Prelude Blog

Paul Friesen-Carper

Paul Friesen-Carper is the Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond, Michigan where he shares his love of leading the worshipping assembly in song – from folk to baroque and from ancient latin to latin-american – and frequently leads assembly song at Synod and Churchwide Assemblies. His compositions include liturgical settings, songs for choir and assembly, and commissions from the ELCA Division for Worship and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. Paul performs as a guitarist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, and holds degrees in music (Valparaiso University) and theology (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago).

Recent Posts

Your Ally, The Guitarist

Posted on Aug 27, 2012 8:32:12 AM by Paul Friesen-Carper in Instruments and Ensembles, in review-prelude

Especially in church music, there is an often uneasy relationship between guitarists and keyboardists. Some regard guitar playing as imprecise or simple-minded. And in return some regard keyboard playing as unfeeling or convoluted. But the needs of the church do not afford us the indulgence of mutual skepticism. The Church is recognizing that we need assembly song that is conceived both with guitar accompaniment and with keyboard accompaniment. Yet most church musicians are still trained as keyboardists, and are taught to play guitar-based music by transferring it to piano. This has benefits (autonomy & control) and drawbacks (a different feel & the lost opportunity to open leadership possibilities). Often the solution is to cross the lines of skepticism and embrace your ally, the guitarist.

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