"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"-Martin Luther (paraphrase of Psalm 46).This is one of the earliest hymn. Early hymn are paraphrased from the bible verses. Self written lyrics were not allowed.
Charles Wesley developed the new style of lyric writing. He integrated one's personal feeling to God with the original bible verses. And hence broke the old rule of lyrics writing. E.g. "Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin?"-perhaps the old love songs are written in this way.
(http://www.hymnlyrics.org/newlyrics_w/where_shall_my_wondering_soul_begin.php)
"Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" is a song of Wesley as well, it's still very God centered but not by paraphrasing.
These are some other hymn which are not paraphrasing bible, yet quite God centered: Amazing grace, count your blessings, fairest lord Jesus...
(http://www.hymnlyrics.org/mostpopularhymn.php)
Current worship song such as Kathryn Scott (one of the contemporary christian song singer) sings praise and worship song that are musically not suitable for church worship. Yet, it's a very good choice on personal listening at home (usually when praying or praising God at home). Some other examples are Doug Horley, Michael Smith, etc. The lyrics tends to be very similar to modern love pop songs.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_worship_music)-if you trust wikipedia..
Yet, not all are like this. Say, if you see the hillsong lyrics and arrangement, it's very suitable for church worship. I take an example, "everything that has breath" is very God centered. Some other such as "To you" is very much like a love song, especially:
"Hear my cry
My deep desire
To know You more".
It's alright to be like a love song, since we all love God. Just to show the effects of pop culture on church music.
These are "lyric"ally. If seeing it musically, the contrast is more obvious. From no instrument, till A capella, to piano.. This is actually very similar to normal music development. Later, musical instruments are added in.
Some people like the old style of serious worship, some like the current 'euphoria' style of worship. I think both can't be eliminated.
Also, when there was rock and roll music, there were rock and roll church music. When there were is rap music, there are rap church music as well.
At the past, If not mistaken, church music (hymns/Bach's music) is leading the development of the art of music. It's a contrast now.
Musically, we can clearly see the contemporary factors in it. Yet, I'm not too sure about the lyrics part. It's kinda confusing to analyze words for me, since i'm still not trained well in literature knowledge. So, if can, please tell me more so that i can sharpen my skills on it.
(I depends mainly on the church music history on wikipedia. Many tell me don't trust wikipedia, but just take it since it's relatively too hard to find any other reliable sources online.)
Charles Wesley developed the new style of lyric writing. He integrated one's personal feeling to God with the original bible verses. And hence broke the old rule of lyrics writing. E.g. "Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin?"-perhaps the old love songs are written in this way.
(http://www.hymnlyrics.org/newlyrics_w/where_shall_my_wondering_soul_begin.php)
"Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" is a song of Wesley as well, it's still very God centered but not by paraphrasing.
These are some other hymn which are not paraphrasing bible, yet quite God centered: Amazing grace, count your blessings, fairest lord Jesus...
(http://www.hymnlyrics.org/mostpopularhymn.php)
Current worship song such as Kathryn Scott (one of the contemporary christian song singer) sings praise and worship song that are musically not suitable for church worship. Yet, it's a very good choice on personal listening at home (usually when praying or praising God at home). Some other examples are Doug Horley, Michael Smith, etc. The lyrics tends to be very similar to modern love pop songs.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_worship_music)-if you trust wikipedia..
Yet, not all are like this. Say, if you see the hillsong lyrics and arrangement, it's very suitable for church worship. I take an example, "everything that has breath" is very God centered. Some other such as "To you" is very much like a love song, especially:
"Hear my cry
My deep desire
To know You more".
It's alright to be like a love song, since we all love God. Just to show the effects of pop culture on church music.
These are "lyric"ally. If seeing it musically, the contrast is more obvious. From no instrument, till A capella, to piano.. This is actually very similar to normal music development. Later, musical instruments are added in.
Some people like the old style of serious worship, some like the current 'euphoria' style of worship. I think both can't be eliminated.
Also, when there was rock and roll music, there were rock and roll church music. When there were is rap music, there are rap church music as well.
At the past, If not mistaken, church music (hymns/Bach's music) is leading the development of the art of music. It's a contrast now.
