Singing is one of humanity’s oldest
ways of worship, and continues to be widely used amongst the various world
religions today. The example covered today was an excerpt from a black Baptist
church, titled Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, a lining out hymn. This piece,
nicknamed Dr. Watts hymn, is lead by the deacon while the rest of the
congregation follows after by very slowly repeating the words with an altered
melody. He leads with an open melismatic rhythm during the reply of the
congregation after having previously ornamented the first melodic line on his
own in a much shorter verse. His tone is majestic and when directly amplified
rings out strong above the congregation, whom are simply picked up with room
microphones. While leading the congregation in the longer verses, the deacon
seems to adlib ornamentation that leaves the rest of the people somewhat lagging.
Others in the assembly add their own ornamentation in tandem with the deacon’s.
He then stops after the second verse and invites the mass to shout, “Yeah!” for
a few times, inciting more energy into the crowd. He then explains that through
singing the music one can be saved if they accept His way, the way of the Lord.
Suddenly without pause, the deacon bursts out in the final verse before leading
the congregation to the end of the piece. The camera during the entirety focuses
mainly on the leader, only panning to the congregation occasionally during the
replies and when the deacon talks directly to them. The people sway back and
forth while raising their hands up as they sing out, illustrating what seems to
be a powerful musical experience of worship. As the voices ring through the air
warmly, even through an older video recording, it is clear that music is a
powerful form of worship.
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