Girardeau’s Instrumental Music, and other music links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• Girardeau’s Instrumental Music in the Public Worship of the Church, Review -- “The conclusion of this matter is, then, that neither the piety nor the good intention of our respectable opponents is disparaged by us; but that the teachers and rulers of our church, learning from the great reformers and the warning lights of church history, should take the safer position alongside of Dr. Girardeau.”
• Glen Allred, Legendary Florida Boys Baritone, Passes Away -- “If ever a life represented Christ, it was the life of Glen Allred. That’s what really matters. Well done, Glen. Well done.”
• Inspirations Joins The Harper Agency Family of Artists -- “Today, under the direction of original member Archie Watkins, group members Roland Kesterson, Isaac Moore, Wyatt Austin and Luke Vaught are continuing the tradition that began more than a half century ago.”
• Instrumental Music in the Public Worship of the Church -- “...the question is not in regard to private or family worship, or to that of social gatherings which are not ecclesiastical in their nature, nor with reference to the utility or tastefulness of instrumental music, nor in relation to the abuse to which it may be liable...”
• Johnny Cash’s old ranch is on the market for $1.8 million, and the agent says it’s a “virtual time capsule” -- “Cash bought the 5.91-acre estate in Ventura County, California, in 1961 with his then-wife Vivian, per the listing. The couple lived there with their daughters until their divorce in 1966.”
• My Times of Sorrow and of Joy - Benjamin Beddome -- “Like Doddridge, Watts, and Keach, Beddome would often compose a hymn to accompany the Sunday morning sermon each week. One Sunday in 1778, Beddome followed the Lord’s leading and preached from Psalm 31:15, My times are in thy hand. He was unaware that his son, who had just completed medical training in Scotland, had died that day in Edinburg.”
• Shall We Gather at the River - Robert Lowry -- “While he preferred to minimize his influence, Lowry is responsible for many hymnal publications, and from his pen flowed a great many melodies and lyrics that are well-loved centuries later.”
• Sounding Spirit Digital Library -- “This Sounding Spirit pilot digital library features songbooks and hymnals published across the southern United States from 1850 to 1925...the digital library’s twenty-two books include words-only hymnals, gospel songbooks, spiritual collections, and shape-note tunebooks...”
• The Breach in Worship -Benjamin Keach -- “Though his name is largely lost to time, his life left an indelible mark upon hymnody as he prepared the way for all who would follow – particularly among the Baptists.”
• The Breach Repaired - Benjamin Keach -- “But Keach was a rare breed. A faithful minister, wholly convinced that the church was done a grave disservice, would not be shaken from fulfilling the word of God.”
• The History of Instrumental Music in the Church -- “The Christian Church rejected instrumental music in worship for most of church history except in two periods: the dark ages of Roman Catholicism in the 14th to the early 16th centuries (with a few isolated instances prior to that), and again in the 19th century to the present.”
• The “Stacked Fourths” Chord: A Canonical Discord in The Sacred Harp -- “One striking discord occurs a number of times in The Sacred Harp, in works of major composers from all periods of the book’s history.”
• The United Sacred Harp Musical Association -- “Founded at a critical juncture in the history of Sacred Harp, the United Convention sought to serve as a central organization unifying singers from all different communities.”
• What Makes a Good Hymn? -- “Some hymns are compositional masterpieces but are hard for congregations to sing. Other hymns serve as expressions of personal devotion but do not thematically incorporate others.”