Music Matters

June 2007

Breathe!

A few years ago, I walked into my church as a hymn was being sung. This allowed me to hear the congregation from a totally different perspective. Although the sanctuary was full and the hymn tune was familiar, I was disappointed at the lack of enthusiasm and also the slow tempo at which the hymn was being sung. Instead of an offering of praise and adoration, it sounded more like painful drawn-out drudgery.

This caused me to reflect upon my own hymn playing and how I should always contribute to the leading of a hymn as an act of joy and inspiration. Obviously there are many aspects that contribute to the art of enthusiastic hymn leadership. I would like to briefly touch on breathing guided by the words and punctuation of the hymn text, which is one area that often is not given intentional importance.

A congregation is made up of people. People need to be guided when to breathe by the punctuation of the hymn text as it is combined with the hymn tune. When this isn’t taken into consideration, persons in the pew are often left feeling either rushed or dragged along. Breathing is a natural process and singing should be as well. Hymns should virtually float from the congregation when intentional places for breathing are indicated by the music leader with keyboard articulation.

The accompanist should literally breathe with the congregation by understanding each hymn’s phrasing and knowing the places where a subtle “give” might incorporate breath. This is especially true at the end of each stanza of a hymn. Allow adequate time for the congregation to breathe and begin the next stanza; don’t allow them to sag into a dirge. I remember as a young organist the music director coming up to me after a service and saying “Did you know as the hymn went on, that you allowed the congregation to drag your tempo down to theirs?” Help the congregation maintain an appropriate, consistent tempo for the hymn while still allowing time for breathing with the text.

A good method to help us as music leaders analyze our own playing, from time to time, is to tape and listen to our playing. This will help us hear whether we sometimes rush or drag the congregation, whether our playing is steady or irregular, and if the congregation is sometimes allowed to set the tempo. This can help determine areas of practice so that we can play hymns in a way that helps and leads the congregation to make an offering of praise and adoration as they worship.

—Jeff King

If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist and Director of Music
Community of Christ Headquarters
Independence, MO, USA

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