GNT in Music, Ancient and Modern
Posted: January 16th, 2014, 1:31 am
(Warning: Long Introduction, Short Question)
As I continue in my efforts for Koine fluency, I have noticed how immensely helpful it is to have GNT passages memorized. I memorized John 14:6 years ago, before I understood anything except for the obvious corresponding words, long before I got any formal Greek education. Most of it was just parroting what I hoped was the correct pronunciation of a string of syllables. But, when I began my Greek course, and began the arduous process of memorizing dozens of new vocab words each week, I was delighted to find that I could effortlessly retain the words from John 14:6. Now, rather than pound through vocab cards, I find that it is much more (intellectually and spiritually) profitable to meditate on a passage of Scripture.
So, my goal is to memorize passages from the GNT, and as I have been working on this, I started to reflect on how I can easily forget the recitation I was working on yesterday, but I have not forgotten the Latin, Russian, Spanish, etc. songs that I sang in choir nearly 10 years ago! I'm grateful for those who are setting the Westminster Catechism to song, for the same reason. (This is nothing new, I know. Song has been used as a mnemonic device since the days of Homer.)
So here are my questions: 1) Has passages/verses of the GNT already been set to music some time through the past two millenia? I can't be the first person to suggest this. Gregorian chants and most other forms of high liturgical music are typically in Latin. I don't know of anyone who composed in Koine. I would assume that post-Renaissance there would be some use of Erasmus' GNT, but if there are, I am unaware of them. If anyone has any friends with expertise in this area, could you ask for me? Also, I have seen the modern songs translated to Koine in a previous thread. While this is certainly helpful, I am looking for actual GNT passages.
2) If one wanted to compose some music to help students memorize passages of the GNT, what kind of musical style should they use?
Here's to hoping someone has already thought through this for me.
As I continue in my efforts for Koine fluency, I have noticed how immensely helpful it is to have GNT passages memorized. I memorized John 14:6 years ago, before I understood anything except for the obvious corresponding words, long before I got any formal Greek education. Most of it was just parroting what I hoped was the correct pronunciation of a string of syllables. But, when I began my Greek course, and began the arduous process of memorizing dozens of new vocab words each week, I was delighted to find that I could effortlessly retain the words from John 14:6. Now, rather than pound through vocab cards, I find that it is much more (intellectually and spiritually) profitable to meditate on a passage of Scripture.
So, my goal is to memorize passages from the GNT, and as I have been working on this, I started to reflect on how I can easily forget the recitation I was working on yesterday, but I have not forgotten the Latin, Russian, Spanish, etc. songs that I sang in choir nearly 10 years ago! I'm grateful for those who are setting the Westminster Catechism to song, for the same reason. (This is nothing new, I know. Song has been used as a mnemonic device since the days of Homer.)
So here are my questions: 1) Has passages/verses of the GNT already been set to music some time through the past two millenia? I can't be the first person to suggest this. Gregorian chants and most other forms of high liturgical music are typically in Latin. I don't know of anyone who composed in Koine. I would assume that post-Renaissance there would be some use of Erasmus' GNT, but if there are, I am unaware of them. If anyone has any friends with expertise in this area, could you ask for me? Also, I have seen the modern songs translated to Koine in a previous thread. While this is certainly helpful, I am looking for actual GNT passages.
2) If one wanted to compose some music to help students memorize passages of the GNT, what kind of musical style should they use?
Here's to hoping someone has already thought through this for me.