a word of explanation....

Why La~Do~Mi ?

As you know, la-do-mi is a minor triad. Now minor music has gotten a bad wrap from music teachers over the years. Instead of taking the time to delve with their students into the feel and effect of minor music, they have given the short answer: Minor music sounds scary. In my own experience, being a pretty positive person, I took that to mean it was heavy, downbeat (as opposed to upbeat–pardon the pun), and not much use to a happy person.. (If you are one of that rare breed of teacher who doesn’t mind relating that things are actually quite complicated and will take a lifetime to understand, I applaud you.)

Not until adulthood did I understand how soothing and restful minor songs could be. It was about 18 years ago that I began to learn minor hymntunes that were not among the two in my church’s hymnal. What a blessing those tunes are! For, as it turns out, minor tunes are healing and soothing to a burdened soul.

If joy were music, it would be minor. Happiness is Major. Lite. Almost unattached. But joy takes in all things–-tremendous and wretched--and chooses to give back a smile. Joy hurts. It costs you.....but you’re none the worse for having paid. Matter of fact, you’re more real. More useful. Those minor hymns are a balm in Zion to relieve the pain of joy and renew your strength. Is your soul heavy? Learn a minor tune and sing it in the car. Loud.

When I was a child, my blog might have been do-mi-sol; but now I am old and I know the joy of those Everlasting Arms that support this sinful soul for whom Christ died.

Praise Him for minor music.