THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310484
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL
LENGTH: 54 lines
David A. Dashiell Jr. seconds readers' laments of Wednesday that churches seldom offer old hymns.
For 45 years as a member of Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Norfolk, he has struggled to sing the hymns.
``My church has had splendid organists and choir masters and wonderful choirs during those years. The music is outstanding and uplifting but barely singable by the untrained male voice,'' Dashiell writes.
``I have tried to persuade our rectors and organists to lower the pitch of the hymns just a bit to enable the males to participate. They dismiss my plaints with patronizing smiles.''
Yes, he's on the mark. That's the attitude of many musicologists across the range of denominations.
The old singable, swingable hymns just don't afford as much of a classical nature to satisfy serious students of music.
``Most of our hymns are written for singing in harmony,'' Dashiell writes. ``When I was a member for a time of our JV choir, I more or less learned the bass parts of several hymns. When one of those appears, I essay to sing that part to the wondering ears of those close by.
``In most cases, though, I must switch from guttural to falsetto and back again to traverse the highs and lows of the music, yodeling as it were. Around me I can detect croaking male voices as they must sing deep in their throats or not at all.''
Some critics not only object to the music of old-time hymns, they also deem the theology simplistic.
In an interview years ago, one told me he found the old favorite ``In the Garden'' unbearable in being overly sentimental.
I can understand their views. But on rare occasions when an old hymn is granted the congregation, I can recall my father's tenor in the chorus and even more rarely catch a trace of his voice in mine.
And I remember how the congregation rocked and swayed with the music as if the sanctuary were a great ship on the swells of the sea.
One cannot but be moved.
Dashiell will not give up.
``I have instructed my family, that at my funeral the hymns must be pitched `in my key.' (I must establish what that key is before it's too late.)
``I really do want my friends from our days of revelry, when we tried to sing the `Barbershop' songs, to be able to make the rafters of the church ring when they roll me down the aisle.''
Given the fervency of those reared on old-time hymns, so well expressed by Dashiell, churches would do well to consider scheduling at least one of the old-time religion for every service.
And, who knows, it might do wonders for attendance. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
David A. Dashiell Jr. by CNB