Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning? Part 4

            Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning?  Part 4

Although it is true that every garage or basement musical group is not necessarily a skillful communicator of a particular style of music, many of them are because they apply the style patterns to the building blocks of the music they are composing, arranging and performing—thereby the music becomes a communicator of the desired meaning.  Since the time of the Coryville jazz groups in New Orleans and the Chicago and Kansas City jazz inventions, jazz has been successful in transmitting sexual meaning to its listeners.  The same success may be said of the rock-n-role of Elvis Presley and those who followed him in that style.  Probably the most successful communicator of sexual meaning, without doubt has been the many sub-styles of rock music. 

          For a Christian musician to make a claim that the aforementioned music styles were and are not capable of communicating their desired meaning is naive and short sighted.  To contend that these styles of music were and are benign and therefore not capable of communicating meaning is to deny music’s great power which is delivered with the help of these style meanings.  The music part of music molded by style becomes a powerful communicator of musical meaning which is related to the real world around all of us.

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning? Part 3

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning?  Part 3

Berglund also touched on another concept that is particularly germane to the discussion of appropriateness of church music with his mention of style implications.  We all recognize music by its style. Style recognition involves the communication of auditory musical information incorporated in instrumental and or vocal tones that are systematically distinguishable to the listener.  This auditory information is communicated to the listener from the structured execution of a particular music.  Thus it becomes recognizable as a particular musical style.  Robert Berglund believes that,”…it is through musical style that music assumes much of its meaning to the listeners.  Certainly in vocal music concrete meaning is arrived at by texts.  But as far as music is concerned, meaning, both concrete and abstract, designative and embodied, is generally arrived at through style.  In other words, as people are aware of style and its implications through conditioning and psychological associations along with their intuitions, music assumes meaning.” A Philosophy of Church Music by Robert Berglund p. 22.

                Music finds its place in the multiplicity of style classifications by  how it presents itself.  All music has purpose and that purpose causes it to take on stylistic characteristics that are the means of communicating its meaning to the listener.  Every astute composer desires to draw the listener into the emotion and meaning expressed in the music.  For this reason, a Christian musician must become familiar with just what the music part of a particular style of music is attempting to communicate to the auditor

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning? Part 2

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning?  Part 2

There are a host of twenty first century musicians who deny that there is such a phenomenon as right or wrong vehicles for sacred musicing.  The reasoning behind the belief that there is no continuum from right to wrong stems from the philosophical musical fallacy that the music part of music doesn’t matter.  The obvious conclusion deduced from this fallacy is that any consideration of what is good or bad in church music is “much ado about nothing” spiritually and musically.  Robert Berglund put it this way, “The notion that there are neither right nor wrong styles of music used in the church today seems indefensible in light of the obvious stylistic meanings and the contradiction to the changed life premises of Scripture.”  A Philosophy of Church Music by Robert Berglund p. 12 

It stands to reason that if the Christian musician does not wholeheartedly believe in the changed life principles so clearly taught in the Bible, he or she will doubtlessly not believe in the Bible concept that a Christian’s music and musicing must be of a higher renovated character. Many Scriptures in the Old and New Testament teach the “new song” principle including Revelation 5:9 which states, “And they sung a new song (kainos ode 2537 5603), saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”   The new song (kainos 2537 ode 5603) mentioned in this verse has the meaning of being new in character rather than only  being new in relationship to time.  For a much more thorough study of this concept read Chapter Three, “A study of song in the Bible”, in my book Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective.

So, as Dr. Berglund stated, the changed life premises taught in the Bible should lead Christian musicians to the belief that sacred music should be of a higher renovated character than the music of the world produced by composers who do not know Christ and are in many cases producing music that appeals to the lust of the flesh.  Galatians 5:16 teaches this principle when it states, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  1John 2:16 also teaches very clearly, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Thought for the Day 

“Music has become a tool to influence an entire culture.  It has become an effective way to communicate a new set of values to an emerging generation.”  Music in the Balance by Frank Garlock &Kurt Woetzel p.18.

