Directions for Chanting (stolen from John Wesley and modernized for the 21st.c)

Ya know how sometimes you pick up an article that you haven't read in years and realize that the first time you read it, some mystical information was passed directly into your soul, and then you realize that you are the way you are NOW because of what you allowed inside THEN? Here's something that was hard-wired into me about thirty years ago. I happened to open The Sacred Art of Chant: Preparing to Practice this week for no reason at all and there it was. Feel free to post it where singers, choir directors, and members of your local garage band will be sure to pay heed.
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...It was originally published as "Directions for Singing" by John Wesley in his 1761 collection Select Hymns. I found it on a bulletin board in a choir room long ago, and have adapted the language to be a little more modern. I've tried to be faithful to the spirit of the original.

Directions for Chanting

1. Learn each chant thoroughly; take it to heart. Learn as many as you please this way.

2. Listen closely and try to sing the chants as they are taught, without altering or mending them at all.

3. Sing often with others, as frequently as you can. Don't decide to pass up a chance to chant with others because you're tired or stressed out. Go anyway, sing with your whole soul, and you will find it a blessing.

4. Chant with your whole body, and with good courage. Be careful not to chant as if you are half-asleep; lift up your voice with strength. Don't fear the sound of your voice, and do not be ashamed of its being heard by others. Aim for a unity of spirit. Your voice is a unique gift from God, given for your health and happiness.

5. Sing modestly. Don't bawl, or try to drown out your neighbor who doesn't sing as well as you, so you can be heard above and distinct from the rest of the group. Chant with the intent of making harmony, and strive to unite your voice together with other voices to make one clear, melodious sound.

6. Sing in time. Make an effort to identify and stay with the group pulse. Listen to the leading voices and breathe with them so you don't fall behind the group beat. This will help to entrain the group energy, and build a sound community.

7. Above all, sing spiritually. Have an ear to God in every word you sing. Aim at hearing God more than pleasing yourself or anyone else. In order to do this, attend to the sense of what you sing, and see that you don't get carried away with the sound, but offer your song to God and the group continually.

All Through the Night & the Miserable Offenders

Click on the title of this post and be swept away to the Church Publishing website, where you can download The Greatest Hits of the Miserable Offenders. Believe me, I'm as surprised as the rest of you, having missed the fact that the Miserable Offenders even HAD a "hit" - much less an entire album of them! Nevertheless, I do recall making some recordings many moons ago with Deborah Griffin Bly, and if you'd like to hear our unusual, ethereal, and otherwise cool hymn arrangements, click on the title and download away!

Also newly available, on the right (and wearing a lovely yellow jacket from CDBaby) is All Through the Night, my favorite lullaby, recorded because I couldn't help myself. Check it out; yours for only $1.29 and totally worth it.

And finally, if you haven't yet checked out An Unexpected Christmas and it's getting toward time to plan those Christmas services, check out the lovely navy and white outfit on the right, also from CDBaby via Bethlehem and supporting the Virginia Girls Choir.

Don't think these requests are polite: BUY MY TUNES! I invest every drop of cash I have into making the best music I can, and if you read this but don't buy and share my tunes, I can't afford to make more. I hate to publicize my stuff because we're all over-saturated with media, but if I don't do it, it won't get done. So bear with me and let us in your life. You won't be sorry, I'll be able to pay my bills and continue in this holy fellowship, and maybe you'll be inspired to keep on keepin' on. Go now!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.