I would love cds with which to rehearse parts at home. Singing along with other choir recordings is not the same as having arrangements which match the hymn book. Because of work, I rarely get to an actual choir practice, so it's a good thing I read reasonably well.

However, I would hate to have cds in church. For me it's wrong on several levels. It takes away the live delivery of praise, and is it still praise if it's not live? It prevents the addition of instrumental breaks to accomodate what's going on at the moment (often in our parish, this will have to do with clergy or procession movement). We've been used to an organist who can transpose to accomodate singers' ranges and dynamics. The p.a. system required to amplify such recordings in a room the size of my parish church would be way more than we have now. The public speaking style p.a. can't compete with the dual chamber Casavant pipe organ for volume and range.

We have a paid organist, who we know will be very difficult to replace, but who has already celebrated his 60th year as a professional musician. The backup organist is a younger retiree. With the Casavant, a new grand piano, a small upright, a smallish unpaid choir, and lovely working conditions and surroundings, it's a good job for the right person, but how many organists are there who are willing to work weekends?

I suspect that eventually we will have an occassional organist rotating through a schedule with a pianist, and a small praise band. Nobody knows that yet, but it's coming. Tastes and conditions demand it.

Peace, Mooh.