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(This post was written prior to 2016, in a blog entitled “Jubal’s Jottings.”)
I’m teaching a class right now titled “The History and Practice of Music in Worship.” We’re exploring many things, one of them being the ebb and flow of how music has functioned as a tool of worship throughout history. One interesting facet of this study is how music has at times been viewed as involving the people of the congregation, while at other times music has been performed by more highly trained professionals, making the music inaccessible to the person in the pew. In fact, in the Old Testament, King David had a very elaborate system in place for musical training, which was reflected in the worship music of his time – very much for the people. When gathered worship moved into synagogues and homes, the role of music and leaders became less professional – and therefore, by the people. Moving into the Middle Ages, a wonderful repertoire of choral music was created, but was too complex for the masses – for the people. One of the premises of the Reformation was giving place for the people to sing – even in their own language – by the people. In the 19th century, many branches of the church became veritable concert halls for classical music – for the people – while other branches were adapting songs from the revival movements – by the people. In the 1960s, there were at least two movements at work which placed music into the hands of the people – beach churches and Vatican II. Operating in a time of cultural upheaval, many more informal worship gatherings took place that initiated a style of simple, easily learned praise songs, with guitar accompaniment – by the people. At the same time, Vatican II opened the doors wide to common language and folk structures in the Catholic church – again, by the people.
While this changing stream of music and worship function is intriguing to follow, I ask the question for our time – “So what?” I think the current majority philosophy would say that we are of a “by the people” mindset. However, I think there is a disconnect between theory and praxis in many churches. The average person in the pew cannot be expected to participate with music they don’t know…being asked to sing far too much new music from week to week. Music with awkward melodic patterns and irregular rhythms are found in music used by all style preferences. While we may think that we are “by the people,” I encourage a more careful look week to week at our worship music, and be honest about whether we are truly “by the people” or “for the people.”
So, Jubal, I was wondering, did you play your instrument for the people, or did you teach everyone to join with you?