Song Sung Karaoke

Churches Try Karaoke

By Shelley Emling, Cox News Service, DenverPost.com, 30 May 2006

London - Karaoke bars have become trendy around the world, with countless wannabe singers mangling songs like Frank Sinatra's "My Way" while following along with lyrics displayed on a big screen.

So why not karaoke churches? With attendance plummeting and youthful organists hard to find, churches across Britain are turning to a new karaoke-like machine called Hymnal Plus as a means of jazzing up stale services - and also giving elderly organists a break.

Designed and manufactured in Britain, the new Hymnal Plus, or HT-300, from Hymn Technology Ltd. of London promises to take music accompaniment for worship to a whole new level.

Priced at $3,500, the HT-300 not only can play more than 2,750 traditional hymns and modern worship songs, but can also play imported MP3 audio files.

Besides featuring traditional tunes, the machine can blast a disco version of "Amazing Grace" and a jazzy variant of "The Lord's My Shepherd." The machine will play any song in a variety of styles, speeds, and keys, depending on the enthusiasm of the congregation. Users can choose from among 200 preset sound styles ranging from brass band to jazz piano.

It also is able to display words on a screen for those churches short of hymn books.

"This is not designed to replace real organists, but to help churches where there just aren't enough organists," said Alan Kempster, a director at Hymn Technology. "We want to keep hymn singing alive because it's always been a very important part of the church service.

"These machines will also help churches move with the times as they allow churches to select accompaniments to a lot of the new tunes," he said.

Smaller than a laptop, the HT-300 is designed to be portable and self-contained so that it can stand in at funerals, weddings, choir rehearsals, and graveside services whenever an organist or other types of music are unavailable.

One of Hymn Technology's newest customers is the 15th-century St. Mary the Virgin Church in Mudford, England, which used the HT-300 recently at its services in order to give its organist a rare rest.

"Our organist is elderly, and so if she's feeling poorly it's nice to have this new box of tricks to do the music," said Bill Watkins, a church warden and now "hymn DJ." "It will never replace an organist but it's certainly better than nothing."

"It's great, because you can program a play list before the service begins," Watkins said. In addition, he said, he can change a song's pitch if parishioners can't hit the high notes.

"The members liked the machine, and their only complaint was that the hymns were taken at a cracking pace. Most of our members are elderly people, so I am going to have to slow the tempo down by about 5 percent." Kempster said the company has sold about 100 units in the past six months.

In the U.S., Tom Moulin, owner of Moulin Mills Music in Knox, Pa., has been selected as the product's main distributor. The company is still awaiting machines.

"We've had numerous inquiries a day wanting to receive the informational packet and CD, and also wanting to place an order," Moulin said. "I really do believe these machines will sell themselves."

Although many believe the Hymnal Plus to be the answer to every church's prayers, some worry it might eventually put organists out of business.

Kempster insists the machines will act as a supplement and not as a replacement.

Even so, clergy might be forewarned: Among the Hymnal Plus' many talents is the ability to lead a congregation in prayer and pre-recorded sermons via an electronic voice box.

posted by Becky @ 10:45 AM