In this episode, Scott B. listens in while Kristine Haglund and Nicholas S, aka Latter-day Guy, get their musical geek on. First, Nicholas and Kristine share some highlights and lowlights of their LDS music experiences. Later, the group discusses ways to improve music in LDS settings and opine on their favorite and most hated LDS songs.
Links for your convenience:
1. Trinity Sunday.
2. GST confesses his greatest sin against LDS music.
3. Kristine’s post about singing in the dark at Stake Conference.
4. Kristine’s early post on music in which tons of BCC Permas and Emeriti call each other crazycakes.
If you have problems with the audio player, then you can download this episode here here. Subscribe to the BCC Zeitcast in iTunes or through our dedicated podcast RSS feed. (And don’t forget to leave a review in iTunes!)
By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog 
Scott. You used that awful thing. My teeth are on edge.
I don’t know who that intro vocalist is, but he is a rare and shining light.
It’s a tradition, WVS. I used it on a podcast exactly one year ago today. Also, what better way to torture music snobs like Kristine and LDG than with O Holy Crap?
Actually, here’s a better way: Zombiefication of O Holy Crap:
You’re welcome!
Thanks to Steve Jobs, I can’t see that. Really, thanks.
Listening to the cast right now.
I don’t like to stay after church (cough…football…cough), and I couldn’t talk anyone into choir practice before church, so I don’t practice with the choir. But the need for male voices is so great that the director lets me just come to the morning practice on the days we perform. We don’t do anything so hard that I can’t pick it up in that morning practice.
Kristine, is the MTC really that spotty? Obviously my ear isn’t sufficiently tuned to tell.
Scatter Sunshine would make a great drinking song!
Uh, to clarify, by MTC I mean MoTab, not Missionary Training Center…
Kevin, we have met the enemy, and it’s YOU! Go to choir practice.
MoTab is really, really good at what it does. It’s only that there are other things worth doing, maybe even _more_ worth doing.
J. Golden really would be disappointed with this podcast.
Here’s the link to the awesome fMh verses to Follow the Prophet: http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=1042
Listened with my wife. This is her second bloggernacle experience. The first was my socialism guest post. Thanks to all three of you. This was great.
Thanks Kristine–I knew there was another link that I should have included.
Latter-day guy, re the employability of music people. My wife had a full ride to byu for vocal performance. She now teaches voice in Texas for about 15-18 per half hour. Qualified voice teachers are needed.
What a bummer Chris H.! You could at least try and show some diversity in your selections for your wife!
Utah has the most violinists per capita.
I’ve also remedied the embarrassing situation of not having those verses memorized. Just for the record…
This was fun! I am geeky enough to like singing in the choir, ward choir is mostly a chore, but stake choir can be lovely fun. I’m a total amateur and mediocre voice, but I’ve picked up a few skills over the years, enough so that I’m not a drag on the group effort.
I looked up #126 on lds.org, where they have the most awesome practice tools. I could sing the hymn while it played! and showed my notes distinct from the rest! and I could turn down the volume on different parts! Plus the lyrics were poetic and not at all dorky, and the music would be interesting without scaring the grandmas. We should sing this more.
I also read the link in #11, re female prophet verses for Follow the Prophet. It’s too bad that Primary girls and their brothers can’t learn those verses alongside the ones that are currently taught. They were wonderful; I learned stuff I didn’t know. I know it would be a political hot potato to add them in, but NOT teaching those things and letting the Primary kids grow up and find out the neglect is the equivalent of a political rotten potato.
Lastly, I nominate my own pick for Worst Primary Song. “Genealogy, I Am Doing It” – Sadly, very mockable.
I like singing in a ward choir. It is a talent to direct well…and Khristine is right that knowing great pieces that are simple, and accessible for the talent you have.
I like popcorn popping and article of faith 4-the saving grace of the article of faith songs
I also like #4, britt. And I agree with Mommie Dearest about “Genealogy,” although it’s a useful tune in grad school–“eschatology/narratology/ideology/a tautology/etc., I am doing it…”
Also, I’m feeling bad that I didn’t give props to the church music website, which is really, really great. It’s here: http://lds.org/music and you should check it out even if you’re not a musician.
