INTERVIEW

Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary

Subject: MM 351 Introduction to Church Music

Professors: Jimmy M. Laquian

Student: Sein Thein

Assignments: Interview to Church minister or Music minister

Date: July 13^rd, 2007

INTERVIEW

Sein Thein: What is your Church involvement?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: I have been directing five choirs so far as we moved to different places and attended different churches. In the last Church that I attended, I was a musician as well as choir director and song leader in our Church. I was also one of the appointed Church deacons. Besides involving in the music ministry, I also preached sermons from time to time and on Sundays I taught in one of the Sunday school classes. I was also the President of the Youth Fellowship for 2 years. At present, I am acting as a music director in a Church here in Baguio.

Sein Thein: What are your visions as music minister?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: I have three visions as music minister. Firstly, I always wanted to have a lively and wonderful time of worship through singing during the worship service and I am trying my best to improve the quality of singing musically as well as spiritually. Secondly, I also dreamt of having a good choir that will bless the Church and its congregation with songs that are sung with enthusiasm and spiritual motives. Thirdly, I want to give my best effort to help young people who are involved in music ministries so that they will be equipped and trained spiritually and musically in rendering their service for Christ and the Church and further, for the work of evangelism. The Church is also planning to establish a school of music where I am assigned to work there.

Sein Thein: What are your commitments towards your vision for the church?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: I have been thinking that at the moment the best thing for me is to equip myself better musically and spiritually in order to fulfill my visions for the Church. That is why I come here to learn and experience more about music ministries in spite of all the difficulties.

Sein thein: What is worship according to you?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: The term ‘Worship’ can mean a lot of things. In a broad way, worship involves everything that we do to please God. Every activity of our life can be ‘worship’ if we do it for the glory of God. It is not just about praising God through songs. We must praise and worship him with our lives, and not just with our mouth. That may involve obedience, holiness, faithfulness, trustworthiness, honesty, perseverance, etc.

Sein Thein: What is the importance of worship in your life?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: Worship is really important for me because it is about bringing pleasure to God. If I live a righteous life by obeying and live according to God’s will in order to please Him, it would mean ‘life’ and true happiness to me. But on the other hand, if I live against his will, that would mean ‘death’ to me. Therefore, my motive always has to be to please God.

Sein Thein: What do you think about how we should worship?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: The Bible says in John 4:23 that God is spirit and his worshippers must worship him in truth and spirit and that God is looking for true worshippers. Therefore, any act of worship must be done in truth and in spirit. It must be for the purpose of God’s glory and to bring pleasure to him. If we worship just for our pleasure, God will not accept our worship at all. We must give him all our heart as we worship him.

Sein Thein: How is your relationship with other staffs?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: So far so good. By the grace of God, I have been able to overcome the little indifference that we have so far without much trouble.

Sein Thein: How do you encourage and inspire the congregation and colleagues to worship and minister?

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: This may be a long step and a little complicated. The first thing is to pray for them privately and individually. I also let them know the importance and effectiveness of prayer in every field of ministries. The next step that I take is to express words of encouragement and inspiration as often as I can. I know that it is my responsibility to remind them of the importance of worship as a Christian. Thirdly, I am trying my best to set an example for the congregation and my colleagues in living a life of Christian faith. Lastly, I taught them music as much as I can and give them training on various music ministries.

Sein Thein: Thank you for your co-operations.

Moses Lalrohlua Sailo: You are welcome!

Sein Thein: God bess you!!!

Diklai dongah Ming aka thang Eagle Band rhoek kah Mueithlip

Bass Player Timothy b. schmit

Lead Player Joe Walsh

Guitar player Glenn Frey

Eagle Band kah Mueithlip Rhoek

Drumer Joe Henley

Oepsoeh la Laaremh Soina

1. Oepsoeh la Laaremh Soina ti he balae a thuingaihna?

* “oepsoeh la laaremh soina” ti he tah, laavaihkung or laa cangpueikung loh, laa a cang puei ham koi te oepsoeh la a soi tih, a sai ham koi a rhoep a saep boeih te oepsoeh la a soi phoei ah, tikah a soi oepsoeh coeng bangla a sai hamla om te ni.

Oepsoeh la laaremh soi ti he tah a dang kah bangla a om ham om.

a) Khonhin, acan, neh laaremh kah acan a toi a senna
b) Laaremh a rhoep asaep cang puei vaengah

Thuina mai ah:

Laaremh cang ham koi te lumha la thuicaihna khue ham (Starlight)
Laa kah a kawng alam or asulam te thuicaih ham (Hark! The Herald)
Laaremh rhoek te (SATB) sai tih ol a thloeh thloeh la sak ham (What Child Is this)

c) Laa/laaremh te matlamlae oepsoehla ka tong phoei ah ka bawt sak eh; ti te (order) la na sai ni; lumlaa note tae sakna/ ol tlaihna
d) Ol pakhat rhip te minutes mayet lae na mhan eh
e) Laa cahawn dongka (notes, pages, measures ect.) cana te laaremh rhoek loh hat hat a loh, hat hat a kaa thaina hamla oepsoehla soina

Note: Koep ka peh hamla om pueng!

