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Trends in Worship Music
How a discussion that isn't so deep...Anybody know anything or have any guesses on what the future trends are for worship music?
In the 80's it was an era of Maranatha coloured coded books and Vineyard. Very basic piano parts with acoustic guitar. I think in the 90's it was a very UK influenced, Christian British Rock invasion. Artist like Matt Redman and labels like Worship Together ruled Sunday worship. In the new millennium, I think the major influences were actually from 'down under', with Hillsongs United, with their big, full band sound (although Rueben Morgan and Darlene Z had made the label quite well know already. Multiple guitarists, keyboard, bass, drummer, back-up vocalist, basically 10-12 ppl worship teams.
Christian Worship music seems to emulate secular music, just a few decades behind. For me, I'm listening to secular bands like One Republic and LIGHTS (aka the girl version of Owl City). One Republic reminds me a 'rockier' Jars of Clay, with strong string parts, as most songs have distinctive cello parts (but with heavy heavy, strong drum parts). The strong beats and beat alliteration seems to reflect influence from rap and hip hop music.
Whereas LIGHTS (and Owl City) are bringing back electro-pop, with the era of Keytars and heavily synthesized music. LIGHTS also uses a vocoder for some songs, the same effect that Cher and rappers have been employing for the last few years.
At my church, I'm trying to encourage some classically trained youth to stick to violin and create parts for them (so we're not just stuck with piano players, guitarist, drummers and bassist). We're also slowly adding in keys/synth to complement electric guitar and electric bass (which was already a bold move years ago, along with drums). We have a Korg Triton that is starting to get more use, and I break out my Virtual Analog microKorg Sundays as well. I'm pretty bold with my POD XT Live guitar effects board, aiming for full U2 Edge type of sound. There is less of the "Eric Clapton Unplugged" sound, and definitely a conscious focus to move away from piano lead music, at least for the team I play with. More people, better coordinated multi-part worship.
So what trends are you seeing? Seeing any changes? Anything you're trying to champion?
** Note: I know music is somewhat subjective. Trends are also probably very localized at first. If you reply, can you also add where you're responding from? I'm from Toronto, Canada.
In the 80's it was an era of Maranatha coloured coded books and Vineyard. Very basic piano parts with acoustic guitar. I think in the 90's it was a very UK influenced, Christian British Rock invasion. Artist like Matt Redman and labels like Worship Together ruled Sunday worship. In the new millennium, I think the major influences were actually from 'down under', with Hillsongs United, with their big, full band sound (although Rueben Morgan and Darlene Z had made the label quite well know already. Multiple guitarists, keyboard, bass, drummer, back-up vocalist, basically 10-12 ppl worship teams.
Christian Worship music seems to emulate secular music, just a few decades behind. For me, I'm listening to secular bands like One Republic and LIGHTS (aka the girl version of Owl City). One Republic reminds me a 'rockier' Jars of Clay, with strong string parts, as most songs have distinctive cello parts (but with heavy heavy, strong drum parts). The strong beats and beat alliteration seems to reflect influence from rap and hip hop music.
Whereas LIGHTS (and Owl City) are bringing back electro-pop, with the era of Keytars and heavily synthesized music. LIGHTS also uses a vocoder for some songs, the same effect that Cher and rappers have been employing for the last few years.
At my church, I'm trying to encourage some classically trained youth to stick to violin and create parts for them (so we're not just stuck with piano players, guitarist, drummers and bassist). We're also slowly adding in keys/synth to complement electric guitar and electric bass (which was already a bold move years ago, along with drums). We have a Korg Triton that is starting to get more use, and I break out my Virtual Analog microKorg Sundays as well. I'm pretty bold with my POD XT Live guitar effects board, aiming for full U2 Edge type of sound. There is less of the "Eric Clapton Unplugged" sound, and definitely a conscious focus to move away from piano lead music, at least for the team I play with. More people, better coordinated multi-part worship.
So what trends are you seeing? Seeing any changes? Anything you're trying to champion?
** Note: I know music is somewhat subjective. Trends are also probably very localized at first. If you reply, can you also add where you're responding from? I'm from Toronto, Canada.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on -
Right awn, Michael! We are in a formative stage of a new style matrix for worship music: for the first time in history, non-readers can make music that approximates professional backgrounds, due to an abundance of Intgernet material to help, and the CD that freezes in a definitive version. This is heady stuff; it's like a high school art student being time-warped into Rembrandt's studio! Sooner or later, though, musicians will begin to want to apply all of this material they have been absorbing, and crave a blank canvas. Then we will begin to see more spontaneous and non-derivative thinking.
