Internal Note
From SPARK
Unpublished
- [adapted from Malmstrom MTITP, p. 125]
The singers are also a key to clarity, both in their skills and their voice quality. All language communities have gifted singers, and it is just a matter of identifying them and enlisting their help. In our experience, local musicians were eager to participate in a recording project. Remember to match singing groups with the program’s target audience, too (e.g., women or children where the projected target audience consists of women or children; teenagers for a teenage target). [Malmstrom MTITP p. 125-126 –taken from what was already on the site.] [Lois, Either Keith or Peter questioned whether "all" language communities have gifted singers. It's what Marilyn said. Okay to keep it?] When recording, it is important for the song to have a clean, crisp start. [Madelyn's question: Is this true in all cultures? Almost all? Should I leave out this paragraph?] In most situations using a music director is the only way to achieve this, so be sure to include such a person in the recording plan.
- [Malmstrom MTITP p. 126 –taken from what was already on the site.]
July 1, 2005 mkb Original “About” material removed (6 paragraphs and footnote): Songs or chants may be used to strengthen doctrinal beliefs: reinforce values relating to God, and reinforces memory. Matching a song with the content of the spoken text is a must. If the message in song fits the spoken theme, there is a better chance for that message to influence the listeners. It takes time to select and record music compatible with the program content, but the payoff is well worth the effort[1].
Christian music, in the local language and local musical idiom, blesses and enriches lives in so many ways.
One rather unusual example comes from a group of scattered believers in Asia. They were thrilled when we recorded the songs from the hymnbook and reproduced them on cassettes. Previously they were embarrassed to sing at their annual Bible conference because so many of them had learned slightly different words and tunes to the songs. Having the hymns on audiocassette enabled all of them to learn the same words and the same tunes. As church members through out the whole language area memorized the songs, the various village church groups became 'one choir' when they sang at their Bible conference. This produced a feeling of unity among them as they fellowshipped together in song.
The listeners must be able to clearly hear the words of a song, for the words to carry the message. In many of the modern music recordings, instruments take precedence over the words. However, we desire the words to be prominent so their message comes through clearly. Naturally, the recording technician has the responsibility of producing clarity through proper microphone balance between instruments and voices. Normally, the technician gets the clearest reproduction of words when there are only eight voices per microphone. Where there are more than eight people wanting to sing, the producer or technician can select a variety of small choir combinations. This gives all the singers a chance to participate and produces a variety of music which will be attractive to the listeners.
The singers are also a key to clarity, both in their skills and their voice quality. All language communities have gifted singers, and it is just a matter of identifying them and enlisting their help. In our experience, local musicians were eager to participate in a recording project. Remember to match singing groups with the program's target audience, too (e.g., women or children were the projected target audience consists of women or children; teenagers for a teenage target).
When recording, it is important for the song to have a clean, crisp start. In most situations using a music director is the only way to achieve this, so be sure to include such a person in the recording plan
Contacts
- Paul Neeley
- Dianne Palmer-Quay (ethnomusicologist – CIU)
- Darrel Trimble
- Sep. 15, 2004 jvd from My Tongue the Pen
