In a message dated 7/8/00 10:16:16 PM, MFoxy9795@a... writes:
<< there are some; i don't know the exact titles (i don't know about the CD.)>>
I was a CS soloist for years and searched far and wide for material. I never once saw a collection with a CD--it's not a bad idea, though!
I did come across one collection of sacred works with CD--it has the Mallotte Lord's Prayer, some spirituals, perhaps an Ave Maria etc--so only portions of it would be usable.
One excellent collection to start with is the Mack Harrell book (he was a Christian Scientist and his arrangements are just about guaranteed to be acceptable). There is also an officially sanctioned set (2 volumes) of settings of MBE poems--my churches supplied them for me. IMHO, the arrangements by Frederick Root are about the best, although there is also a very nice setting of "Shepherd Show Me" by Jean Alden Joy.
<<i can tell you, though, that the text of the solo in the Christian Science church must be either from Scripture or by Mary Baker Eddy. >>
Not so--at least not where I've sung! Although most churches will require an MBE solo on a regular basis (usually once a month) and have a preference for scriptural-based music, I have had great successes with many, many works that are not direct (or even indirect) quotes from scripture. (EG, "Be thou with me"). I've sung spirituals (my church LOVED Balm in Gilead) and even made up my own texts (to Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus) for example.
In fact, I've actually gotten into trouble with some pieces that are entirely scriptural. The passage "and though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (from I know that my Redeemer liveth) is anathema to some CS people, although not all.
Judy
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