Christian Music
J.Peter Burkholder, Donald Jay Grout, Claude V. Palisca A History of Western Music
W.W. Norton & Company
Note from Chapter 10 “Music in the Lutheran Church”(P. 215-219)
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After religion reformation Luther had created new church, he has a new ideas no matter music or ceremony and some rules, for example music should be easier for listening and the people can sing and understand text then it should have vernacular song. But he keep some Catholic culture likes basic Latin texts learning for a child, some of music style same with Catholic church. He has very emphasize with new ideas. Even he wanted something different and look like against the rule of Catholic church and it looks like he tried to make it happen, but at the beginning of his church he has emphasized to keep some old traditional and music but not at all. Of course the main style of Lutheran music in that time is chorale. Chorale is the same with chant but in Lutheran style there will be a big form (Chant have only one line). They have harmony and counterpoint like Catholic church but everyone can hear the melody. It’s different that Catholic songs was hard to hear or sing the melody. Worshiper will hear the harmony more than melody. Some Lutheran’s work are also the same with old music like chant, but even like chant, Luther has tried to make it for match with everyone. He was the first man that emphasized about vernacular in worship song and he can compose a vernacular song for the worshiper because in the past no one can sing chant except saint or priest. Sometimes he uses the traditional song and compose the text for worship, this idea is mean people will learn songs quickly. And even Luther had improved the church music for Lutheran church, they will be like an old song. But his idea is the base of church song (Except Catholic) for the next time until present day. Today there are many Christ church in the world , all church will have different music style, but all of them are based on Luther’s ideas.
History of Christian music (Lutheran Music)
There's many type Christian music in every religion event will have different song, for example "Christmas song" "Easter song" "Holy Communion song" "Pslam Sunday song" and song in general ceremony like worship on Sunday. You can see the type and category on top right of hymn book but there's other type that no related with church music too the unofficial song will not have strict form like church song, they can compose to other music style beside from hymn no matter Folk music, Jazz, pop-rock, EDM but this can do only on Protestant because Catholic still be also strict in form. Anyway for Christian, music is one of important thing that they must learn beside from bible words. Many of Christian song composed lyrics by bible words and Christian have worship with song for a long time.
I agree for this article because it's make sense that Luther didn't left all of old music style because in that time even we have technology development like printer but some original thing like Latin studying or some original music form should keep it. But he didn't forgot uneducated people then he will find the way to get everyone to be one with religion that idea create new music style and it's developed all time until we know as hymn.
The article talk about beginning of protestant music and start in Lutheran church it's talk about music form that's related in first step in researching because I want to know about music and reference of music or ceremony because they will be information to combine with other religion and we will see the effect in society if we understand it. In Thai even there many church of Protestant but almost is Presbyterian. they're some kind of music same with Lutheran style like choral style, composed by folk music, the lyrics worship the God or Jesus more than Mary,Can use local language. Then we should know the original before we study other church.
For Christian music is very important. In Bible many scripture have talk about music for worship God's name
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 98:1-7)
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(Colossians 3:16)
This two quotes is scripture from Bible there talk about sing a song to worship God in every time we can see that many scripture talk about worship with music that mean music is important with christian for long time.
Music Analysis
The example of hymn called O sing a song of Bethlehem this is good example because there many features that you can see and more interesting detail. This song composed in western form (It's use melody from English folk song). There're many of harmonized, chord and use motive in many time. The song must sing with lyrics. And because they're many text then we must sing in many time. The song have complex harmonization but they're clearly melody audience can hear and sing following. This song the text tell the Bible's story and praise the Lord in the same time for example "For he who died on Calvary is risen from the grave, and Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored, is mighty now to save."
Example of Song (O sing a song of Bethlehem)
Christian Music Perspective
This is my interview for Christian music with Aj. Junram Strausbaugh. She's a director of Wattana church choir and Thai hymn composer. Interview topic will related with music in religions society because now we have know more about music style then the next step is about society. The main point that I have learned from this interview is music is important to Christian more than I know and music is useful and necessary for many religion event.
Interview with Aj.Junram Strausbaugh on November 16 2019 at the Watthana Church, Bangkok, Thailand
Bibliography
REF : Martin Luther. Order of Mass and Communion for the church at Wittenberg (1523)
REF : Luther, Ein feste Burg A History of Western Music p.218-9