The Singing Thing too: Enabling congregations to sing

by John L. Bell

In Book 1 of "The Singing Thing", John Bell explored the reasons why people sing. In Book 2 he is concerned with learning and teaching. How do people pick up new music? How do you encourage a congregation to learn a new song? How can you breathe new life into quality hymnody which has gone stale? With both tact and irreverence, John Bell shares insights culled from over 20 years of experience in this field.

Genres: Music

139 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a more practical companion to Bell's earlier "The Singing Thing." I much enjoyed both books, though not being in the practice of directing congregational music, much of this present volume was unrelatable.

Perhaps what I enjoyed best in this book was the recommendation that churches not sing all songs in the same style, but rather to set each song in a style appropriate to its origin. For instance, I was trained in the climate of American Fundamentalist evangelistic pianism, well suited for the American Gospel Hymn, but not so well suited for nearly anything else; nevertheless, everything else was contorted to fit.

The one thing I found lacking in (perhaps by design) in Bell's encouragement was the appropriateness of singing songs according to a particular congregation's native voice, and not merely the original setting. Perhaps this was supposed to be understood in his appeal, but it seemed to be disregarded as I read it. Perhaps his more intense globalism and ecumenism was seeking to overcome tribalism such that a single congregation's native voice is actually a hinderance in his view. I would prefer to balance those scales differently, though not so much as to fail to find great value (and a new vision) in his encouragement.

A note of caution for my fellow conservative Evangelicals: the author's ecumenism and globalism, particularly resonating with trajectories established by Vatican II (which will make more sense if you've read Terry York's "America's Worship Wars") should call for a heightened vigilance in reading this book. Certain of his recommendations, for instance of hymn-writer Brian Wren, should be dismissed with prejudice.

Finally, the last chapter definitely changed the tone of the book from positive to negative. Maybe that was the goal. Where he had so thoroughly expressed in open terms the objective of incorporating a more global experience of congregational praise, here he turns his eye emphatically against tribalism, especially the continental tribalism in much English hymnody of the previous two centuries. He does so lovingly, even respectfully to a point, but very firmly. It's hard not to read his sentiments here in the light of the current plague of "woke" Christianity, and while I consider this one of the low points of the book, I actually want to defend him on this account. It is not "woke" Christianity at work here, but a more intentional globalism. While his ecumenism certainly introduces problems, the particular problem here is not "woke-ness." He need not be taken as an enemy on that account, and where our own self-examination is sometimes long overdue, he can be an ally and friend in that process.

In all, this is a good follow-up to a book I thoroughly enjoyed many years ago. While the practical nature and more obvious ecumenism made it a little less relatable to me, the author's idea of setting tunes in forms more in line with their original setting--and the advantages of doing so (including overcoming latent prejudices)--is well worth the read.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a useful book, and a good reminder to church musicians at any level to be thoughtful about the way they support the singing of their congregation; to encourage the congregation in their singing, to give them confidence, to use instrumentation (or lack of it) to reflect the song's origins, and to consider the lyrics when thinking about how to sing.

I first heard John Bell speak about 20 years ago, and I enjoyed reading this book because I had forgotten some of these pointers. A good resource.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume isn't as essential as the first, but could be helpful reminders for church music programmers who are stuck in a rut doing the same music thing all the time.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who leads congregational singing should read both "The Singing Thing" and this book. So many congregations have been led to believe that they really can't sing well - only the choir can, and John Bell shows song leaders how to get congregations singing confidently and beautifully in praise to God.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to follow approach that works well with congregations as I've tested it a number of times.