Learning the Doxology Together
Worshippers coming to GBC on 9 October 2022 probably didn’t expect to come to church to learn how to sing the doxology in parts. Perhaps it was the first time that some have even tried to sing in parts. Yet, many in the congregation took it in their stride and attempted to learn the tenor and alto parts as song leaders Toshi Mori and Megan Collins taught it to them. For about 6 minutes in our service, the room was full not of the vocal harmony of professional performers, but the harmonies of a singing congregation. The lyrics of the doxology: “praise God from whom all blessings flow” was all the more richer as different voice parts came together in musical blend.
In his sermon on Galatians 3:26-4:7 Pastor Eugene reminded that our the diversity of the congregation displays God's wisdom in creating a church through the Gospel of grace that unifies and harmonises different peoples together as one. Singing in parts, he said, is a fitting illustration of how the diverse voices coming together to blend, produces a result far richer than if we all sang one melody. This is how the church of Christ should be, where we are not homogeneous, but rather, portraying God’s good design of unity amidst diversity. God is like a brilliant composer and this shows the wisdom of God.
If you'd like to learn the parts on your own, the music score can be found here. Recordings of the various parts can also be found here if you'd like to listen to it for learning -- here they are for soprano, alto, tenor, bass -- the four voice parts that make up the typical choir.
The lyrics of the doxology too are worthy of our further reflection. Whereas for centuries before the Protestant Reformation professional choirs and clergymen were the only voices singing in churches and in foreign Latin language, Protestants in the Reformation reverted to singing the words of Scripture including the popular Old Hundredth (a metrical psalm setting of Psalm 100). In 1674 the Anglican bishop Thomas Ken composed a Trinitarian verse that we now use to declare praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a key moment in our worship when we, the people of God, saved by the Gospel of Christ, offer up grateful praise to the Triune God, and we confess that our God is unlike any other.
As our Reformation Concert choir and musicians rehearse for the upcoming concert on 29 October, we in the congregation can also prepare to participate by learning the songs and reflecting on the meaning of the lyrics. Together, let us hear the words of the psalmist in Psalm 95:1 and come to worship the God who is worthy of our praise, "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!"