Just tried to post on the Unitarian thread (as I attended a UU church for several years) but I got a computer error and my post was erased! Alas.
My current dilemma: I attend a secular state university. I enjoy singing, so tried out for the concert choir last week and to my great pleasure, got in. I sensed the director was conservative (um, "My Country Tis of Thee" was the audition piece) but was surprised to show up the first day to a range of religious music (again, at a secular university). Apparently another music prof in the department wrote a range of choral music for churches, and we are recording it for the music publisher (not performing it, to my knowledge). Our performance piece is also somewhat religious, but at least in Latin -- Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna," which I've read is philosophical (not quite as simplistic as the music we're currently rehearsing).
Anyways, I initially thought I wouldn't be able to stomach the religious music, but I find the melodies are nice (familiar, even!) and I'm not too conscious of the lyrics when I sing. Am I a hypocrite or doing myself untold psychic damage?
There are gothic/punk students in the choir, and I wonder how they respond to this. Does anyone know, is it typical for secular ensembles to sing religious music, or is my university's music department just populated by wacko conservatives?
I should note that I live in a medium-sized city and there aren't noteworthy community choral groups that I know of (unless I want to join a church choir -- hmmm).
Probably a minor issue in the scheme of things, but I'd welcome some perspectives!
My current dilemma: I attend a secular state university. I enjoy singing, so tried out for the concert choir last week and to my great pleasure, got in. I sensed the director was conservative (um, "My Country Tis of Thee" was the audition piece) but was surprised to show up the first day to a range of religious music (again, at a secular university). Apparently another music prof in the department wrote a range of choral music for churches, and we are recording it for the music publisher (not performing it, to my knowledge). Our performance piece is also somewhat religious, but at least in Latin -- Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna," which I've read is philosophical (not quite as simplistic as the music we're currently rehearsing).
Anyways, I initially thought I wouldn't be able to stomach the religious music, but I find the melodies are nice (familiar, even!) and I'm not too conscious of the lyrics when I sing. Am I a hypocrite or doing myself untold psychic damage?
There are gothic/punk students in the choir, and I wonder how they respond to this. Does anyone know, is it typical for secular ensembles to sing religious music, or is my university's music department just populated by wacko conservatives?
I should note that I live in a medium-sized city and there aren't noteworthy community choral groups that I know of (unless I want to join a church choir -- hmmm).
Probably a minor issue in the scheme of things, but I'd welcome some perspectives!
