My quartet is better than your quartet
I took notice of my friend Daniel Mount's recent posting on his blog the other day about his SECOND favorite version of the Cathedral Quartet.
Now when I first saw that, I reacted like many of you would...why the second favorite? What's next, your fifth favorite Cathedral Quartet?:-) But then I realized that Daniel is a passionate and devoted fan of the Cathedrals, and he thought his readers would be interested in his favorite iterations of his favorite group...especially since most of his readers, like him, cut their gospel music teeth on the Cathedrals. And since Daniel seems to be like me when discovering new gospel nuggets, it's understandable that he would want to pay proper tribute to a version of his favorite quartet.
But for some gospel music fans, especially those of us who harken back to an earlier era of gospel music, we don't share Daniel's unbridled enthusiasm for the Cathedral Quartet, especially the version he claims is his favorite and the best iteration of that fine group(the final one).
Now one rule I made for myself on the various gospel music message boards and in my writing here which I think I've followed for the most part is that I will never make comparisons between groups that put down any particular group. Music after all is a matter of taste, and despite those critics who claim that they can hold the various quartets to some kind of universal empirical standard, music is much more than just chords and notes and lyrics. Especially in gospel music, it is an experience of the heart...so the decision of what is good also must be based on how the music affects the individual listener.
For Daniel, the Cathedrals were his introduction to gospel quartet music. They won not only his ears but his heart, and I am the last one to pass judgment on the merits of the Cathedrals based on merely my own experience with them, and impose my standards on Daniel. The Cathedrals touched Daniel Mount, and inspired his life in a positive way...and isn't that what gospel music is supposed to do?
So although I don't quite share Daniel's glowing assessment of the Cathedrals(especially their final version), you won't see me putting them or Daniel's tastes down. It's not my place.
The group that brought me into gospel music as a fan was the Blackwood Brothers Quartet of the early 1960s...the version that had Bill Shaw, James and Cecil Blackwood, and JD Sumner...with first Jackie Marshall and then Wally Varner on piano. I thrilled to JD's singing, laughed at his humor and stage spirit, and also enjoyed the dignified and classy singing of Shaw and James Blackwood. To me, that epitomized what gospel quartet singing should be...and to coin a phrase, that version of the Blackwood Brothers was the group that "gave me a rainbow" for gospel quartet music.
Now the group that sealed the deal for me(as anyone who reads this blog regularly knows)was the Couriers, particularly their original quartet version. Their musical excellence and innovation, combined with their peerless personal witness, convinced this young Christian that it WAS possible to be a great quartet AND a great Christian. Not that the Blackwoods weren't, but it was a different sort of appeal to me.
Along the way, I grew to love and respect groups like the Statesmen, the Rebels, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Blue Ridge Quartet, the Harvesters, the Imperials, and countless more. Their exciting, energetic four-part harmony in praise of Christ never failed to stir my heart or my ears.
Now there are groups I like more than others. But I will endeavor not to build up one group by putting another down, nor will I engage in hyperbole that I can't possibly back up.
Therein lies my one gripe with Daniel's post. He, along with several of those who commented, tried to make the case that what the Cathedrals did on stage and record had not been equalled prior to their existence, nor has it been since.
While it's natural to be excited over one's favorite group, I don't think it's fair to make such observations without recognizing the accomplishments of the many other great quartets that existed before, alongside, and yes, after the Cathedrals. Just a cursory examination of the historical consensus indicates that other quartets had similar(if not greater)impact and influence to the Cathedrals, particularly, as Dean Adkins pointed out in his comments, the Statesmen( from whom the Cathedrals borrowed much, literally and figuratively)...who seem to hold the consensus opinion as to who the leading quartet of all time is.
I don't share that opinion, but I would be foolish to deny that that IS the consensus, whether I agree with it or not.
I have my own top tens, of my favorite quartets, and who I think are the best ever(they're two different lists, obviously)...and maybe in a future posting, I'll share them with you...and you can either applaud in agreement, or take me to task...right here in my corner of the web.
But as for now, enjoy your favorites. They undoubtedly deserve to be there...and no one has the right to deny you your privilege to like who you like...especially me!
Maybe someday Daniel will even list his favorite Cathedral Quartets, in order. That might be interesting to read.
Posted on Aug 09, 2007 - 11:23 PM | [0]
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