Musically, we can clearly see the contemporary factors in it. Yet, I'm not too sure about the lyrics part. It's kinda confusing to analyze words for me, since i'm still not trained well in literature knowledge. So, if can, please tell me more so that i can sharpen my skills on it.
(I depends mainly on the church music history on wikipedia. Many tell me don't trust wikipedia, but just take it since it's relatively too hard to find any other reliable sources online.)
17 comments:
you can say in the olden days.. they take the Words straight from the bible.. very biblical... now people are just creative... with words... its like poetry.. lol...
and i believe that the concept of worship has changed over the years... for example.. for older generation.. worship is something like reverence and very God-fearing-like.. but our generation.. sadly.. kinda lack that... but we believe in building a relationship with God like a friend... cause God means different things to different people... so... i dont even know wad is my point adi..... (its late.. brain sleep...)
as for the music style.. i dunno how to listen... but to me.. either way is fine by me...may it be rap, rock, pop or anything.. it is just a channel of worshiping God ... so which ever it is.. still can worship God.. lol..
You got your point. Another conclusion of mine is..
Fearing still have, friendship has been there as well, as how King David wrote his psalm. Just that, for every era, the lyrics presented are much like what the world music looks like.
Let's see it this way, At 1st, paraphrasing bible.
2nd, maybe when there were Opera singing, hymn composers(Wesley) started to adapt the poetic lyrics writing method. Some used allegory/metaphor in their hymns when they see how Shakespeare make his poem so wonderful.
(At Martin Luther time, opera wasn't there).
As the art of world music developed, 3rd stage, worship music integrate itself with the world music, and this is a process of refining. Nowadays' worship songs may sound like a nowadays' love song. Older generation may not like it, because it's clashing their 'pop culture' which may had been stopped for some years. HAHA.
But we can't say all the worship songs have changed their style to the 'modern' one, as there are still jazz and classical style music being composed all over the world nowadays! (This implies the same for church worship songs as well, for both lyrics and music).
true true... we follow current music trend.. so to speak.. different people like different music.. =) and different time.. people write differently.. after all.. we are all still learning...
Another thing, i really don't know how to show that the ancient hymn is based on God more than self (except for the Martin Luther hymns.)
I don't know how to differentiate the differences between songs. It's hard to show out as words.
I think contemporary songs, take bible verses directly, more often than the old hymns.
I hardly see hymns take bible verses. I grew up in baptist church, who sang hymns as main line worship. but... now think back, I didnt have good time. now sing contemporary worship,feel better.
ya, last time , no feel.
Old hymns and new hymns. HAHAs..
But, the important thing is, whether the heart is right. We can write psalm as King David, through our very unique own experience.
Anyway, the feel is caused by music or lyrics? I think it's by the music, because music psycho-acoustically affects human's emotion.
The hymn you sang during the past was out of the main trend. It didn't correspond to the culture of that time. Those were history, 18th century's pieces!! How to coupe with? That's why, singing rap worship song at nowadays may get the youngsters to 'feel' the worship!!
Can i say that?
yar.. its all about the heart lar.. no matter what style or lyrics... if its not from the heart.. what ever the lyric =.= also useless...
but ei i thought that hymns are like... take straight from bible wan?? maybe cause i wasn't raise with hymns.. i don't really know... as for contemporary worship music... hard to say lehhh a lot of "Christian" music.. have christian implication but don't have christian-y lyrics... cause can sell as main stream music... you know like.. switchfoot and stacie orrico...christian magazines actually publish them as christian artist in the main stream music.. so confusing...
oh.. and.. i think both music and the lyrics make the feel lor.. different people got different preference... i m a lyrics kind of person... so lyrics speak to me.... but if the song is like.. minor key.. will feel very emo wan.. like.. "more love, more power" ... every time hear that song.. it just breaks my heart...
as the deer panthered for water,
from the rising of the sun,
fear not, for i with you ..
and many, take from bible verses,,
but that is 20 years ago,
of cos now worship songs improve,, with lyric more diverse, no more straight from bible verses.
hymns, hardly take from bible verses..
hymns are not quote directly from the bible but it is bible based. Certain words were changed to make it sounds better when sing. Though it may sound real boring to our new generation but it has rich doctrinal foundation in it. That is the beauty of hymns, it actually teaches people about who God really is. Contemporary worship are more to emotion based. though we may feel really good when we sing it during service but we have missed the real point of worshiping God. worshiping God shouldn't depend on our feelings. If you noticed, lots of contemporary worship songs are getting kinda emo also.. some even have wrong doctrines in it >.< u may feel good when u sing but becareful of what u're singing ;)
I c.
