Whether accompanied by organ, handbells or electric guitar, or not accompanied by an instrument at all, Christians have used songs and music to worship God throughout history. Let’s take a look at musical instruments in the Bible, the history of music and worship and how different denominations of Christianity use music today.
History of Music and Worship in the Christian Church
From Gregorian chants to electric guitar and everywhere in between, worship services have incorporated music throughout the ages.
112 A.D.
Pliny the Younger writes a letter to the emperor Trajan stating that early Christians “were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god,” one of the earliest non-Biblical accounts of Christians using song to worship Christ. (2)
Ephesians 5:19 (NIV): “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.” (3)
190
Clement of Alexandria writes, “Leave the pipe to the shepherd, the flute to the men who are in fear of gods and intent on their idol worshiping. Such musical instruments must be excluded from our wingless feasts.” Instruments are associated with pagans during this time, and the use of music in Christian worship is frowned upon. (4)
Mid-300s
Known as the “Father of Christian Hymnody,” Ambrose of Milan introduces rhymed, metrical hymns that become the basis of the hymns we know today, contrasting with earlier unmetered, prose-like psalms and prayers. These hymns are a cappella, sung without accompaniment. (5)
590-604
Pope Gregory I collects and codifies what is now known as “plainchant,” or Gregorian chant, a choral vocalization of verses sung with one unaccompanied melody line. The Roman Catholic Church uses Gregorian chant to this day in liturgical music. (6-8)
900s
Music becomes widely notated for the first time, allowing plainchant to become more complex: Choirs can now easily reproduce a melody that would be difficult to share using only the oral tradition. (9)
1100s
French composer Pérotin introduces polyphonic music to the church – music that uses multiple parts to harmonize with the melody. (8)
Psalm 57:7 (NIV): “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.” (3)
1400s
Organ music catches on in the Roman Catholic West, though the Orthodox East eschews the accompaniment. (9)
Early 1500s
During the Reformation, Martin Luther gives music a central place in the Lutheran Church, encouraging the entire congregation to sing along at certain times to polyphonic chorales. John Calvin favors congregational psalm-singing to monophonic tunes, forming the Calvinist liturgical tradition. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church continues to use instrumental and organ music performed by musicians and not the congregation. (9)
Early 1700s
Fed up with the “dull indifference” of traditional hymns, Isaac Watts writes about 600 hymns during his lifetime, paraphrasing Scripture in a way that pleases many but upsets others, who find his work sacrilegious and refer to his songs as “Watts’ whims.” (9)
Early 1800s
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, uses religious lyrics set to secular music performed by lively brass bands to attract people to the church. His practical approach to liturgical music is best summed up with the quote, “Why should the devil have all the best tunes?” (10-11)
2 Chronicles 5:13 (NIV): “Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’” (3)
Meanwhile, songs known as “Negro spirituals” become popular with enslaved African-Americans. These songs featured reworked Protestant hymns set to new melodies and harmonies, becoming the first uniquely American sacred music. (12)
Late 1800s to early 1900s
Following the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the spirituals evolve into an ecstatic form of singing born in California Pentecostal churches, creating the foundation for gospel music as we know it today. Composers such as the Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey pioneer the genre. (12-13)
Psalm 95:1 (NIV): “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” (3)
1970s
Larry Norman, considered the “Father of Christian Rock,” popularizes setting religious lyrics to rock ‘n’ roll. One of his most beloved songs, “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?,” references William Booth’s famous quote. (9)
Today
Christian denominations still frequently disagree on the role of music in worship, though there has been a movement to understand other traditions rather than simply condemning them. (9)
Colossians 3:16 (NIV): “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (3)
Source: http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/music-and-ministry/
I was expecting Charles Wesley in history of music.
This is cool. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Mom