From the very dawn of history God ordained praise, or worship for himself. All creation sang of his glory and the people worshiped him. Worship is the soul of religion. It is the “breathing of the spirit after God. In the Christian’s act of worship two goals are achieved. God is glorified and man is […]
In a recent book, 20th Century Church Music, Erik Routley devotes a lengthy chapter tracing the progress of the new style of “popular” hymn in England and our country. He sees it as part and parcel of the cur· rent questioning of all traditional idioms which may very weB result in the disuse of all existing […]
According to the historical narrative, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant could recognize only one musical composition, namely, Yankee Doodle. Such extreme tone deafness is undoubtedly rare. Most of us have a more sensitive discernment and appreciation. We all feel the need of music generally, and in worship particularly. We would consider a worship service rather drab […]
Leading the Congregational Singing Why is it that in some congregations the singing is so strong and powerful, while in others it is so feeble and lifeless? The acoustics of the sanctuary may have something to do with it; the size of the congregation may also play a role. But perhaps a partial explanation lies […]
Several readers of my introductory article to this series on the problems of Calvinism and church music have questioned the need for reverting to the days of John Calvin in our discussion of music in the Calvinistic church. This writer is convinced that the very vague sense of direction which we Calvinists have regarding church music […]
Although it should be obvious to all Christians that music is a normal avenue for praise and worship, we Calvinists have too often weakIy accepted the many false criticisms of John Calvin and his attitude toward the richest of all arts. Historians contemporary with Calvin started the lie, and succeeding writers to the present day […]
If you’ve ever visited an art museum with family members or friends, you know the experience well. You want to pause and admire the realistic works of Rembrandt; you’re impressed with his use of light and shadow, but others in your group eagerly urge you on to another wing of the museum. They’ve come especially […]
In response to the invitation given by God. through the apostle Paul to “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord…” (Eph. 5:19b), the Christian church has set the Psalms to music and developed a hymnody known and loved around the world. For the next few months, […]
Music like all artistic expression is a gift of God to humankind. And like any of God’s gifts, music can be put to good use or to bad use; it can be used in holy ways or in unholy ways; it can be a power for virtue or for vice. […]
A former editor of a church periodical once referred to church music as the “War Department” of the church. He was writing about something most of us have experienced personally: disputes about “good” and “bad” church music. In some congregations these disputes center upon the tastes of a choir director or an organist. In the most […]