Rehearsal Plan

Date: December 3, 2007, 2007
Rehearsal Time: 5:30-7:00 PM

Objectives:
1. The choir would be able to review the five songs Ikaw ang Dahilan, Lord, Thy Servants Praise Thee, One Touch of His Hand, Alleluia, Lord God!
2. The choir would be able to familiarize the five songs and blend their parts.

Title: Ikaw ang Dahilan
Lord, Thy Servants Praise Thee
One Touch of His Hand
Alleluia, Lord God!
Amen

Vocalization: A-ahaha (the short one)
Koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-ooo-aah
Execution:
1. Measures 1-21 (Amen)
a. Review the song by singing it slowly, let them hear their chords as they sing.
b. Sing with the accompaniment.

2. Measures 1-46 (Alleluia, Lord God!)
a. Review the parts
b. Sight read the new theme until the end
c. Learn the parts
d. Sing from the top

2. Measures 21-39 (Ikaw ang Dahilan)
a. Review their parts in the chorus until measure 39(SATB)
b. Learn the 2nd ending.
c. Sing from the top

2. Measures 1-13 (Lord, Thy Servants Praise Thee)
a. Review the Alleluia part and until the end (start with the men then
ladies)

3. Measures 37-78(One Touch of His Hand)
a. Listen to the blending and remind the breath marks and consonants.
b. Sing with the accompaniment 2 measures before m.37.

Church Music Education Program for the whole year

Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary
Course: MM 361 Church Music Ministry
Professor: Miss Julie Sibucao
Student: Sein Thein
Assignment: Church Music Ministry/Education Program
Date: February 15th, 2008

_________________________________________

Month: January

The Basic Music foundation
The meaning of Music
About theory
a) Learning the names of note (e.g. whole note, half note, etc.)

The History of Music
The history of Instruments
a) The history of Piano
b) The history of Guitar
c) The history of Percussions


Month: February

Sound

Pitch
a) Highness
b) Lowness

Dynamics
a) Decrescendo
b) Diminuendo

Tone
a) Listening Outlines
b) Listening to the tape or CD

Month: March

Performing Media (Voices and Instruments)
Voices
a) Soprano
b) Mezzo-soprano
c) Alto or contralto
d) Tenor
e) Baritone
f) Bass

Instruments

a) String Instruments
b) Woodwind Instruments
c) Brass Instruments
d) Percussion Instruments
e) Keyboard
f) Electronic Instruments

Month: April

Rhythm
1) Beat
2) Meter
3) Accent and Syncopation
4) Tempo

Month: May

Music Notation
1) Notating Pitch
2) Notating Rhythm
3) Notating Silence (Rests)
4) Notating Meter
5) Notating the Score

Month: June

Harmony
1) Consonance and dissonance
2) The Triad
3) Broken chord

Month: July

Key
1) Major Scale
2) Minor Scale
3) Key Signature
4) Chromatic Scale

Month: August

Musical Texture
1) Monophonic Texture
2) Polyphonic Texture
3) Homophonic Texture
4) Changes of Texture

Month: September

Musical Form
1) Techniques That Create Musical Form
a) Repetition
b) Contrast
c) Variation
2) Types of Musical Form
a) Three-part (Ternary) Form : ABB
b) Listening Outline
c) Two parts (Binary) Form: AB

Month: October

Applied Music
1) Discussion about applied Music
2) Practical
a) Piano Lesson
b) Vice Lesson
c) Guitar Lesson
d) Violin Lesson

Month: November

Performance
1) The performer
2) The Conductor
3) Recorder and Live Performance
4) Judging Performance
5) Recital

Month: December

The Renaissance
1) Music in the Renaissance
2) Sacred Music in the Renaissance
3) Secular Music in the Renaissance

Hymn Analysis

Subject: Hymnody
Professor: Jan Hill
Student: Sein Thein
_____________________________________

Hymn Analysis Checklist

Title: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (P. 333)

I. Literary Structure

A. Meter: 10.9.109. with refrain
B. Poetic Feet: Trochaic
C. Rhyme Scheme: aaaabbabba
D. Poetic Devices and Figure of Speech: Personification
E. Organization: Litany

II. Thought Content

Scripture Background: Deuteronomy 33:27
Theological Teaching: The song teaches about fellowship, blessedness peace for everlasting arms.

