Ideologies Affecting Music and Musicing-Part 1

Ideologies Affecting Music and Musicing-Part 1

            There are a number of terms that writers have used over the past few decades to refer to the various ideologies that have affected and are still affecting music and musicians.  Writers often refer to the terms modern, contemporary, postmodern, post-Christian, and now post postmodern thinkers.  The term contemporary simply means that which exhibits the characteristics of present or recent times.  One who adheres to conforms to current tendencies at the exclusion of traditional ways of ministering through the art of music or builds a music philosophy based on modern standards of “correctness” and “knowing” is a “modern” music minister. 

             A distinction must be made between “modern” and “up-to-date”.  Modern connotes a new way of “thinking” or “knowing” about musicing.  Up-to-date connotes thinking new things about musicing.  Conservative traditional “thesis thinkers” (those who believe that there is right and wrong; proper and improper; appropriate and inappropriate) must not make the mistake of confusing the two.  If this mistake is made, the conservative Christian will become an “antiquer” – one who reveres only old things.