One of the fascinating events around Christmas is children's singing at carol rounds, nativity plays, carol service, family get togethers, etc. They sing unmindful of the strict musical protocols and how their singing may sound to others. There is spontaneity, joy and communication. I am most encouraged by the efforts their parents take, to introduce children to classical music at a time, when schools are not replacing the music teachers, once the older ones retire.
Both Arpit and Anandit used to be part of Children's choir from about six years of age at Chennai, which was conducted by late Handel Manuel, a musical genius, who loved to lead children's choir. Every time, I hear children sing, my memory goes back to those days, when Anna took considerable effort to introduce both the boys to choral music, Church music, instrumental music and solo singing. It meant spending long hours travelling in the city to go to different places for practice and individual instruction. Both the boys have pursued their musical interests actively and now their spouses Amy and Aswathy are able companions in their musical pursuit.
What refreshes me most when I hear children sing is the age old tradition in many homes, taking time for family prayers in the morning and evening. If you were to go for a walk in our village around 5 am, twenty years back, we would hear songs sung by the family during the family prayer. It was lovely to hear children's voices, although it may have lacked musical quality. The family prayer was repeated in the evenings as well, before supper. Such singings recalled God's presence and reality in one's life. Children took turns to read aloud from the Bible. That was an introduction to memorising the verses form the Bible. Some families made it as a part of the family prayer. Children grew up 'with a loving fear of God'.
I am afraid, that many homes are losing the habit of family prayers and with it children are less familiar with hymns, choruses, lyrics, etc and children are mainly listening to film music, pop music, jaz, heavy metal. With the advent of cell phone as a musical gadget, even pre-school children prefer film music.
With family prayer receding as a ritual, there is much we lose out...
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
Very well said. We need to make Family Prayers a priority.
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