[Magdalen] Hymnals and Perspective.o

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/16/2015 4:07:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
oppenheimerjw at gmail.com writes:

The main  reason people sing in parts is a simple matter of range.  That
really  settles it, it seems to me.>>>>>>>
 
 
The singing in parts for hymns is a strictly Protestant thing in the  USA,
at least.  Despite some very impressive congregational hymn  singing
in both the Lutheran (Evangelische) and RC churches of Germany,
I do not recall ever hearing hymn singing in parts.  I'll include  TEC
in the "Protestant" category here for convenience.  There is no
theological agenda.
 
It is interesting to see how vigorous singing of hymns in parts seems
at times to be a genetic characteristic.  My older brother and I  visited
relatives on PEI in the Canadian Maritimes, and experienced a family
sing-out for four hours one afternoon.  This started with "Well, if  you
are Strangs you can sing, can't you?
 
 
David Strang.