Aesthetics in A Christian’s Music Paradigm

Aesthetics in A Christian’s Music Paradigm    

          The Christian musician must become aware of where the aesthetics of music has been placed in his or her musical paradigm.  There are many   aspects of music aesthetics that are important for the Christian musician to consider. However, pin pointing where aesthetics is placed in one’s musical paradigm, and ultimately in that person’s music philosophy, is essential to the establishment of what that musician considers the nature, value and meaning of music to actually be.

          It is often difficult to get a church musician to explain his or her specific beliefs about aesthetics in church music, if that musician does not consider this aspect of music philosophy to even be important.  A musician must be personally convinced of the importance of aesthetic philosophy before that musician will be willing  explore and dialogue about whether or not that musician’s personal music aesthetic is congruent with a Bible based music philosophy.  Since a Christian’s musicing is never autonomous, but always subject to the will of God, every Christian musician must seek to develop a music aesthetic that is congruent with sacred musicing unto a holy God.

Thought for the Day

My brother sold one of my music philosophy books the other day .  The pastor who purchased it said, “When I read your brother’s book I will learn what he says.  Would you also send me a recording of his choir?  When I listen to the recording I will find out what he does—that is what really matters.”