One of the greatest blessings that my daughter and I are enjoying is the richness of black church music and the choir directors of the ame church. I was United Methodist and my daughter was Presbyterian before we became ame. It is wonderful to be in the same denomination!

We are overwhelmed by the music and choirs in our denomination. I believe often times it is the choirs that are the true ministers sometimes for the theology of the songs and the movement of the spirit is so strong. At the pacific northwest conference the choir sang a song "the son will come again" it was so moving, the lyrics and the melody, there was such an anointing, when the choir got to the end of the song and was signaled to finish, the holy spirit took over and they kept going and going, the congregation also began to sing.

I wonder if the ame church realizes how great our music truly is! Wow! I love conferences!!! And can someone explain to me the joy of the Choir director, sometimes it is more fun watching the choir director and his/her movements and direction of the choir.

Is there a universal language for directing black choirs, for it is different than the baton like waving in white churches.

And Lord bless the organist and the piano player. I would love to learn more about the rich music history of the ame church. And for the choir directors out there, who does your choreography;-)

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2003

Answers

Truly, music in the AME church is very soothing. I can contest to you that when the work week has brought you to the very end of sanity, the settling and calm music on Sunday replenishes your void and uplifts you to endure another week. Honors go out to the Publishers of the A.M.E. Hymnal, one of, if not the, most powerful A.M.E. books we have. The ability to read songs from a vast array of authors and styles is incredible. May God continue to bless, be and guide all.

f_man

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2003

One of the greatest blessings that my daughter and I are enjoying is the richness of black church music and the choir directors of the ame church.
The heritage of music we embrace as a denomination is rich indeed. A recent issue of AME Review had a wonderful series of articles, one of which touched on the evolution of some of our hymnody. Prior to 1984, our hymn book dated to 1954. Today's hymn book has been more engaging of much of our tradition, including music from Africa, the Caribbean, and "traditional" hymns. Our bishops in 2000 encouraged us to embrace balance in our musical offerings, and the hymn book is a major tool in achieving this.

We are overwhelmed by the music and choirs in our denomination. < br> They reflect the fervor for worship and praise that is still embodied in our people, AME and Christian.

I believe often times it is the choirs that are the true ministers sometimes for the theology of the songs and the movement of the spirit is so strong.
Music is an essential part of our spiritual warfare. The choirs played an important time in Biblical times as well (See 2 Chronicles 20). It was the musicians and the choirs that helped to "set the battle array". We reflect this in our modern tradition when the choirs lead the processional. The literature of the repertoire, when anthemic, can be most ministering indeed..The singing of scripture is another vehicle for "getting the Word out". Each generation has a musical style that has appealed where recitation may have failed.

At the pacific northwest conference the choir sang a song "the son will come again" it was so moving, the lyrics and the melody, there was such an anointing, when the choir got to the end of the song and was signaled to finish, the holy spirit took over and they kept going and going, the congregation also began to sing.
AME Choirs are often known fror pressing through to the breakthrough. COGIC choirs minister similarly. Sometimes a simple chorus is taken for granted, but by the power of repetition an oipportunity for reflection is given that helps us break the bonds of emotional and spiritual restraint.

I wonder if the ame church realizes how great our music truly is! Wow! I love conferences!!! Indeed.

And can someone explain to me the joy of the Choir director, sometimes it is more fun watching the choir director and his/her movements and direction of the choir. >
Most choir directors with whom I have worked have taken the concept of "ministry" very seriously. The service is the culmination of much preparation - preparing for quality, for spritual warfare, for minsiterial breakthrough. The "joy" yuou see by the time of the service follows the anguish of imperfect notes, squabbles over robes, frustration with those who come to rehearsal late, disagreements over song chocie, challeneges to patience when building and integrating a performance team - they have earned their joy.

Is there a universal language for directing black choirs, for it is different than the baton like waving in white churches.
There is. The late Rev. James Cleveland started the Gospel Music Workshop of America many years ago. Their annual workshops (usually in August) include a director's workshop, where over the lasst thirty years a common language of signals has evolved. It is most useful indeed, ass it allows us musicians to work well with directors we may have never seen before.

And Lord bless the organist and the piano player.
Why thank you:-)

I would love to learn more about the rich music history of the ame church.
Perhaps a small series in the AME Herald will address that this winter.

And for the choir directors out there, who does your choreography;-)
Ah, the creativity abounds. :-)

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2003