You know, Kristine actually taught me some classics like “boom boom ain’t it great to be crazy”, and “three sharp-toothed buzzards” (although I think Kris actually taught me they were “chartreuse” buzzards), so I think maybe her musical tastes have matured over time.
Oh, thanks Meg :) As I recall it, you taught me everything I know!
Good stuff!
Yes, Kris, many great and important things. Hence why I’ve just been called as YW president. Hahahahaha! Really, what were they thinking? Sorry, I’ll stop using this as my personal communication device. Until next time I do.
:) Lucky girls! Don’t let them sing “You’re Not Alone.”
Meggle..those camp songs and the scout songs completely changed for me when I had to interpret them (ASL). They went from harmless fun to the 6 fingered man running his nails down the chalkboard
speaking of good music, how the hell did Weird Al’s “White and Nerdy” get on my itunes playlist. Ack! taking it off now.
The intro drunken holler is priceless! LOL. Here’s the image I have: 42 year old single guy. He just swerved his way back to his apartment in Costa Mesa from Christmas dinner in Yorba Linda. There were people there he only sees once a year–if that. He’s slouched in front a flickering gas-powered fireplace. No plans for Christmas day except to walk his neighbor’s dog (they go to The River every year for Christmas). He just polished off the last schwag of Egg Nog and Grey Goose, which was a nice finish to the peppermint schnaaps he fancies in Yorba Linda during the annual event. And per tradition, right before he unplugs the tree above the microwave and falls asleep on the couch during a Conan re-run, he belts out O Night Divine.
The Articles of Faith are a big problem, as songs. The words are prose, without repetitive rhythm or rhyme, and do not easily lend themselves to motivic melody. The words are also meant to be understood by adults; in particular, #2 implies a contradiction of the Catholic doctrine of original sin, which is not something any child is going to understand. Additionally, several of the Articles make references to Mormon doctrines which really aren’t talked about at all today (like speaking in tongues).
I memorized the Articles like all good Primary children; but I don’t know why we insist on making these the Primary mantra, because they are very difficult and arcane.
D. Fletcher,
Trust me when I say that the AoF songs don’t even scratch the surface. I once attended a missionary preparation institute class in which the instructor had set every single “missionary scripture” (about 30 of them) to various hymns and primary songs. It was beyond horrible, and I am saddened to say that I still could sing about 2/3 of them.
Someone needs to link to that website with the “Proclamation on the Family” set to song. It is joyous to behold, and if you don’t agree, it’s because you have no testimony, and are addicted to pron.
The Family Proc is set to music?!?
Scott, cancel your weekend plans. You’ll be busy:
http://joansowards.com/Family%20Proclamation
I know with every fibre of my being that this music is inspired. Because everyone in the family is wearing white shirts, which proves they’re pure and chaste.
OK, so I haven’t made it through the entire musical proclamation yet, but I think “Disabilities” in a minor key will be tough to beat. Too bad I already have the Christmas program for Sunday all planned…
34: My life is forever changed. To the creators of that site, I can only say: I am born anew in your genius!
the good news is talent has not gone to waste.
Cort, as incredible as “Disabilities” is, nothing can compare with the glorious stage-whisper ending to “We Warn.”
I composed a setting of The Articles of Faith, for children of course. It’s the hardest thing I ever did, and I am pretty proud of it, even if no one likes it any better than the ones in the Primary book.
34 – And now we all understand why God had to create the sixth circle of hell.
I suppose everyone already knows what the intro/outro music for the next zeitcast will be…
D. Fletcher, are they available online?
41 – now THAT goes without saying
http://www.mormonartistsgroup.com/Mormon_Artists_Group/The_Articles_of_Faith.html
Wow. I smell new poll. Which is worse: “We warn” ending or the entire “Disability”?
When my kids are teenagers, I’m totally going to make forced listening to these songs the new “timeout.”
Cynthia, that is a really good idea. But why wait until they’re teenagers? I think children of any age can appreciate the quality of this music.
Aaron B, I am forever in your debt for that link…
madhousewife,
That’s dangerous. Kids are impressionable, and you wouldn’t want to screw up their musical preferences at an early age. This is why I only let my 2-year old daughter listen to Justin Bieber.
Latter-Day Guy. I have never agreed with a comment on BCC more than I agree with your comment #38. No offense, “Disabilities”.