So, to conclude:
1. Hymns's not bible paraphrase, but it's a serious worship. "Fear God" type of worship.
2. Contemporary worship music is not very serious, and even based on individual emotion. May brings the people to another realm, and causes a lot of psycho acoustic effects. However, some other songs in the world has the same musical effect. We should have a different feel when listening to 'Hillsong' compared to 'Fall out Boys'.
Right?
3. The Bible paraphrase hymns were only seen during the Martin Luther's era. However, recent (20 years ago) worship songs did that as well. For other hymns and contemporary worship songs, it's harder to trace.
4. Both the hymns or the contemporary worship song (non-bible paraphrased) has romantic issue, and it's a two way based worship. However, the style of lyrics writing is affected by the culture of that particular time. This shows the contemporary spirit.
5. God centered worship has nothing to do with the lyrics, nor the music, but the heart of the worshiper should be the uppermost importance. The music is very subjective, and the lyrics has never been God based. We can't say that bible versed songs are more God centered.
So, whether it's hymns or contemporary worships, as long as you can use that to get closer to God, it's already the most beautiful thing. Different people different preference.
that's y, traditional church people, always got idea that , hymns got theology, but contemporary song, got no theology..haha !
but, all these are theoretical discussion haha!
anyway, seems that, contemporary songs have taken the trend since past 20 years. how ppl may say, hymns are good, but still, cant really revive the use of hymns...haha !
by the way, I cant worship with Planet shakers songs. Hill song is fine for me..Y?
Hymns can be improvised to the pop style. It may revive, but not hymn anymore. The old hymns will be treated just like classical music.
The style of playing and the chords arrangements i think.
E.g. Recently i listened to Radiohead, a British band. The songs are very emotional. When I start to analyze the chords used and the instruments used, I realized how different it is from the ordinary song. Each songs used up to 2 keys, but the interchanges of the keys are not obvious. I can't tell where are the border until i find it chord by chord. Surprisingly, it gives an emo feel! Why? still don't know..
I think the arrangements of Hillsong and Planet Shaker have a different philosophy. How they use E. Guitar, what effects, what keyboard sound, how to harmonize, etc. "It's all about taste!", or maybe you have been listening to hillsong and the image of worship songs is fixed.
I'd heard planet shakers once or twice only, so i can't give any distinct reason.
for me... i cant really worship with planetshakers too.. maybe its because there is a lot of words.. where else... hillsong is more like.. repetitive so allows people more space to worship??... last time i listen hillsong in my car.. =.=" make me sleepy almost accident.. cause all the worship song same chords no variation... lol..... but very good for worship at home.. where there are no speeding cars waiting to kill me =) ...
traditional worship 30, 40 years ago. has different core value. that are: always focus with revered heart to God and listen to preaching then respond to God's words.
so people didnt engrossed in emotional worship, singing and body language. but always alert. and all program, singing and reading bible, actually with a purpose to prepare heart for the preaching session. so sermon is the climax of worship.
but today, we engross in singing and body language and that is worship to us. and sermon is just one of the worship component.. that is the different...
last time we couldnt and must not enjoy worship, but now we do our best to let everyone enjoy , engross in worship.
I see some church got very poor pulpit sermon over years, but grow very well, because the singing, praise, worship components are very good..haha...
Hillsong nowadays has a better chords progression edy and also if compared to the Chinese one. Their arrangements are good!
I wonder if all the focuses are based on the bible, and why is there changes?.. There must be some enzyme/catalyst aiding/causing the shift of focuses-from 30/40 years ago to current.
true.. now hillsong better adi... that was an old album.. and a worship cd some more.. =.="
ei you say the enzyme thing.. is it like a trigger?.. what make them change??... can be anything... social issue... can be one of them.. humans now are too complex.. and emotional.. last time people where got so complicated wan.. grandmas are so easily contented...
anyways... what shift in focus??.. hasn't it always been about God?? i mean specifically which area??
I mean as in the comment by Septics.
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