revising alto parts

[David Olson]

I'm not a songwriter, but this year our Thursday evening weekly group
decided to schedule an eclectic singing once a month, on fourth
Thursdays.

Now that a social occasion exists, some singers have contacted me
privately about writing songs. They have shown me songs that they have
composed for other purposes; clearly the talent is there.

One thought I had relates to the many complaints I have heard about
"boring alto parts" over the years.

Is it meaningful to urge a composer to write better alto parts for
existing songs?

In Edition Five of Denson Sacred Harp, will the Board be open to
replacing alto parts already in Sacred Harp, should better parts be
composed?

Of course, composition comes from within, so maybe the whole idea that
I could "coach" or "advise" is totally misplaced.

On the other hand, within the world of Lutheran church musicians, I
have overheard conversations to the effect that:

"Have you noticed that, because music directors are often on vacation
during the month of August, there are very few hymns for lectionary
readings in the August weeks of the Revised Common Lectionary".

Meaning: here's an opportunity to get published.

David Olson
<dadad...@dslextreme.com>
(310) 410-9033

[KarenWillard]

Nope, not true. Sacred Harp alto parts are not boring. 

I wish this meme would die... You want to see boring alto parts then look at most modern hymnals, or even some of what William Billings wrote (the alto in BEAR CREEK is not by him; I've seen his and wouldn't want to sing it). Next time you hear someone saying that the SH alto parts are boring, please send them my way. Perhaps they simply need some guidance in how to sing the part? (We don't sing it like a choral alto would).

There is no need, therefore, to go messing up a good book. Now, some of the songs in the Denson edition don't have alto parts. What they have is a 2nd treble part. For those songs, yes, a delightful-to-sing part needs to be provided to the altos. The recent 2012 Cooper book did this in a couple places, and if a future edition of the Denson book wants to borrow, ... well, I'm sure the two boards could have very cordial conversations about it. I, myself, though, hope that any new edition for either book is many many years in the future. Most folks haven't sung all the existing songs in the book yet.

--Karen Willard

[Robert Vaughn]

David, my instinct is this: Replacement of existing alto parts in songs that have long been part of the Sacred Harp would not be a popular idea across the whole of the Sacred Harp community. I can't speak for what the board of either book company might do, but I just don't see this idea gaining too much traction. 

As far as coaching or advising on songwriting and part writing, I think there is room for that and that it would be welcomed by those who are interested. As far as opportunities for getting published, my not-so-unbiased opinion is that our periodical The Trumpet currently provides the best opportunity for most composers in the Sacred Harp style to be published. Which also leads me to say...

Though we're running a little late, The Trumpet 3.1 is almost ready for unveiling. We're sorry for the delay, but hope it will be worth it. I think you all will like it. 

 

His glories sing,

Robert Vaughn
Mount Enterprise, TX
http://baptistsearch.blogspot.com
Ask for the old paths, where is the good way
http://mtcarmelbaptist.blogspot.com
For ask now of the days that are past...
http://oldredland.blogspot.com
Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.

---

From: David Olson <dadadharma%dslextr...@gtempaccount.com>
To: Fasola Songwriters <fasola-so...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 9, 2013 3:04 PM
Subject: [fasola-songwriters: 1175] revising alto parts

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[invisibl...@gmail.com]

I think there is something to this.  If many of the alto parts were added decades later anyway, why not do the same thing oneself if there seems to be room for improvement?  Even if these "improvements" are only for the enjoyment of your local group, they could also be a great compositional exercise.  I have added alto parts to some three-part songs just for the fun of trying, even if in some cases I still prefer the song without an alto.  I believe the recent Cooper edition attempted to improve some alto parts, so it would not be unprecedented for the printed parts to change over the years.

Matt Bell

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