Re: lyrics to music

[Fr. Michael Gilmary, mma]

On Nov 21 AD 2012, at 8:18 AM, Kieren MacMillan wrote:


> Hi Father Michael,


Hi Kieren!


> There are too many situations where the lyrics in different verses  
> of the same music have different syllabic structure.


At the risk of dragging this out --- I'm very grateful for all the  
input --- what I detect is that there is a basic division of opinion:  
1) those who look mostly to the music; 2) those who look mostly to  
the words/lyrics.

Since no one can look at both simultaneously (unless someone's eyes  
move independently of each other) there will be a preference for one  
or the other depending on one's chief focus.

My sympathy will be to have the lyrics more readable. With a little  
experience in typography over the last few years, I acknowledge that  
a given text will be easier to read when the spacing between words is  
regular and consistent ... it's deplorable AND difficult to read a  
text where the spacing between words is different not only in one  
line, but from line to line stacked up on a page.

So, that's my reason for my preference. I think I can see why some  
would prefer the present convention since it makes the music more  
readable. And if my eye were more towards the music, then I might  
prefer that way, too.



United in adoration of Jesus,



fr. michael gilmary, mma

Most Holy Trinity Monastery
67 Dugway Road
Petersham, MA 01366

www.MaroniteMonks.org