Singing Acapulco

[rlvaughn]

In the thread Your Church Song Service, some of the respondents mentioned in passing about their practice regarding a cappella singing (without instrumental accompaniment).

Deacon said, "We rarely sing Acapulco," and Revmitchell wrote, "I do not allow acapella unless it is for emphasis on a single verse." questdriven stated, "I don't recall ever not using instruments, unless the people who played them weren't available."
questdriven

While people may enjoy singing or hearing songs without instrumental accompaniment, I think it is fair to assume that most American churches use musical instruments in their worship services. It is my experience that churches that use musical instruments seldom if ever incorporate a cappella singing as any significant part of their services.

I wonder why? What is the reason your church does not sing a cappella?

Thanks.

 

[Deacon]

Deacon said, "We rarely sing Acapulco,"

There's just not enough money to get the whole congregation there.

A cappella? Once in a while we'll sing a single verse of a song that way for emphasis.

But I've heard our congregation sing and even the angels cringe.

Rob

 

[Revmitchell]

Its boring

 

[kyredneck]

I wonder why? What is the reason your church does not sing a cappella?

Been with Primitive Baptists singing a cappella 34 years and love it and look forward to the song service always. Visiting other orders in the past, an organ or piano accompanying the singing is now, well, irritating, for lack of a better word.

 

[kyredneck]

But I've heard our congregation sing and even the angels cringe.

With practice they would improve immensely. Besides, we're to make a JOYFUL NOISE, not sing like angels (although I've taken part in some beautiful singing with the Old Baptists; makes you sing the hymns and hum the tunes to yourself for the rest of the week ).

 

[Scarlett O.]

Many, many times our choir director or pastor (who leads the song service if the choir director is gone) will give a hand signal for the instruments to stop playing after the last verse and congregation will repeat the chorus once or twice a capella.

It's moving to me and is a good way to "wind down" the song. Especially if prayer is next.

 

[rlvaughn]

But I've heard our congregation sing and even the angels cringe.

Rob, like kyredneck, I think practice and realizing we aren't called to sing like the angels is a good antidote.

Its boring

"It's boring" sounds like a synonym for "don't like a cappella." Am I wrong?

 

[Revmitchell]

"It's boring" sounds like a synonym for "don't like a cappella." Am I wrong?

I like it when a trained acappella groups sings it. I do not like it when a church full of untrained individuals tries to do it.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Does a pastor have the authority to stop someone from singing a cappella? My new Missionary Baptist church uses a piano and a fellow uses a guitar and others use their phones and sing along with a song on youtube or they have a CD they sing along with. But I sing a cappella as that was what the churches I used to go to did. It is hard for me to keep up with some songs if music is played with them as I am just not used to it. But they graciously allow me to sing a cappella. And they seem to really like it. But for a pastor to disallow it seems to be a bit over the top.

 

[Jerome]

Beware of getting in a rut of either sort, counsels Charles Spurgeon in "Beware of Unbelief":

"we need to escape from these horrid ruts, and wretched conventionalisms, which are rather hindrances than helps. Some very stereotyped brethren judge it to be a crime for an evangelist to sing the gospel; and as to that American organ,—dreadful! One of these days another set of conservative souls will hardly endure a service without such things"

 

[Revmitchell]

Does a pastor have the authority to stop someone from singing a cappella?

Sure, I have oversight of everything in the worship service. I have never been to a church where that was not the case.

 

[kyredneck]

a cappella singing (without instrumental accompaniment).

My new Missionary Baptist church uses a piano and a fellow uses a guitar ...... But I sing a cappella

Lol, I'm trying to figure how you sing a cappella at your church; with some really good ear plugs maybe?

 

[rsr]

I've grown up with instruments, sung in choirs with orchestras and most recently sung with the worship team — guitars, keyboards, drums, etc. It can all be good.

But, if I had my druthers, I'd have a lot more a capella singing. (Maybe that's partly because when I was a teenager my friends and I would spend hours singing hymns and gospel in the pickup truck and everywhere else; but that's a different story.)

When I visited a Primitive church (of course there were no instruments) I sang along and kept up as best as I could (I knew most of the songs, but the tunes were different) and was edified by the experience. Sometimes I tire of churches' emphasis on production values; this is supposed to be worship, not entertainment. The early church didn't use instruments, after all. The important thing was the worship, not how well it was executed.

On the occasions that the song leader dismisses the instruments, I am especially blessed, and I can hear the sincerity in the voices of the congregation that is masked when the instruments are blaring.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Lol, I'm trying to figure how you sing a cappella at your church; with some really good ear plugs maybe?

If you can't sing good, sing LOUD!!!

 

[Rippon]

I've grown up with instruments, sung in choirs with orchestras and most recently sung with the worship team — guitars, keyboards, drums, etc. It can all be good.

But, if I had my druthers, I'd have a lot more a capella singing. (Maybe that's partly because when I was a teenager my friends and I would spend hours singing hymns and gospel in the pickup truck and everywhere else; but that's a different story.)

When I visited a Primitive church (of course there were no instruments) I sang along and kept up as best as I could (I knew most of the songs, but the tunes were different) and was edified by the experience. Sometimes I tire of churches' emphasis on production values; this is supposed to be worship, not entertainment. The early church didn't use instruments, after all. The important thing was the worship, not how well it was executed.

On the occasions that the song leader dismisses the instruments, I am especially blessed, and I can hear the sincerity in the voices of the congregation that is masked when the instruments are blaring.

I added an "I agree" to the above. But I have to say -- I identify with what rsr has said here. In my formative PB days we sometimes had a piano. But in many services a man would start a hymn off with a note from his harmonica and then we would sing the entirety with just our voices. It was beautiful --simplicity is much of the time.

 

[Rippon]

I like it when a trained acappella groups sings it. I do not like it when a church full of untrained individuals tries to do it.

You have not yet been privileged to experience it.

 

[Salty]

At times - I will have the congregation READ a verse
I have been known to say " the time when Baptists lie the most is when we sing a song"
I like for the congregation to know what the verse is saying....

Currently at our church - we do not sing - way to small - and we are more in a Bible study mode.

 

[Sapper Woody]

I love a capella music. Hearing vocal harmonies is amazing. I am of a VERY strong opinion, though, that a soloist should not sing a capella. Firstly, I simply don't think it sounds good.

Secondly, music is comprised of three parts; melody, harmony, and rhythm. If a soloist sings a capella, you have melody and rhythm, but no harmony. You don't have music. You have a tune.

This is one of the same arguments I use against rap "music". If someone is rapping, you lose the harmony and melody, and only have rhythm. If you like it, that's between you and God. But don't call it music, because it's not. Same goes for a capella soloists.

Sent from my QTAQZ3 using Tapatalk

 

[rsr]

Just to continue my curmudgeonly ways, I see little warrant for solos of any kind; the emphasis should always be on congregational singing. Participation, not entertainment.

 

[kyredneck]

Currently at our church - we do not sing - way to small - and we are more in a Bible study mode.

We had six in attendance at Richmond this morning and had a wonderful song service.