The Alto Line
Last week at choir rehearsal we ran through some hymns for the upcoming Trinity Sunday. I knew I wouldn't be there, because I'd be at my parents' church visiting them. But I felt fairly certain that "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!" would be there, too. To many it is an old chestnut, but I love, love, love it.
As we started to sing Wednesday night, I realized that what I wanted to sing (and wanted it BADLY) was the ALTO line. That's where the interest and the movement is in that hymn. Of course, I'm a soprano, so that didn't work; I was sitting with soprani!
But as it started for the processional at Good Shepherd Anglican church on Sunday, there I was singing alto. Probably the only person in the place doing so.
Ask and ye shall receive!
As a child I used to listen to my grandfather's 1912 Edison Victrola, which had a recording of "Holy, Holy Holy." We would often follow it with "The Lost Chord" and "K-K-K-Katy." Great memories.
Keep on working on singing that alto line no matter who you are singing by - eventually you will be able to do it.
I always sing the first verse soprano, 2nd verse alto, then I play around until the last verse and I go with the tenor line an octave higher (if it is in my range). it's fun and I love to play with the harmony.
love to you,
Posted by:Cathy | May 20, 2008 at 04:55 PM
My childhood memory of this hymn comes from a record...the Mormon Tabernacle Choir...my mom would load up our HiFi with records at Christmas time and I would fall asleep listening to that music...I have clear memories of lying in bed and listening to Holy Holy Holy...so. for me it always feels like a Christmas Hymn and not Trinity Sunday...and this past Sunday was the first time I remember singing it in church, ever.
Glad you got to sing the part you wanted!
Posted by:mompriest | May 20, 2008 at 07:28 PM
I love that hymn too. It does go way back to my childhood.
Posted by:Ruth Hull Chatlien | May 20, 2008 at 09:42 PM
I started singing that alto line in my head as I read this (singing in my head? you know what I mean). I love it too. Lord willing, we will sing it together someday.
Posted by:zorra | May 21, 2008 at 01:21 PM
You mean you didn't hear me right beside you singing the alto line? It was easy to follow you. I loved singing beside you. Mom
Posted by:Mary Jane | May 21, 2008 at 01:23 PM