In Response to Capps
Capps said that rock music “…historically celebrated rebellion and sensual impulses” (p.42 para 4). This implies that the music itself celebrates these values. While I do not assert that music divorced from lyrics cannot promote an idea or attitude, it appears that the author is making a blanket statement about rock music that is simply wrong. Typically, it has been the words of rock music that celebrate rebellion and sensuality. While the music itself may also do this in some cases, this cannot be applied to the whole genre. My point is that I believe some of the artistic elements in rock music show the mark and design of a creative God. Creative and new rhythms, for example, are a wonderful relief from the “boxy” rhythms typical to hymn tunes (remember this is coming from a staunch advocate of four-part hymn singing). Rock music, on the other hand, often lacks care and structure in how harmonies fit together, where hymns tend to be stronger. I think composers in the church should be constantly striving to be creative and artistic, yet as structured as possible. We should be willing to incorporate elements of created beauty into the music we use to praise God, no matter where each element comes from. A great example of this is my roommate and resident composer, Samuel Vereen. His symphony rivals Beethoven and Brahms in the intricacy and tapestry of the way the notes, motifs and harmonic structures fit together, but his music incorporates new and exciting rhythms and harmonies that appeal to the modern ear. I do think there are some elements of secular music that should not be adopted, because of poor artistic quality, or because they express an idea, attitude or sentiment that is not in keeping with the character of God. Two examples of this would be vocal lines where the voice is distorted and is lacking any tonal quality (scream-o [sp?]), and modern classical music which is atonal (the music is derived by chance processes and sounds chaotic to the ear). What are some elements that you think are wrong to incorporate into worship music, and why? If you think there should be no filter for what we incorporate, why do you feel this way?
Christopher, this is a quintessential post. You’ve raised a very important and delving question upon stating a well-thought, personal conviction, without forgetting that you’re stating an opinion. Well done. Well done.
There are elements I tend to believe should be left alone, but I’m not sure I can verbalize why I feel that way. Hmmmm. There are times though, when a thought like your scream-o thought makes me very Presbyterian, and I think, “but my voice is not in keeping with the character of God to begin with.”
However, I tend to feel that if I showed up to Church wearing the garb that Jesus wore when he went to church, rather than appear to identifying with him, I’d be behaving superficially and would also look quite silly. This is an element of secular music that I think I’d avoid incorporating into my worship. Perhaps it could be called, “cultural specificity” outside a specific culture. Or maybe it could be called, “cute.”
ooh – tough questions to put my finger on the why. Because I don’t understand atonal music, or scream-o (I give my son five minutes in the car and then I switch cds), is it then my right or duty to declare them off limits for use in worship? On the other hand, lyrically, I can easily point to songs which definetely need to be kept out of my ears, and are not honoring to God’s purposes – songs which celebrate sinfulness. So, my filter would be lyrically rather than musically – which is part of my angst of listening to these podcasts and articles – they are bringing up lyrical problems with favorite songs. And can I just say how much I love your roommate?