Composing Music is Volitional

 Composing Music is Volitional

 Remember that music composed in any genre is the result of the composer or arranger’s purposeful organizing of sounds, silences, harmonies, and rhythms etc. into musical thoughts which form an aesthetic congruent whole to arouse emotions in the listener and performer.  This is purposefully accomplished, among other things, to trigger some kind of intended response either covertly and or overtly from the hearer. In some cases this response will hopefully be an aesthetic experience within the listener and performer’s mind. The more successful the composer or arranger is, the more aesthetic effect the music will have on the hearer.  What happens covertly inside of the hearer may or may not result in an overt response.  Although aesthetics in sacred music is not the doorway to the kingdom of God, every worship leader must have an understanding of aesthetics because music is an artform. Although we do not worship aesthetic experiences with music (not to be confused with anointed musicing), we do worship God with this aesthetic artform.

Although historically composers of religious music have composed with the “beautiful” in mind, not all religious music is now composed with beauty in mind. Combinations of musical sounds and silences produced from rhythms, melodies, harmonies, dynamics, tone color etc. that that are arranged to purposely negate their traditional aesthetic value are considered to be anti-music.   An anti-music psychological affect is accomplished by performing music intended to overthrow traditional conventions and expectations, so much so, that some people would not recognize it as being music let alone musical or beautiful.  Because so many anti-music religious compositions exist in this century, every worship leader should have an understanding of religious music that is, at least partially, composed for its anti-music effect.