Hankerin' for a Hymn Sing

I miss hymns.  There is something about the familiar melodies (that lend themselves to the well-known harmonies) and the powerful lyrics that is not only comforting, but also challenges at the same time.  The doctrine and resoluteness that is found in the hymns that have withstood the test of time just isn't always in some of the more modern songs.  Now, lest you think I'm just becoming an old fuddy duddy, I do like some of the new songs and the modern hymns, but they don't all resonate with me in the same way that many of the hymns that I grew up singing do.  Added to that, I don't particularly find them as musically appealing. (I need singable, hear-able harmonies!)

It's not that my church doesn't sing hymns, although we mostly sing choruses, but even when we do either the words are different or it's sung to a completely different tune.  It's just not the same.  It's like when you stand to sing the "other" All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name and everyone starts off funny.  That's how I feel.  Only . . . it's just me . . . and sometimes it's more than a little noticeable.

Thankfully, I do have a hymnal. But, do you know how hard it is to simultaneously sing four-part harmony while imagining Mrs. Geill playing the piano in your head?  Or the difficulties involved with singing the alto part when there is no soprano?  Or . . . horrors . . . the vacillation I endure when trying to decide, should I sing the first, second, and fourth, or the first, third, and fourth stanzas?

And then, my fingers long for the keys of the piano.  The chords!  I need the chords!  I have seriously taken to playing the air-keyboard more than any sane person of my age should admit to.

Finally, I have yet to find a decent recording of an acceptable range of hymns that doesn't sound completely stilted in that song-demo-no-feeling-in-the-singing way.  I long for the slightly off-key-harmony-may-not-all-be-there-but-the-feeling-put-into-the-singing-is-sincere-because-we-genuinely-love-Jesus-congregation-style hymn sing that I remember from my growing up days.

So, prepare yourself.  If you happen to be at the first hymn sing that I'm able to make it to once I get back to the States I'm going to be completely rude and monopolize the choices. We'll start with Wonderful Grace of Jesus, followed by To the Work, Count Your Blessings, Walking in Sunlight, and Up from the Grave He Arose.  After all of these I might let someone else make a choice.  Maybe.  Or . . . I might also insist we sing I Sing the Mighty Power of God before relinquishing my turn.