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning? Part 1

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning?  Part 1 

            All traditional thesis thinking Christians who are conservative in their music philosophy are concerned about making sure that the musical styles that they use in musicing unto God are suitable vehicles.  Although it is not popular or politically correct to use the terms “good” and “bad’ in conjunction with religious musicing, I believe that the terms are appropriate.  When I consider appropriate vehicles, I am talking about the music part of the music and not merely the texts of religious songs.   There is a continuum along which music genres move that places them somewhere between excellence in quality and appropriateness and ineffectiveness, to the point of being ineffective music vehicles for representing God’s perfect moral character and being communicators of spiritual values.

          Richard S. Taylor put it this way, “The difference in good and bad church music is the emotion generated.  On the one hand there is that which is self-ward and man-ward; on the other that which is Godward, upward, and decisive.  This is why in all the various possible forms, sooner or later a line is reached beyond which the music ceases to be a good conductor of spiritual edification, and instead becomes a conductor of fleshly stimulation.”  A Return to Christian Culture by Richard S. Taylor, p. 89.  As I have often told  college students, I am not as concerned about exactly where a Christian musician draws the line that Dr. Taylor was referring to musically as I am about the fact that Christian musicians are, in many cases, no longer drawing any philosophical lines at all.  The fact that the musical “light bulb” of style is not suddenly on or off makes it much more difficult to discern when a musical style is too worldly or sensual to be a proper vehicle for sacred musicing.

Praise chorus for the Day

Praise Chorus for the Day  I Love you Lord  by Laurie Klein 

Thought for the Day

It is amazing to me that a Christian musician would want to come into the presence of, or come before the face of YHVH, with loud, raucous, noise-based music.

Thank you for a Great Month of June 2019

Thank you for a Great Month of  June 2019      

            This month was the 74th month of my blog which contained devotional and philosophical thoughts for Christian musicians. I have written over 3,571 posts since this blog was started in January of 2013. There have been several times this year when I have experienced a certain amount of writer’s burnout.  However, I am praying that my posts in 2019 will stimulate both the regular and new blog members to remain faithful to their musical ministries.  The over 2,530  pageviews of my blog this month were experienced by people who read a mixture of philosophical and devotional thoughts.  We have had over 152,899 page-views since the blog was started in January of 2013.  Since I started this blog the page views have come from 135 different countries. It is interesting to note that a little over one half of the total page views since we began in January 2013 have come from the United States and the other one half have come from a varied combination of 134 countries scattered around the world.

            These views have come from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Argentina, Armenia, Angola,  Aruba, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Czechia , Czech Republic,  Colombia, Congo [DRC], Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Herzegovina, Honduras, Hong Kong,  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland (Republic of),  Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (FYROM) Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,  Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Netherlands, (Antilles) New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru. Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Porto Rico, Qatar, Réunion, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,  Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Unknown Region, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

             The ten countries with the most page views this month were: United States, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, South Korea, Portugal, Ukraine, Nigeria, and France. 

Developing a Unified Music Philosophy

Developing a Unified Music Philosophy

According to Francis Schaeffer, up to the time of Kierkegaard, philosophers had always hoped " ... that they would be able to construct a unified field of knowledge."[i]There are two ways in which Christian musicians may develop a consistent, congruent, unified system of beliefs concerning the nature and value of the whole of music.  They must utilize Bible based epistemology (theory of and limits of "knowing") and methodology (the method used for coming to a knowledge of truth).
               The first requirement is that the musician must believe that there is objective truth concerning how to music unto God, and that we are able to know and appropriate that truth.  Second, that Bible knowledge concerning music is not dispensational, but is relevant to all generations of musicians. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished [exertizo 1822- equipped fully] unto all good works.” The Bible did not say that the Word was profitable but that it is profitable.
                What does "all Scripture" mean? Does it mean all passages except those mentioning music?  Are these ancient musical writings profitable in the twenty-first century?  Are they inspired or not?  Are they too difficult or too *esoteric for us to understand? The Scriptures on music are there, and since God is there we have objective truth concerning music.  The question is, "What are we going to do with this truth?" James 3:13 asks "Who is a wise (sophos 4680) man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation [i.e. lifestyle] his works with meekness and wisdom (sophia 4678)."  The wisdom is there, and the validity is there.  It is our responsibility to use this knowledge to form a congruent music philosophy.

