Comment

Comment by Rachel Findley on 4th mo. 20, 2009 at 10:59am

This is wonderful, especially the part about not recognizing the old standards within a new piece on first hearing (2 minutes in). Many of the Biblical quotations, used in classic Quaker journals and then becoming part of ministry that I heard in my first decades, were similarly unfamiliar to me. Now when I read those passage in the journals or the scriptures, I recognize them in my bones because I heard them first as spoken ministry.

There's a difference between imitation of others' text and delivery and weaving it in to a living voice.

Comment by C. Wess Daniels on 3rd mo. 2, 2009 at 4:49pm

I want to reiterate how brilliant this is Chad, you should really write this up and have it published somewhere. I think you're really onto something.

Comment by Martin Kelley on 2nd mo. 27, 2009 at 8:59am

Our interview was running long (10 minute Youtube limit) but I did want to throw Chad a curve ball by quoting Samuel Bownas' advice to "infant" ministers to stay away from mere mimickry:

"If thee looks out at the excellency and beauty of another's gift to be more than what is in thy own, a desire may arise in thee to render thyself like him, and so endeavor to mimic and imitate the delivery, accent and manner of others. Thus leaving thy own gift, and devoting thyself to follow or be guided by others, thee will soon be under a cloud, and lay a stumbling block in they own way and shut up the hearts of thy brethren towards thee." (p. 31 of the Pendle Hill edition)

I'm not sure Bownas would approve of Winton Marsalis' neo-traditionalist jazz phase!

Comment by C. Wess Daniels on 2nd mo. 27, 2009 at 12:03am

Good stuff, I think Chad should really develop this line of thought further there is real substance here. Chad, I'm also wondering how you might see Jazz Improv as having some kind of analogy for convergent Friends. My understanding of improv is that it's something new, but rooted in a deep understanding of the tradition?

Comment by David Carl on 2nd mo. 26, 2009 at 6:41pm

ba dwee do wah bop do wah!