When does style overtake substance? This is one of the perennial issues in youth ministry–especially in music. Read my latest column at sydneyanglicans.net
Here’s an excerpt:
Now I recognise that speaking this way does little to give me youth ministry street-cred (or whatever it’s called these days). I am at great risk of being labelled out-of-touch, over-the-hill, geriatric, or whatever term of endearment the younger folk might care to give me. But I wonder whether or not there are certain tempos and vocal styles that are incompatible with congregational singing, even for a group of people who are regular listeners of heavy metal?
Hehe, I’ve grown quite fond of classical music of late, particularly Grieg and Dvoark, there great to listen to while you are reading, I must broaden my horizons though, see if there are some more composers I enjoy.
Church music is an interesting discussion though, but you can never appeal to everyones taste in music, in months of late I’ve grown quite fond of hymns again, and have grown to dislike Hillsongs very euro-pop style of music, which I almost feel is becoming a stoic tradition in itself…
At Glenbrook Anglican, where I’m now going…and staying (Springwood Anglican was to far away for someone who doesn’t drive.) the church band, experiments with different styles of music (usually using well known church songs) from folk-rock to reggae, and while sometimes it doesn’t work allot of the time it does.
Further the constant change in style creates renewed interest in the song, preventing it from becoming a drall.
So perhaps you should encourage the church band to experiment with there styles, try something new, and not to be scared if it doesn’t work. Allowing you to find a style of music that works well with the church band, i.e. if you lack the musicians for a ‘soft rock’ style of music you may find the band works better with ‘folk rock’.
And though I’m not a musician I imagine encouraging the church band to be more like a band (more communal) and less like a rostered duty would help the overall sound of the music.
Further just encouraging people to remember to actually read the words there singing before the song starts, I imagine would help, so that the congregation doesn’t go on automatic, and they actually learn or remember something of the word of God.
…for someone who can’t play an instrument, that was quite long…and probably either really obvious or wrong…
Hope Twist goes well for you this year Jodie!
Perhaps you should run a workshop of music styles at Twist, exhibiting and encouraging debate on the styles of music that enhance the word ministry that is church music.
Hey Jodie,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts once again, that was a very interesting article. I wonder if it’s not that any certain styles are incompatible with congregational singing, but that different contexts (cultural or otherwise) determine which styles are appropriate in communicating substance.
For instance, rapping Scripture together may be the most appropriate and effective means of communicating the word in some parts of the world, though certainly the congregations I’m a part of would have a hard time keeping up with the words! It’s not that rap itself is incompatible with congregational singing, it’s just that it isn’t compatible with “my” congregation, for no other reason than most of us simply aren’t familiar with the genre.
I guess Buzan’s research probably proves certain styles to be incompatible regardless of the congregation but I wonder if there are more styles to be accepted than we might first think?
Whilst I agree with Michael that we’re never going to be able to appeal to everyone’s personal preference of music, I suppose we must beware implicitly sending a message that there is only one way for congregations to sing together, whilst affirming and utilizing those styles most appropriate to reaching our particular context with the word.
What do you think? I look forward to thinking about this more, and hearing from others…
Nathan
Hi Jodie. I think you’re spot on about the fact that certain tempos and vocal styles can influence the message communicated by any given set of words. As you mentioned the song “Blessed be the name of the Lord” may have the meaning changed into an insult to God if the words were shouted at 200 b.p.m.
However I suspect (I may be wrong) that this has more to do with the fact that certain songs are written to be played in certain styles rather than anything implicit about any given style. I don’t know of any Christian writers who write specifically for a 200 b.p.m. and this may be a skill that we need to foster if we are to be more effective in reaching youth. Arius spread false doctrine through catchy tunes, and we should do the same with true doctrine for the people we are reaching.
To see how the mood of a given set of words can be changed by singing style alone compare the first 1:15 min which is sung, with the same words in the next 30 seconds shouted. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5nw1-_5-Vk
(ignore the video as it’s rather distracting for the analogy – but it also shows that visuals can change the content of a message)
MCR use this effect in their songs a number of times.