Manner of the chapel

For the past two Sundays, and even last Wednesday evenings' study, we've been presented lessons on our song worship service. In a way, I'm going to continue on with that topic this morning, but in a slightly different way. Having been a song leader for lo these many years (actually about 55 of them) I feel qualified to speak on the subject of "song-leading" and "song-leaders." And that will be the aim of my efforts today so hang on, here we go.

Here at Highland, at 10:45 AM every Sunday the song leader gathers his "tools", which includes his songbook, pitch-pipe (optional), announcement notes and after a quick prayer for strength, stands up and begins the service. Most in the congregation never consider it this way, but for about 15-20 minutes he'll risk his neck on what's been described as "the high-wire of public scrutiny."

His only safety net, other than the "shield of faith," will be his grit and determination to use his diaphragm and larynx, accompanied by the "melody in his heart" and therewith get everyone to offer their portion of the service ("edification and praise") "decently and in order." (1Cor. 14:40) I have to opine that only a few dare take such a risk.

If you wonder why this is, here again is another of my opinions: it's simply because song leading is humiliation looking for a place to happen. It can sometimes be an emotional mine-field and one wrong step - well "humble" isn't a strong enough word to cover it. Humility takes on a whole new meaning, if you get my drift.

Allow me to walk you through the steps a song-leader takes so that you can better understand the "high-wire" aspect of the task. First off, in accordance with the teaching of the "law of Christ," our song worship is done "A Cappella" which in the original Latin means "in the manner of the chapel." For an added piece of information: for the first 600 years or so, the "manner of the chapel" was "without instruments."

So, because of "A Cappella," the first step out on the "high-wire" is the critical point in song-leading and it comes before the song even gets started. The correct "pitch" (or close to it) is a must. Oh, there's a little room for error, but not a whole lot. If the song is pitched too low you'll croak-out the altos and basses to the point that they can't sing their parts. On the other hand, if the song gets started too high the altos and basses are OK with it, but you've lost the sopranos and tenors. It'll probably sound like a choir of "Tiny Tims" or maybe a boy's choir. It might ever start dogs to barking in nearby yards.

Not to mention the health of the song-leader whose bright-red face and bulging veins very much detracts from the congregation's attention to the song and the purpose for singing it. Thankfully, we've got some registered nurses here at Highland and others in the congregation that know CPR so that when this occurs (and it will) there exists another "safety net," so to speak.

A pitch pipe is certainly an appropriate piece of equipment for a song-leader, and is relatively easy to learn to use and may prevent a stroke from occurring due to too high of a pitched song. However, that brings us to another humbling step prior to the start of the song. This one I can attest to as it's happened many times to me.

The pitch-pipe is really a simple piece of equipment. It's about the size and shape of a large pocket watch and around it's outside are little metal reeds tuned to the different notes of the scale. Harmless as it looks, it can "bite you" (figuratively) and make you look silly when a gentle puff on the proper reed fails to produce a sound.

The culprit in this instance is usually a little bit of lint lodged in the reed. So what does the song-leader usually do to correct this situation? Makes a somewhat heftier puff on the reed and when that doesn't work, he gives it a real good blast of air which, of course, dislodges the lint and the result sounds like something you hear when the geese are flying overhead. Yeah, you got the pitch, but any dignity normally reserved for the song-leader just hit the floor along with the lint ball.

Also let me tell you that a song-leaders obsession with starting the song on the right pitch doesn't just occur at the beginning of the worship service. If you happen to be sitting fairly close to the song-leader during the last few moments of the sermon, you might be able to hear him quietly humming to himself in an effort to start the "invitation song" on the right pitch. And, that's because of having been misled on numerous occasions by the preacher saying "and in conclusion....." so he's trying to keep the pitch in his head for the "conclusion" that hopefully might be arriving sometime soon.

There are other problems besides the pitch that rear their ugly heads from time to time and a sense of humor becomes a necessary part of a song-leaders makeup because it helps lessen the humiliation of committing one of these "faux pas." Sometimes we forget to consider the appropriateness of the song we're leading. Example: probably not a good selection on Sunday morning to lead "Oh, Why Not Tonight." It might sound like we're getting a little ahead of ourselves.

Losing our place in the song is another frequent mishap and problem. If the leader isn't mentally with it while leading the song, what most-often happens is he forgets which verse he just led, thus the frightening thought comes in - what verse do I start next? Over my many years of experience I've come up with a solution that works for me when this occurs - I fake a cough & keep waving my arm and let the singers start the right verse. Most of the time no one is the wiser EXCEPT I know it.

Another good one pops up every now and then for all song-leaders. The announcing of one song and starting a different one. Trust me, that will start the old humiliation process up right now because the song service is supposed to be a congregational effort - not a solo by the leader. Oh, there are some other problems that bedevil song-leaders at times that only their wives and other song-leaders pick-up on and sympathize with, but I think we've covered the major "bedevilers."

In my humble opinion, besides actually being able to carry a tune, the most beneficial prerequisite a man desiring to be a song-leader can have is COURAGE. The courage to get up there and stand in front of the congregation, knowing that a misstep or blunder is waiting right around the corner, and lead songs. Because we also know that these songs are not just sung for entertainment or to kill time before the sermon. They're sung "to the Lord" and for the "teaching and admonishing" of each other. (Col. 3:16) And, like all the other parts of the worship service, it's "done unto edifying." (1Cor. 14:26)

For some time now I've developed a simple set of song-leading lessons that have seemed to help those who've used them. I'm proud when my "students" have overcome their natural tendency to NOT want to stand up in front of an audience and make a fool of themselves and, by their courage, have become song-leaders.

As a closing thought: I encourage you to try and understand the song-leader and appreciate the risks he's taking in order to do his part in leading the congregation in a "required" portion of worship to God while here on earth. In heaven, will there be song-leaders? I don't know, but this much I do know: there will be singing and, like everything else there, the songs will be perfectly pitched, everyone will sing the same song and there will be NO HUMILIATING MISTAKES.

Ron Covey