by Honesty 3 Replies latest jw experiences
Even the poorest church in East Tennessee has a choir and a real piano to sing praises to God.
Why is there none at the Kingdom Hall? Is it because the KH is just a sales office, thus no need to praise God?
Back in the 1970's I heard that there was an orchestra and that my FIL played violin in it.
What happened to the music??
Records--cassettes-CDs happened. As soon as the WTS started producing the KH songs on records, they started "suggesting" that these be used rather than pianos and orchestras. The abilities of the pianists were uneven, too much time was spent on practicing, and we must have unity.
Blondie
I played violin in the assembly's orchestra. It was in the early 70's. HL
In my youth, every KH had a piano and the songs were sung with gusto to the strains of real music. OK, the quality varied and the tempo of the tunes could be different in one congo to another, but it had soul, feeling and a human input.
We were pleased to have a Circuit Orchestra which was run by a 'brother' who was musically gifted and the players got a great kick out of practising together, and playing at the Circuit Assemblies. I can remember the buzz on a Sunday before the Public Talk, with the pressure to find seats for everyone and the orchestra playing their stuff, it created an atmosphere. There was also a larger Orchestra at District Assemblies.
Then, as Blondie said, along came WT recorded music... The higher ups thought that the musicians would be better off using their practice time in the 'ministry' and every KH now sings to c/d's .. Music at assembles is just a backgound ..
Another human endeavour squandered in the goal of "Simplification"