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[i] Schaeffer, Escape From Reason, 35, 42.

The Christian Musician Thinks Differently-part 3

The Christian Musician Thinks Differently-part 3

I have observed that often what musicians say they believe about music and how they actually music are often somewhat different. This disparity is generally caused by the musician’s worldview of music and, based on the reality of that view, what  the musician believes music will or will not do to the whole life of a Christian.  Furthermore, based on the notion many Christians have that music is not capable of harming a Christian spiritually, a Christian musician’s worldview may become clouded by *skewed perception and thereby cause the development of a false view of music’s power to affect the whole life of a Christian.

My brother recently gave a friend a copy of my new book Music Philosophy in Christian Perspective.  His friend asked him for a copy of my college choir.  Since I am retired, I had to look through my CD collection to find a recording of my college teaching days.  The reason he wanted a recording was because he said, “When I read his book I will see what he says he believes, but when I hear his musical performances of sacred music I will find out what he actually believes about sacred music.

The Christian Musician Thinks Differently-part 2

The Christian Musician Thinks Differently-part 2

As a Christian musician reads God’s Word and as the Holy Spirit gives the musician understanding of the many verses concerning music and musicing found in the Bible, a Christocentric music worldview is developed.  St. John 16:13 explains, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”  I am not claiming that this verse in the Bible has any esoteric meaning that is exclusive to the Christian musician, but I am contending that the truth contained in this verse extends to Christian musicians who are developing that window through which they will view the whole of music and musicing that we call a Christian musical worldview. I also believe that the Holy Spirit and God’s Word will guide the earnest Christian musician into “all truth” (pas aletheia, 3956, 225 thorough truths or verity).

A Christian musician’s worldview and, as a concomitant of this view the musician’s musical worldview, will shape that individual’s music philosophy.  The way that a musician perceives music’s place and importance in education, church, home, and *community will determine what he or she considers the reality of the nature and value of the whole of music. Christian musicians cannot develop their music philosophy beyond how they view music in the larger pictures of church, home, and community.

The Christian Musician Thinks Differently-part 1

The Christian Musician Thinks Differently-part 1

Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

  The word transformed (metamorphoo 3339) used in the second verse of the twelfth chapter of Romans connotes the complete change that takes place when a Christian presents himself or herself as a living sacrifice to God.  After this transformation, the Christian looks at life and music differently than the world looks at it.  So perhaps the import of not being conformed is resisting the world’s paradigm of life and ipso facto music and musicing.

 The word renewing, used in the same verse, is derived from anakainosis (342) means a complete renovating or reordering of one’s thinking or paradigm (using its current meaning) about the realities of life.  This renewing of one’s worldview is necessary in order to prove (dokimazo 1381) that the Christian musician’s philosophic worldview is amenable to the will of God.

Help Me to Lift up Your Name

Help Me to Lift up Your Name

Proverbs 27:2,  “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”

          Many times the ministering musician works without much or any recognition from others.  We all say , and most of us believe that our ministry if for the glory Jesus Christ and for the edification of those to whom me music.  C.T. Studd wrote a poem that included the words. Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  Most Christian musicians that I have been well acquainted with believe that Studd’s statement is true.   We know that it is true but sometimes we forget it for a few brief moments when we are depressed ad lonely.

          When a Christian musician is deep within the Slough of despond mentioned in John Bunyan’s allegory, he or she may be tempted to believe that “He that tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted.”  At such a time the words of Solomon are still true,  “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”   Isaiah 42:8 reminds us that, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”   So, God will not share the glory that belongs to Him with any church musician or Christian performer.  Even if a Christian musician works hard and does not receive recognition from others, that musician should not ‘toot his own horn’.

Prayer for the Day

Lord, I know that You are worthy of all praise and I really want You to have all the glory that may result from my musicing.  Help me to resist the temptation to become a “glory seeker”.  When I am lonely and believe that I have been forgotten, help me to do what I do for Christ, because I know that “Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  Lord, lift me up above the accusations of Satan and help me lean on You as my strong tower.  Help me to be a good and faithful musical servant.  This I am praying in Your wonderful name.  Amen.