September 28th, 2008 Music
Learning to Sing Parts
We learn to sing by hearing. Below, you will find music files from which you can learn the melodies involved in singing hymns in four-part harmony so that we can sing them a capella at Reformation Fellowship. (A capella is Latin for “from the chapel/choir,” meaning singing without instrumental accompaniment.) New music files will be posted below as they become available. Also below are PDF files of the words to each song.
Each hymn will have five stereo, music-only (no words) files, one for each part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and one file with all parts. To learn a part, for example the alto, for a hymn, you would do the following:
- Download the alto file from this site to your PC or MP3 player.
- Use ear phones to listen to the file, which will have the alto part playing on one side (channel) and all the other parts playing on the other side.
- To concentrate on the alto part only, either adjust the balance so that that the alto part is louder or use only the side of the earphone with the alto part.
- If you are not sure what part you should sing, try singing all the parts to see what range is right for you.
As the song files appear on this site, they will be announced at Reformation Fellowship, in Four Pages, or via email. Or you can just keeping checking this site. The dates for singing the songs at Reformation Fellowship will also be announced in advance.
For more information about this project or to suggest more hymns, contact Dan Moore [email dans voice (one word, no space) at comcast.net] . This project is a free service to Reformation Fellowship. If you choose to contribute to the cause, please support Reformation Fellowship, Gutenberg College, McKenzie Study Center, or the Art Project. See Gutenberg.edu for information.
All songs are “Public Domain.”