Direction: This song speaks to me God is my everlasting life.
Prose Summary:

Organization: Paradox

III. Musical Characteristics

Phrase Structure: Repetition
Melodic Movement: Up or down
Harmony: Basic Chords
Meter: simple
Rhythm: Straightforward
Counterpoint: Relation of bass line to melodic
Form: Strophic Form (AABB)

IV. Evaluative Questions Words

Are the thoughts expressed theologically sound? (yes)
Does the hymn dwell on thoughts of God, or on the mood of the singer? (yes)
Are the ideas expressed within the understanding of the average member of your congregation? (yes)
What words, term, names, phrases, if any, might need explanation? (No)
Does the poetry posses simplicity and beauty? (Yes)
Does the thoughts express spiritual reality? Would they apply to your congregation as a whole? (yes)
Are the thoughts expressed relevant? Do they avoid well-worn hymnic clichés? (Yes)
B. Music
Does it enhance the significance of the text? (yes)
Would it be within the capability of those who must sing it? ( )
C. Usage
Formal Worship
Adults
Method of presentation
Using different instruments (not only piano).

-----------------

Title: My Faith looks up to Thee (P.416)

I. Literary Structure

A. Meter: Irregular
B. Poetic Feet: Iambic tetrameter
C. Rhyme Scheme: aabccd
D. Poetic Devices and Figure of Speech: Personification
E. Organization: Litany

II. Thought Content

Scripture Background: Isaiah 45:22
Theological Teaching: The phrases teach about asking to God for faith and praying to God.
Direction: This song speaks to me God forgives me all my sins away. Jesus Christ died for me.
Prose Summary:

Organization: Paradox

III. Musical Characteristics

Phrase Structure: Repetition
Melodic Movement: Up or down
Harmony: Basic Chords
Meter: simple
Rhythm: Straightforward
Counterpoint: Relation of bass line to melodic
Form: Strophic Form (ABCCD)

IV. Evaluative Questions Words
Are the thoughts expressed theologically sound? (yes)
Does the hymn dwell on thoughts of God, or on the mood of the singer? (yes)
Are the ideas expressed within the understanding of the average member of your congregation? (yes)
What words, term, names, phrases, if any, might need explanation? (No)
Does the poetry posses simplicity and beauty? (Yes)
Does the thoughts express spiritual reality? Would they apply to your congregation as a whole? (yes)
Are the thoughts expressed relevant? Do they avoid well-worn hymnic clichés? (Yes)
B. Music
Does it enhance the significance of the text? (yes)
Would it be within the capability of those who must sing it? ( )
C. Usage
Formal Worship
Adults
Method of presentation
Using different instruments (not only piano).

Hymnody

Professor: Jan Hill
Student: Sein Thein
Date: January 28, 2008
________________________________________________________________________

Title: A Mighty Fortress is Our Go
Author-composer: Martin Luther
Date: 1483-1546
Translator: Frederick Hedge (1853)
Scripture: Psalm 46:1

The hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" was written by Martin Luther around the time when the term Protestant was first heard. This hymn became the battle cry during the Protestant reformation.

Thank God for men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Huldreich Zwingli and others who led the way during the reformation and gave us the basis for our evangelical faith.
The hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” written by Martin Luther, was the battle call for the Protestant Reformation. It is based on Psalm 46. Luther said of music, “After theology, there is nothing that can be placed on a level with music. It drives out the devil and makes people cheerful. It is a gift that God gave to birds and to men. We need to remove hymn singing from the domain of monks and priests and set the laity to singing. By the singing of hymns the laity can publicly express their love to the Almighty God.”

Psalm 46 was a great comfort to him. He repeated the first verse over again, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Those words was burning in his heart, he hurled his defiance at his enemies.

The four stanzas were reminders that God is the fortress of the soul; Christ the champion of the soul; and Satan, the enemy of the soul. But the ultimate victory will be God’s whose “Kingdom is forever.”

Title: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Words: Elizabeth C. Clephane (1830-1869)
Music: Frederick C. Maker (1844-1927)
Scripture: John 19:25

This beautiful hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" was written by Elizabeth C. Clephane. The author was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 18, 1830. She died in1869. Her sister was also a song writer and the famous Gospel singer.

One day, Mr. Sankey was reading a newspaper, hoping to find some American news. He closed the paper and then upon reopening it he saw the poem on the good shepherd. He was so impressed with the poem, he read it to Mr. Moody was lost in thought and made no comment. Mr. Moody came to Mr. Sankey in tears, and asked “where did you get that hymn? It was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard,” Sankey relied that it was the one he had not God whispered them to his heart.

