Church music. Church music is music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclesiastical liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn. History[edit] Early Christian music[edit] Christianity began as a small, persecuted Jewish sect. At first there was no break with the Jewish faith; Christians still attended synagogues and the Temple in Jerusalem just as Christ had done, and presumably still carried on the same musical traditions in their separate Christian meetings. Later, there is a reference in Pliny who writes to the emperor Trajan (61–113) asking for advice about how to prosecute the Christians in Bithynia, and describing their practice of gathering before sunrise and repeating antiphonally 'a hymn to Christ, as to God'.
Gregorian chant[edit] The IntroitGaudeamus omnes, scripted in square notation in the 14th—15th century Graduale Aboense, honours Henry, patron saint of Finland The Mass[edit] Carols[edit] Carol singers See also[edit] What is Christian in Music? Terry B. Ewell West Virginia University Terry B. Ewell is Chair of the Division of Music at West Virginia University and Associate Professor of Bassoon and Music Theory. He holds a Ph. D. in Music Theory from the University of Washington. Recent attempts by evangelicals to define Christian music as opposed to secular or "worldly" music have highlighted the complex relationship between the Christian faith and music. A Very Brief Historic Summary The Christian church of the first two centuries sought to avoid any mixing of pagan musical practices with their own religious experiences.
Unlike the mystery cults that believed in the power of musical incantations, the early church Fathers affirmed that the word (logos) held primacy over the music. One distinguishing feature of the early church was its devotion to musical improvisation often connected with charismatic utterances. Church music changed in several respects in the next millennium. A Brief Summary of Music in Contemporary America.
Christian music - definition of Christian music by the Free Online Dictionary. Christian music definition of Christian music in the Free Online Encyclopedia. Church music. 1 Music intended for performance as part of services of worship. With few exceptions, music is essential to the ritual of every religion; the singing of prayers and portions of Scripture is part of Judaeo-Christian tradition, and a large number of melodies for specific parts of the liturgy were embodied in the medieval collection of church music called Gregorian chant. Additional musical settings of liturgy from later times to the present have added to the liturgical repertory.
Such customary interpolations in the service as the motet, chorale, and hymn have achieved an integral place in many church services. This is also true of the Anglican anthem and was at one time true of the Lutheran cantata. See anthem anthem [ultimately from antiphon], short nonliturgical choral composition used in Protestant services, usually accompanied and having an English text. 2 Music intended for performance in a church outside the regular worship service. See E. Warning! Church Music. Christian music. Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world. Like other forms of music the creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of Christian music varies according to culture and social context. Christian music is composed and performed for many purposes, ranging from aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, or as an entertainment product for the marketplace.
Worship services[edit] Instrumental accompaniment[edit] In the West, the majority of Christian denominations use instruments such as an organ, piano, electronic keyboard, guitar, or other accompaniment, and occasionally by a band or orchestra, to accompany the singing. Instrumental music[edit] Contemporary Christian music[edit] CCM is not a musical genre like the other genres. Industry[edit] Media[edit] Christian music definition. Jesus movement.
The Jesus movement was a movement in Christianity beginning on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and spreading primarily through North America and Europe, before dying out by the early 1980s. It was the major Christian element within the hippie counterculture, or, conversely, the major hippie element within some strands of Protestantism. Members of the movement were called Jesus people, or Jesus freaks. The Jesus movement left a legacy of various denominations and other Christian organizations, and had an impact on both the development of the contemporary Christian right and the Christian left. Jesus music, which grew out of the movement, greatly influenced contemporary Christian music, helping to create various musical subgenres such as Christian rock and Christian metal. [citation needed] Origins[edit] The terms Jesus movement and Jesus people were coined by Duane Pederson in his writings for the Hollywood Free Paper.
Beliefs and practices[edit] A Jesus Music Revolution: What part does Christian music play in revival? By Jon Bellamy. Thursday 19th January 2006 Jonathan Bellamy 'The words "Jesus Freak" were first coined in the late sixties, when hippies became part of a new revival, the Jesus Movement. It was a time when music, poetry, and an open expression for Jesus Christ turned a new generation on to God. It merged rock and roll with the Gospel message, a wave we're still riding today known as contemporary Christian music. It infused the Church with the arts. There are two primary tools that Cross Rhythms uses to engage with today's society and communicate Christian faith, Christian lifestyle and the power and love of God.
There is much debate over what is called 'Christian Music'. At Cross Rhythms our current understanding is that music is music and to put labels on it only works to reinforce a sacred-secular divide, something that is not helpful when trying to 'go into the world' and engage and connect with those outside our church culture. The saying is often 'the older persecutes the younger'. The History Of Music In Church Worship.
Was the early music of the christian church influenced by Hebrew music. Mfiles - influence of the Christian Church on music development including sheet music and audio for selected hymns. Although music has no doubt been an important part of life for many cultures since antiquity, it was in the hands of the Western Christian Church that music underwent important developments that were to send it on a series of courses leading ultimately to classical forms and then on to influence today's myriad musical styles. An example of early religious music is unaccompanied plainsong, which under its alternative name of Gregorian Chant has made something of a comeback in recent times. While very different in sound from music as we know it today, it obeys early rules of form which were later to develop into important musical concepts.
A well-known example of Gregorian Chant is the Dies Irae (or Day of Wrath) associated with Judgement Day and used for centuries by the Church during Requiem Massess. A number of significant factors contributed to the church's being the natural incubator nurturing music in this way. Pivotal Composers in the history of the church Christmas Carols. When did churches start using instrumental music? | Christian History.
Christian History Home > Ask The Expert > When did churches start using instrumental music? When did churches start using instrumental music? Elesha Coffman | posted 8/08/2008 11:33AM 1 of 1 When did churches start using instrumental music? Are there churches today that still only use a capella music? —Mark Though we know that early Christians sang during worship, they probably used no instruments. "[I]n blowing on the tibia [pipes] they puff out their cheeks … they lead obscene songs … they raise a great din with the clapping of scabella [a type of foot percussion]; under the influence of which a multitude of other lascivious souls abandon themselves to bizarre movements of the body" (The Story of Christian Music, p. 28).
Unaccompanied vocal music continued to be the norm in Christian worship for centuries. The Reformation kicked off large-scale worship wars. A few western churches, such as the Churches of Christ, still eschew the use of instruments in worship.