averyfineline

Self-described “regular-reader” JL writes to validly question my fast-and-loose use of terminology in the Lyrical Battles post:
I’m just a little curious about your definition of interfaith. It seems, in the context, to be inter-Baptist since you give as an example a General Baptist and Southern Baptist view. […]

Skeptical reader AD wrote offering her “two cents” about lyrics and theology as well:
I have always had a problem with the lyrics of “Searchin’,” most recently recorded, of course, by the Talley Trio. Exactly how much “searchin’” does one have to do to find an omnipotent, omnipresent, almighty God??? […]

Apropos my remarks about the Cathedrals, close-reading regular JG writes to say,
While I agree that the music and harmony of “Life Will Be Sweeter Some Day” is sweet, Trammell’s line [”Because the joys of heaven of I’ll miss”] has always bothered me. I’m Baptist so there’s that […]

Now, to the matter of lyrics and theology and why there aren’t more obvious disputes within inter-faith groups (which I gather most are) about the theological implications of lyrics. In one sense, it is surprising to me that there aren’t more open doctrinal disagreements about lyrics. But […]

When regular correspondent JG pressed me for a list of top 5 groups, the Ruppes ended up on my list without too much hesitation, and I was happy to find JG at least notionally agreeing with me: […]

The best song on the project, though, is probably “Light from Heaven,” stylistically similar to “Angels in the Room” but musically far superior. For one, it’s much more psychologically textured and subtle than “Angels.” And too, “Light from Heaven” is more melodically varied and complex. A repeated section toward the middle […]

While working on a piece for next week about the Ruppes, I suddenly remembered another really fine punned group name that I left out of my earlier post on the matter, one that deserves mention: Lordsong, Kim and Michael Lord’s group. Shame, shame on me.

Take a look at page 25 of the September issue of the Singing News and you’ll see the members of Freedom Voice clowning around in a dewy meadow, which puts me in mind of those “controversial” Ernie Haase and Signature Sound photos (see, that name is clunky), […]

Does anyone else think “Tex” McCune looks like Elvis?
Update: Detail-oriented reader LT writes to remind us that “Tex” McCune (whose given name is Aaron) hails, not from Texas, but from West Virginia, which does indeed strain the sensibility of his current nickname: “When he was with […]

Experienced reader JG writes describing a horrendous episode from his quartet days, a tale that, with a few variations, I’ve heard more than a few times from others before (names have been changed):
I formed and managed a part-time SG group for ten and a half years. During that […]

JG’s experience seems like a good way to begin a discussion about the A&R infrastructure within sg. I doubt that the kind of behavior JG describes is substantially different from what young artists encounter in mainstream music industries, but I also wonder if the close-knit nature of […]

I was 17 the first time I attended the National Quartet Convention. The group I was playing for had just done its first date or two after spending a year in rehearsal and a lot of time in the studio. Though I had played hymns and old-school SBC church music all my […]

Every generation has its misty-eyed John Conlees, wearing rose-colored glasses that “show only the beauty” of the past but also “hide all the truth” of the present - in this case, mistaking the great accomplishments of bygone legends for a high-water mark that our own […]

Wow, third day in a row that we’ve added a new feature. At this rate I’ll have to bring on more interns. A sampling of your letters over the past weeks is on the new letters page (link at left too), including this stunner:
[The] National quartet convention […]

(I of III)
I’ve been thinking a lot these past few days about a song the Cathedrals recorded fifteen or so years ago for their 25th-anniversary celebration album. The project as a whole is by no means the […]

Insistent reader JJ writes to rightly remind me that Keith Urban has nothing on Karen Peck: “What about , ‘When he’s four days late, he’s right one time,’” JJ asks. Just so. A very fine line, that one. In fact, I think that’s what we’ll call these intermittent entries […]

I’ve been thinking a lot these past few days about a song the Cathedrals recorded fifteen or so years ago for their 25th-anniversary celebration album. The project as a whole is by no means the Cathedrals’ best studio work (that would be High and Lifted Up). The 25th anniversary […]

One morning not too long after rediscovering “Life Will be Sweeter,” I put in the “Cathedrals Alive: Deep in the Heart of Texas” and turned it up (I lived in the far northern reaches of Minnesota at the time and my very unsouthern neighbors must surely have wondered). By the time I […]

I remember Ernie Haase at the quartet convention’s Catherdals reunion a few years back, describing what George said to him once when he, Haase, complained about having to sing “Oh What A Savior” night after night: “George told me,” Haase said, “’some singers go their whole career […]

Barring any breaking news that would demand comment, I’ve said about all I can or want to regarding more openness and transparency in sg. Rereading my last post on the issue, though, I do feel the need to say this, by way of conclusion: there’s a very […]