Based
on the authority and import of this Scripture, I am drawn to the philosophical
conclusion that it is the responsibility of each Christian musician to gain the
knowledge necessary to ascertain what “the joyful sound” is. In order to accomplish this difficult task
one must gain understanding of the internal formal properties of each selection
of music that he or she listens to or performs.
I have contended for years that the formal properties of music
communicate a message to everyone who performs or listens or performs them.
I
also believe that no one is capable of musicing actively or passively in a
“bubble”. Music is not in its own little
world with its meaning being “its own” with no relationship to life. I also reject the lack-luster music philosophy
that music is not capable of saying or communicating anything at all. Music is not a meaningless benign art. From the time of Plato and Aristotle, many
music philosophers have believed that music is a powerful art. These music philosophers have believed over
past centuries that music can and does have an emotional and moral affect on
the performer and auditor. In fairness I
must admit that a host of twentieth century music philosophers believed that,
although music did have meaning, that its meaning was its own and was in no way
related to life.
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