This song is really beautiful. The lyrics are also beautiful. When we think that Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things, the mighty God, would love you and me so much that He would willing die for us. Not just a common death, but that cruel suffering of the cross. Herein is love. Not that we loved Him, but that he loved the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Miss Clephane did not live to hear either of her hymns sung or to know they had been such a blessing. They were both put to music several years after her death. Jesus Himself said, “the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

Title: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Words: Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960)
Music: William M. Runyan (1870-1957)
Date: 1866-1957
Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-23

Thomas Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Simpson County, Kentucky, July 29th, 1866. When young Thomas was 21, he got a job as associate editor of a Kentucky newspaper, in Franklin County. God used this evangelist to bring Christ to Thomas. He wrote over 1200 hymns, such as: "Living For Jesus," and "O, to be Like Thee." But the hymn we remember the most is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." He wrote this song because over his entire life he had learned to see the greatness of God. He wrote at the age of seventy-five. Words: Thom­as O. Chis­holm, 1923. Ac­cord­ing to Chis­holm, there were no spe­cial cir­cum­stanc­es which caused its writ­ing—just his ex­per­i­ence and Bi­ble truth. The hymn first ap­peared in Songs of Sal­va­tion and Serv­ice, 1923, com­piled by Wil­liam M. Run­yan. It is the un­of­fi­cial “school hymn” of Moo­dy Bi­ble In­sti­tute in Chi­ca­go, with which Run­yan was as­so­ci­at­ed for a num­ber of years. Music: Run­yan wrote the mu­sic spe­ci­fic­al­ly for these words; it ap­peared in the 1956 Bap­tist Hymn­al. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, popularized by George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham Crusade choirs.
The book of Jeremiah’s mentions the declaration of faith “This recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” (lam. 3:21-23). This scripture became a living reality in his own experience during those dark war days of 1939-1945. The composer quoted the scripture to himself. He used it in his prayer and he always delighted in preaching on the text and still do.

Jesus Said, “My peace I leave with you.” Great peace, the gift of God’s love. Things seem to be falling to pieces around our ears. Riots and murders and rebellion seem to have become the order of the day. King David said, “God is our refuge and strength.” (Ps. 46)

Title: I Need Thee Every Hour
Words: Annie S. Hawks (1835-1918)
Music: Robert Lowry (1826-1899)
Scripture: John 15:5 KJV

Annie Hawks wrote: “One day as a young wife and mo­ther of 37 years of age, I was bu­sy with my reg­u­lar house­hold tasks. Sud­den­ly, I be­came so filled with the sense of near­ness to the Mast­er that, won­der­ing how one could live with­out Him, ei­ther in joy or pain, these words, “I Need Thee Ev­e­ry Hour,” were ush­ered in­to my mind, the thought at once tak­ing full pos­sess­ion of me.”

After writ­ing the lyr­ics, Hawks gave them to her pas­tor, Ro­bert Low­ry, who add­ed the tune and re­frain. The hymn was first pub­lished at the Na­tion­al Bap­tist Sun­day School Con­ven­tion in Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio, in No­vem­ber 1872. Some years lat­er, af­ter the death of her hus­band, Hawks wrote:Annie Hawks said, “I did not un­der­stand at first why this hymn had touched the great throb­bing heart of hu­man­i­ty. It was not un­til long af­ter, when the sha­dow fell over my way, the sha­dow of a great loss, that I un­der­stood some­thing of the com­fort­ing pow­er in the words which I had been per­mit­ted to give out to others in my hour of sweet se­ren­i­ty and peace. Before I open my eyes in the morning I need You to be present in my thoughts so that when I do open my eyes I will begin my day by thinking of You. When I begin my day with You on my mind and in my heart, it is much easier to stay focused on You the rest of the day. When my day begins with a focus on my daily tasks, the problems I must face and feel I must solve consume my thinking, and my prayers. So Father, I need You in the morning hours.” As I take my first steps I need You to remind me of the gift of another day that You have given me. The water I will use to brush my teeth, shave my face and wash my body reminds me that You are the living water that has and will continue to change my life. The medicines I take remind me that You are the Great Physician and that You are willing to heal me of all my spiritual diseases if I will only abide in You and do your will. Father, I need You to keep me healthy. As I greet my family I need You to remind me that You have entrusted me to be a Father to my children, and to love my wife the way You love Your church. I need you to remind me that with the conversations I have with these precious ones I can give them life, or I can take the life out of their day. I can be a light, or I can bring darkness into their day. I can bless them and build them up, or I can frustrate them and tear them down. Father, I need You show me how to be a father and a husband.