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Permalink Reply by Thomas Haahr on -
Hi Wayne (and everybody else reading)
Trends? In my opinion a lot of "contemporary"-worship/music artists is sounding to much alike (others have menitioned the discussion about christian radio, which I found quite interesting). Personaly I miss variation, edge and creativity, and most church and worship music have sort of developed it´s own genre (and style). The obvious reason is the idea that everybody should be able to sing along to the songs :) I think we should change that concept and allow music to be true art and not reduced to some sort of propaganda (which I think a lot of worship actually have turned into - sorry to say so!).. There are to many rules set up about what worship music should be and not be, so many that it often hinders true art to unfold. Personaly I almost never listen to church/worship music anymore because it all just sort of sounds the same... So in the future I´d like to se LESS worship bands and instead more good musicians and regular bands (even secular) perform at church and outside - that would be nice...
BTW i stumbled upon this, and I really like it:
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/good-friday-music/preview
peace *t
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on
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I miss the same things you miss, too; it's kind of sad, in an age that permits us exposure to every kind of music one earth, that we have such domination by traditional cutting-edge rock, and by the fear that "the young people will exit in droves if we do not sing their songs their way." Now as to what is true art - wow - that's a question. Today, there was no one in the sanctuary, so I turned the sound system way up and played Bach's B Minor mass. There's a song on Expecting - our hope for the resurrection, which would fit perfectly in that Mars Hill Good Friday service - and then it explodes into a glory-song of our going to be with Him! I danced while "directing" in great circles and swirls and (being 62) was hyperventilating by the end! Now there is only one other person in our church, a young dancer, who would even be remotely likely to respond. I could never put this on the pre-service CD at my church; nor could I dance if I could somehow present it in the most classically-oriented Lutheran church. They would love it, but I would have to sit still.
That's an extreme example, of course. But I want to encourage you to write, create, talk with your pastor on this subject. Even if your current situation limits you in church, search for other outlets. Who knows? Maybe the Lord wants YOU to sing His songs in the singles bar around the corner... or create a new species of worship music. I was reading a book on Jerome Kern (1st guy to work with Hammerstein, before Rodgers). He was raised in a creative, classical-music family, and broke his mother's heart by taking up a job in Tin Pan Alley. But he promised his mom he would write the best he could, and not lower to their standards. Eventually, he created a new kind of musical, "Show Boat", still one of the great Broadway musicals, and brought in a whole new era of high-quality entertainment.
Just a little to think about.
Blessings!
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Permalink Reply by Thomas Haahr on
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Hi thanks for sharing your thoughts and your words of encouragement.
I know I generalise when talking about "church music" and worship the way I do - fortunately there is also a lot of very good stuff out there. In some ways my main point is to provoke a bit :) Music have always been a passion of mine (I spend hours every day playing or listening to music) I grew up on classical music, had my period of Heavy Metal in the 90ties and a full on electro/techno/trance/goa/electronic era in the early 00´. Until about 2 years ago I´ve played and lead worship for 5 years more or less every weekend at my church, both in small groups, main services, worship nights, gospel choirs, prison outreach (by far, one of the greatest music experiences in my life!). At some point I started getting frustrated with what was going on at church - this mainly had to do with teological stuff that I found to narrowminded - at the same time I feelt that I wasn´t developing my musicality any longer. I´ve always meant worship was very important, in fact more important than anything else. I still believe the same, but at that time I mainly focused on the idea of worship as something going on in churches on sundays - of course It´s so much more than that, in fact I´d say it is nearly everything else :) ... we know this, but forget it so easy!!
I guess what I´m trying to say is, if worship in its true meaning is to live life and in everything we do be a pointer towards our creator, then every kind of honest heart felt search (consciously or even unconsciously) expressing our creativety (which he created) is a sign showing his greatness. That´s also why I think the discussion worship VS secular music makes no sense! It´s only a failed attempt to try labeling what we think pleases God and not :) We should not start limiting worship to a certain musical thing that is happening on sundays - and forget seeing his greatness in all the creativety he have created outside the church.. In some ways worship (at church) can be a distraction from true worship - Again i´m trying to provoke a bit :)
Today I play in a alternative, Indie band - none of my fellow band buddies are believers in Chist! I really love them, and In fact I think of them as a part of my worship band. Why? because I´m together with people whom Jesus love, and we are all use the talent God gave us - they are clearly not aware of this the same way as I, nevertheless that dosen´t make them less a sign of Gods love and creativity. I´d like to have them play at "church" one day :)
btw - excuse my poor english, I´m from denmark!
peace *t
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on
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You're not alone, Thomas. And I like provocation (or 'tweaking', as we sometimes say) - why have discussions if we only say things we are sure to agree on? "Ah, yes; oh, I agree, how wonderful..." You could even leave out the actual content, and the effect would be the same! My 15-year term in my present church is coming to an end in a month; and while I have hundreds of friends and a definite, purposeful ministry here, and am sending out resumes right and left to do more of this, for I know how to do it well -- there are times that I think I could accomplish as much being the Christian guy playing the piano at Staley's Grill, or by starting an alternative music theatre group. I joke to my friends at church, saying "You may see me as the Wal-Mart greeter for awhile"; but if that becomes true I'll do it with the same fervor for God I apply to music.
