the kids to SING. And for that, you need a song-leader, not a performer.
My sometimes-Lutheran husband and I will sometimes attend his church, which sometimes has a hymn sing before the service where we just sing. People pick old favorites from the hymnal (ironically, even though Marty Haugen is Lutheran, the ELCA hymnal does not have much of his work, as they decided to include good music only) and we sing. It’s really fun.
And even during the regular ELCA services, the music is always so nice and everyone sings.
I am firmly convinced that the reunification of the church can only improve the music. (For catholics, that is. But everyone else is getting better doctrine, so that’s something, right?)