Understanding
Be joyful and sing as you come in to
worship the Lord! (Psalm 100:2)
Music and the Arts
“The arts have long been part of the Christian tradition. They express our
deepest desires to create, desires which I believe come from God. They
show us an alternative way of being; they become another way to
experience God.” (Christine Johnson)
“Our challenge is to be open to see, hear, and sense God’s presence at
every turn – then take the risk to trust the Spirit’s song, dance and
journey for our lives. Music, dance, drama, prose, poetry, cinema, and all
the visual arts can help us reconnect to our deepest selves and to God’s
intention for the entire human family and all of creation.” (Jim Strathdee)
The Spirituality of Music
“Music’s power dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.”
(Oliver Wendell Holmes)
“Making music together is a mutual recognition that we are, however
briefly and fleetingly, communicating – with one another and with the
universe – on a level that is both deeper than words and broader than
the human intellect; that we are more than the sum of our parts; and
that we are indeed being briefly touched by the hand of God” (John Bird)
3 Principles of Church Music
1. Comes from the life of faith of a congregation
a) Expresses that faith
-
each congregation has a culture, local tradition, set of practices
repertoire of songs that define its uniqueness.
these represent how the community expresses its faith past
and present.
b) Forms that faith
- the willingness of a community to explore new musical
challenges will help form its future faith
2. Draws its power from those who participate in its
creation
a) music is an artistic event
-
each time a piece of music is performed, something new is created,
unlike a completed artistic work such as a painting or sculpture.
- those who play and sing a composer’s music make it their own,
bringing it to life with their personal and collective energy.
b) musicians and singers set the standard of excellence
-
-
those with gifts and skills for playing instruments and singing
need the discipline and commitment to provide the best music
they are able.
this comes about by a willingness to learn new material,
rehearse and lead the congregation musically.
3. Provides a cohesive element in worship
a) Worship is framed and connected by music
-
each section of liturgy has the possibility of musical
affirmations and responses.
hymns comment on the worship themes and provide a
personal reflection of faith.
b) Music can reinforce the theme of worship
-
carefully chosen songs can enhance the message of Scripture.
Music can enhance the worship atmosphere and create an
environment where God can be honored and praised. (Carlos D.
Caldwell, Jr.)
Types of Church Music
Traditional
1. Hymns: - a tradition of congregational participation
-from the Protestant Reformation came the need for people to sing familiar or
easy-to-learn melodies and words in their own language that taught Christian
doctrine and values.
-generations of hymn writing provide a rich resource for today’s worshipers.
- an expression of individual and collective faith
- “Congregational singing puts the Christian faith on the tongues of the people,
letting it work its way down to the soul.” (Greg Scheer)
- “The favorite hymns of a person or a community are not ‘about’ the faith of
the people; they are their faith!” (Linda M. Clark)
2. Anthems
-
stirring hymns performed by a choir.
often taken from the standard repertoire or special music written
for choral performance.
Gospel
1. Revivalist
-
late 19th/ early 20th century evangelical music on themes of
salvation and the Christian life.
2. Praise and Worship
-contemporary pop/rock Christian music often accompanied by a band
popular with today’s younger generations.
Contemplative
1. Taizé
-meditative music from the Taizé community in the south of France.
-repetitive melodies and text encourages a contemplative atmosphere
often supplemented by soft lighting and peaceful surroundings.
2. Iona
-
Celtic Christian music from the community of Iona, Scotland.
an ancient spiritual tradition with lyrical melodies and
contemplative texts.
International Christian music
-
experience the Christian faith through the music of peoples from
around the world.
Voices United and More Voices have extensive collections from
countries in North and South America, Asia, the South Pacific,
Caribbean, Europe, Britain & Ireland, Africa and the Middle East.
Instrumental Music
1. Keyboards (organ, piano)
-
these instruments are able to back up choral and congregational
singing by playing the full range of vocal and harmony parts.
usually played by trained musicians.
can provide incidental music throughout a worship service (i.e.
Introit, offering).
2. Orchestra, band
-
large congregations may have enough musicians to support a
band for praise and worship or an orchestra for traditional
music to accompany the choir or perform on their own.
Leadership in Church Music
Those providing leadership in church music should
-Be sensitive, respectful and knowledgeable about a congregation’s
musical culture (the way it sings its faith).
-Have musical competence through training and experience.
-Be open to a wide variety of different musical styles.
-Be able to move the congregation forward with new material
introduced consistently and gradually.
-Offer a balanced repertoire of songs for Sunday worship.
-Work closely with ministry personnel to create a cohesive worship
experience for the congregation.
Into the Future
From Modern to Post-Modern
a) Cultural shift
-‘Modern’ era (late 18th -20th centuries) valued knowledge, individualism,
observation, word, logic; ‘Post-Modern’ era (21st century) values
experience, community, participation, image, story.
-21st century worshipers want a multi-sensory experience of God. They seek
to participate wholeheartedly in a community of believers.
b) Implications
- Music is taking on a central role in today’s worship, much as preaching
did in past generations.
-Openness to explore different styles of music, even within the same
service, is desirable and encouraged.
When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. (Ephesians 5:19)
Bibliography
Bird, John. The Spirituality of Music. Kelowna, BC: Northstone, an imprint
of Wood Lakes Publishing Inc., 2008.
Caldwell, Jr., Carlos D. The Ministry of Music: Precepts, Principles,
Procedures. AuthorHouse, 2004.
Clark, Linda J. Music in Churches: Nourishing Your Congregation’s Musical
Life. Herndon, VA: The Alban Institute, 1994.
Scheer, Greg. The Art of Worship: A Musician’s Guide to Leading Modern
Worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2006.
Wehlander, Keri K., ed. Creating Change: the Arts as Catalyst for Spiritual
Transformation. Kelowna, BC: Copper House, an imprint of Wood
Lakes Publishing Inc., 2008.
Researched and produced by Roy Bortolotto
Kennedy, SK S0G 2R0
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the January 2012
Learning Circle major project, Designated Lay Ministry (DLM)
diploma program at Calling Lakes Centre, Ft. Qu’Appelle, SK.
Hymns Used During Presentation
Introduction – VU 245 “Praise the Lord the Sound of Trumpet
Slide 7 – Hymns: a) a tradition of congregational participation
VU 220 Praise the Lord, the Almighty, v.1, 4
b) an expression of individual and collective faith
MV 161 I Have Called You by Your Name, v.1, 4
Slide 8 – Anthems: VU 327 All Praise to Thee, v.1, 5
Slide 9 – Gospel: a) revivalist (late 19th/ early 20th century
evangelical)
VU 337 Blessed Assurance, v.1, 3
b) praise and worship (contemporary pop/rock Christian)
VU 412 This is the Day, v.1, 3
Slide 10 – Contemplative: a) Taize spirituality
VU 466 Eat this Bread (twice)
b) Iona Celtic spirituality
MV 42 Praise God for this Holy Ground, v.1, 2
Slide 11 – International: Africa MV 104 Know That God is Good
(Swahili & English)
China MV 5 Holy Spirit, You’re Like the Wind, v.1, 2