I do think there are differences in types of creativity -- there is one which is that of merely recombining the things God has made, which is mere amusement, no matter how sophisticated -- and there is another which intermingles with God's plan for us on earth: to love Him, and conjointedly, love our neighbor as ourself. Creativity may then be in searching for ways to beautify the surroundings, or in searching for ways to be kind, encouraging and of service to our fellows and families.
Denmark my words -- thanks for writing boldly on this subject! I'll be looking for more (though watch out, I like to tweak!)
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Permalink Reply by Meinrad Alexander Charles on -
Hi! I'm New Here.
I live in the U.A.E. aka Dubai but I am actually from India. Worship Here is a bit different because we have such a diverse congregation. some like 'the oldies' while some like it fast and upbeat so what we do is, we have 2 worship sessions, one before the actual service called 'Informal Worship' with upbeat worship music like Third Day, Hillsongs, Paul Wilbur etc.... and for the 'formal worship' we do the slow stuff. And when I say diverse, I just dont mean Age-wise, We have a lot of cultural diversity ie, Indian, African, European & American but sadly no Middle Eastern people. Even if there were any Middle Eastern followers, they will be practicing their faith in private because it would be VERY dangerous for them over here. But we ARE praying earnestly for all of that to change, for we are preparing for a day when 'Every tongue and tribe will confess'.
Please do PRAY with us.
All Blessing and Honor to Him.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on
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Welcome! The thought of knowing that people might wish to worship with you but can't because of the danger makes me wonder why we get intense over 'huge' issues such as whether or not the bass should play all the time or what style of worship we prefer; but I do hope that you find these discussions valuable. I'm a newcomer myself, and find great joy in exploring other folks' minds and hearts. There are a lot of people of this site who think seriously about the meaning and purpose of worship in the realm of music and the arts; and we have a lot of good humor, too.
Peace.
Greg Moore
Oregon, USA
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Permalink Reply by David D Waggoner on -
We in the Messianic Movement are outside the mainstream of contemporary worship music, but with the recent popularity of Paul Wilbur and his daugher in law Sharon (daughter of Messianic music pioneer Joel Chernoff) we are becoming more mainstream.
I have noticed the trend away from "oompah oompah boom-chucka" songs and even occasionally major key tunes finding their way into the mix.. Batya Segal (of Yemenite decent) has done some interesting songs and arranged some other old stand-bys into a no-chord middle eastern sound. The style is more driven from Israel.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on
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It's good to see (or hear) music that hearkens to older traditions -- if we are all mixing and blending the colors of the various styles and ethnicities, it can become like mixing all the bright clay or the paint colors and coming up with plain old brown.
Just listened to Hinue la Yanom -- oh, is that beautiful!
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Permalink Reply by David D Waggoner on
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Some of the older Messianic music was based on Klezmer, an eastern European Jewish style; but it required a clarinet or a sax or a violinist with SERIOUS chops. (think the clarinet cadenza that starts off Rhapsody in Blue)
Recently the NY orthodox community have come up with a style (or range of styles) that are interesting and I would LIKE to see incorporated into Messianic music. (there is resistance from our Israeli brothers who decry it as the music of their oppressors)
A couple of examples:
Avraham Fried Hine Ma Tov = "Behold how good" from Psalm 133.1
Mendy Wald Chazak = "Be strong" from Joshua 1
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Permalink Reply by Stevo on -
That sounds like a lot of fun if you ask me. I love to see different cultural music traditions make their way into worship music. And it would certainly be healthy to see some of this stuff get fused with popular Christian worship music.
And this brings up an interesting point. Every culture will find their most natural voice for worship and it tends to come from their own music. And music is all relative and heavily influenced by the past, so no one can claim complete originality. I think this is why we see a lack of any kind of Biblical commands for a given style or type of music.
I mean, I have yet to find a Bible verse that insists that all worship music must be 19th century hymnology even though so many missionaries have tried to force this on indigenous populations. And Bill Gothard has tried to argue this from scripture in a rather convoluted way.
I think we should encourage people to express things in a way they find enjoyable. (That's a loaded statement for sure.)
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Permalink Reply by Alex Morris on -
I am currently involved in planting a church in a neighborhood with approximately 120 different people-groups represented.
When people ask me what our music is going to be like, I happily shrug my shoulders and say, "I don't know. It depends on which people God allows us to lead to Himself."
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