Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Yes, completely irrelevant (and possibly irreverant) question this morning. My sister and I walk together in the mornings so we have a lot of time to chat about everything under the sun. This morning we were discussing church styles. (My family is in the process of finding a new church, so this is on our minds...) She was chatting with someone else recently who had a new pastor that didn't quite fit. She said he was a 'violin' preacher at a 'fiddle' church. Apparently we are easily amused, because we then had to come up with musical instruments to describe the styles of various churches we were acquainted with or attended. We aren't talking theology or denominations, particularly, just the overall style of services, etc. The church I attended for the past 25 years was probably a brass quartet. The church we've currently been trying out is an electric guitar (gasp). The pastor is (maybe) 30 and is a cross between Jeff Goldblum and Freddie Prinze, Jr. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 DH and I grew up in a pipe organ church and now we go to a Schroeder's toy piano church....Beethoven is there sitting on the piano, but what's coming out sounds like tinny plunking :glare:. We will be looking for another pipe organ church when we move to DC/Virginia this summer. Nothing inherently wrong with what's coming out of the piano, just thin and not as substantive as it could be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 The 8am Mass is acoustic guitar. The choir that can't sing has a guy playing an acoustic. And it is 8am on Sunday morning. Things aren't exactly formal. The reverence is there, just not in a suit and tie. The 11am Mass is cello. The choir is accompanied by organ or piano. It is very dignified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Okay, you've given me an excuse to gush. :001_smile: I feel like my church is the entire orchestra, the fullness and richness of music as it was meant to be, the very living, breathing embodiment of music. Too much, right? :leaving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 Okay, you've given me an excuse to gush. :001_smile: I feel like my church is the entire orchestra, the fullness and richness of music as it was meant to be, the very living, breathing embodiment of music. Too much, right? :leaving: :thumbup::thumbup: That's awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 DH and I grew up in a pipe organ church and now we go to a Schroeder's toy piano church....Beethoven is there sitting on the piano, but what's coming out sounds like tinny plunking :glare:. We will be looking for another pipe organ church when we move to DC/Virginia this summer. Nothing inherently wrong with what's coming out of the piano, just thin and not as substantive as it could be. Oh, it would be so hard to go from pipe organ to toy piano. That's tough! (And kinda-sorta what I'm dealing with, so I can sympathize!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 OUrs is an organ. Breathing, complex, wide range of notes, classic, can thunder or whisper... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 The 8am Mass is acoustic guitar. The choir that can't sing has a guy playing an acoustic. And it is 8am on Sunday morning. Things aren't exactly formal. The reverence is there, just not in a suit and tie.The 11am Mass is cello. The choir is accompanied by organ or piano. It is very dignified. Ah, the cello is one of my favorite instruments! Lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I think my church is like a string quartet. It's kind of like an orchestra, just a lot smaller.:) Very harmonious, lovely and soothing, but can have lively and loud moments as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jami Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Well since we're in Austin, it's an eclectic mix. ;) At Christmas time we had a string quintet one service and a brass quintet another. Most of the time it's more folksy--acoustic guitar, fiddle/violin and the pastor's style matches that. Homey, but eloquent. The music is appropriate to the message being sung--so richer and fuller for some hymns and simpler and more rustic for others. Does that make sense. It fits Austin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Not a "church" but a similar idea... My first thought, looking at the title of the thread, was symphony orchestra. Like Paul says, each member has it's own function to the working of the body. Everyone has a place whether they are cellos or picolos or tubas or.... When I tried narrowing it down to ONE instrument, my first thought was drums (again, thinking the denomination or congregation, in our case, worldwide congregation). There are many types and kinda, each with it's own way and working together. And BOOMING. God said he'd make the rocks cry out but he doesn't have to! But then I saw where you said not the denomination, but the style so I had to think of an individual gathering (or each). This is still true of each place of worship within the denomination, but I had to think of an individual time. That WAY tones us down. I'm thinking the bells. We're quiet, calm, peaceful, inviting, reverent, studious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Mine's an acoustic guitar. Not electric. Not fancy . Not crazy. Not too classy. Not a fiddle. Just a nice acoustic guitar. Maybe playing a mixture of classic guitar and modern songs as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Okay, you've given me an excuse to gush. :001_smile: I feel like my church is the entire orchestra, the fullness and richness of music as it was meant to be, the very living, breathing embodiment of music. Too much, right? :leaving: That's beautiful. And I feel the same way about my church. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 (edited) Acoustic guitar with a piano accompaniment. A beautiful accent that does not overpower the congregational voices lifted in worship. ETA - Maybe I am confused about whether you are asking for what we have literally, or whether you are looking for an instrument as a metaphor? In my case, it's the same either way, except in my metaphor I'd add a hammered dulcimer, which can be both gentle and vibrant, with a nod to the ancient. Edited January 19, 2010 by AuntieM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 :thumbup::thumbup: That's awesome! That's beautiful. And I feel the same way about my church. :001_smile: Thank you both! I was afraid I sounded way too cheesy, but I was sincere and I'm glad that came across. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 Acoustic guitar with a piano accompaniment. A beautiful accent that does not overpower the congregational voices lifted in worship. ETA - Maybe I am confused about whether you are asking for what we have literally, or whether you are looking for an instrument as a metaphor? In my case, it's the same either way, except in my metaphor I'd add a hammered dulcimer, which can be both gentle and vibrant, with a nod to the ancient. I'm talking about using an instrument as a metaphor, but I'm sure it could easily be both literally and metaphorically true. A gentleman at our previous church played a hammered dulcimer and it sounded *BEAUTIFUL*!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.love.lucy Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 OUrs is an organ.Breathing, complex, wide range of notes, classic, can thunder or whisper... Us too. We're very happy with our new church and this description fits to a "T".:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 We're Unitarian Universalist, and I very much enjoy our drumming circles, We also have an traditional organist (and amazing organ), pianist, and choir, and I like that as well. I guess the beating drum of diversity would be our style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathy in IL Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I think of the human voice more than any musical instrument. People and relationships are valued at my church as we do life together. Just like the human voice is different from person to person, people's different gifts and personalities are valued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 What?!! I'm the only one attending an electric guitar church? I'm shocked. :lol: Honestly, though, I've really enjoyed your responses. Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 You know what, I can think of an instrument that symbolizes our congregation, but I can think of a singing group: The Statler Brothers or Randy Travis. What would that be? Guitar, banjo? We don't use instruments in worship though, just acapella singing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Acoustic guitar with a piano accompaniment. A beautiful accent that does not overpower the congregational voices lifted in worship. ETA - Maybe I am confused about whether you are asking for what we have literally, or whether you are looking for an instrument as a metaphor? In my case, it's the same either way, except in my metaphor I'd add a hammered dulcimer, which can be both gentle and vibrant, with a nod to the ancient. Right now, our little church is an acoustic guitar, but I'd love to add piano and a little hammered dulcimer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.