Music in church

[paul]

The beef of those who love the tradition and liturgy of the church has always been that the congregation has 'forgotten' how to sing.

'They' say that when choruses and the projection of lyrics became more popular and hymnals with printed music faded, the congregation began to lose the ability to sight read and follow the tune of the music.

Most people might be shocked to know that years ago when hymnals were a constant companion, the congregation almost always knew how to sight read enough to actually sing parts and harmony.

I've always thought it would have been kewl to hear some of that.

Some younger folks might not be aware, but most early southern gospel quartets..Stamps and others were really out there hawking song books especially with shaped notes for four part harmony. Other groups like the Chuck Wagon gang help to make it a staple

[Jennifer Smith]

I like a mix of peppy "revival" praise choruses old and new, as well as old and new more worshipful songs... I don't really care for hymns except when updated as Paully mentioned..

I think it is really sad and inexcusable when as Gerald mentioned, a congregation will not attempt to learn new songs even when they are repeated often enough for all to join in and blended with a mix of older songs that everyone is familiar with. That may be new wine being poured into old wineskins... (sorry, I don't mean you Gerald.)

[HogWild]

What I think is scary is that people are beginning to choose a home church congregation primarily because of the quality and style of the worship music.

I think we are seeing a growing trend as people are willing to ignore doctrinal differences and variances from the core beliefs just to 'get lost in the worship' or even to find their own style of music.

That's really scary to me.

[Pastor Bill]

The beef of those who love the tradition and liturgy of the church has always been that the congregation has 'forgotten' how to sing.

'They' say that when choruses and the projection of lyrics became more popular and hymnals with printed music faded, the congregation began to lose the ability to sight read and follow the tune of the music.

Most people might be shocked to know that years ago when hymnals were a constant companion, the congregation almost always knew how to sight read enough to actually sing parts and harmony.

I've always thought it would have been kewl to hear some of that.

Some younger folks might not be aware, but most early southern gospel quartets..Stamps and others were really out there hawking song books especially with shaped notes for four part harmony. Other groups like the Chuck Wagon gang help to make it a staple

Well that's true to a point, most congregations did NOT know how to sight read, which is why the shape notes got so popular, but most of that was before CoG/CoGoP time, or at least ended early in our tradition. The funniest thing I have noted (I did my senior research paper for college on Music in Pentecostal Church worship) is that a good deal of the songs we sing out of the blue book (or the CoG's Red back hymnal) aren't sung to the same melody as written, but have been passed down through aural tradition and there are some that wouldn't even be recognized by many congregations if you used the correct tune!

The projectors aren't the cause, it's been that way for awhile, it's just more noticable because people aren't used to newer songs and want to justify their complaints.

[Pastor Bill]

What I think is scary is that people are beginning to choose a home church congregation primarily because of the quality and style of the worship music.

I think we are seeing a growing trend as people are willing to ignore doctrinal differences and variances from the core beliefs just to 'get lost in the worship' or even to find their own style of music.

That's really scary to me.

I've thought many times that Christianity in the US is getting to be a form of entertainment, and it's not meant to be a "spectator sport" but the focus is more and more on entertainment value, serving me, having programs and activities for me and my family, none of those things are bad, but they are very shallow, understandable for new converts and young Christians, but our mature Christians should be more focused on serving than being served.

[DaJudge]

I love the Hillsong stuff. Mighty to Save, etc.

[Paully_44]

I really dig the old hymns redone to a modern/rock style.

Sounds cool. Do you have some recorded? I'd love to hear 'em.

Jars of Clay CD -- Redemption Songs
My fave.

If I ever get our stuff set to record I'll get a few for you. Our guitarist is a bit of an old school rocker with a mix of Zak Wylde/Steve Vai. I love when we do some a worhip song and I can hear the runs just flying. I usually turn him up just a bit when that happens.

[DeWayneTN]

I will say this - I'm not a huge fan of listening to the same worship songs on the radio as are done in church. I loved the old days when those worlds were a little more separate. On the radio you might hear a good Christian pop song and then go to church and hear a Hillsong worship song. Now, I'm almost worn out with a song before I even get to church.

[RamboPreacher]

i like the contemporary, and modern - even prefer some industrial and rock. but that is my personal preference and what I voted. However, considering the congregation, I would say a mix of hymns and some modern (with no rock/metal/fusion, etc).

I nearly never listen to radio, so don't know what's playing there.

[MacUser]

If I ever get our stuff set to record I'll get a few for you. Our guitarist is a bit of an old school rocker with a mix of Zak Wylde/Steve Vai. I love when we do some a worhip song and I can hear the runs just flying. I usually turn him up just a bit when that happens.

555+ Exactly. I would love to hear some.

[mavislb]

We do a mixture or hymns and contemporary. Whenever we introduce a new song we sing it at least 2-3 Sundays in a row, and then sing it again a month or so later. And we seldom introduce more than one new song at a time unless they are very easy to learn. We usually start with a faster song or two and then slow it down. And we attempt to make at least the last song lead into the pastor's message to get the congregation in that frame of mind.

[Billy n NC]

I voted other.

Because there was no

All of the Above.


I like all kinds of music.

[dbserv]

I really dig the old hymns redone to a modern/rock style.

Our worship pastors do that all the time. Most of our hymns are sung to a new arrangement that the band puts together during practice.

[RamboPreacher]

I voted other.

Because there was no

All of the Above.


I like all kinds of music.

mee2, but it needs to fall in teh category of actually being music. rap, country, as example don't fall in the music category in my opinion. (donning my flame-proof suit)

[fezzik]

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