Tonight after church while I was gathering up my guitar and songsheets, someone asked me if I'd read anything on whether certain rhythms or patterns in music have physiological affects on the human body. We didn't have much time to talk, and I responded more from my gut than from a considered response, but the gist of the question seemed to be something relating to musical style, choices in the appropriateness of different styles, and whether some styles are worse (i.e. evil) that others, and whether those bad styles could have negative affects on the body.
To separate the questions, one could look at different styles and ask any particular style could be evil. A second question would be to ask the appropriateness of a particular style for a particular usage. My response to his question was that (1) I believe there's an incredible diversity of musical styles and that we are often only comfortable with what's familar to us because of the powerful association we make between musical styles and the contexts in which we are first exposed to them, and (2) in making stylistic choices for what music we use in our worship services or singing with the kids classes Wednesday nights I try to follow Calvin's dictum that if we let love be our guide all will be safe. Calvin counseled the church not to rush rashly into changes but to consider the calling to love the people we're serving with our gifts.
In the extended entry I'll address those two points in a little more detail. I'd love to hear your comments, rants, criticisms, or two cents.
(1). Styles are simply ways of organizing music, ways of manipulating sound through melodies, harmonies, rhythm, timbre, silence, and other aspects the languages of music. Sound is part of creation, and human ability to make and manipulate sound reflects one area in which we are exercising dominion over the stuff of nature. Since all of nature--all creation--is made by God, and was made good, we must be careful not to condemn portions of creation (1 Timothy 4:4,5). Sure, its broken and marred by humanity's rebellion against God, but it can be redeemed and as God's stewards and caretakers of nature we can squeeze it and tweek it and find all the ways we can to use it to magnify the glory of God.
Because styles are a result of the diversity of creation and of the people God has made and their endless creativity, I don't think a style of music could be inherently evil, any more than a rock or a tree or a pile of dirt or an ocean could be evil. The goodness or depravity of a style comes from what people do with the style, and as such, any style could theoretically be used for good or bad.
There's also a sense in which different musical styles are languages, and in order to critique particular pieces you must be a native and speak the language--a non-native won't know what's good or bad, or whether proper grammar and syntax is being followed or not. For example, I know next to nothing about hip-hop, and would be at a loss to tell you if a particular hip-hop song were decent, incredible, or really poor music. I grew up listening to classical music, and a lot of celtic music, and have frames of reference to critique within those styles.
Viewing style as analogous to languages, part of the beauty of humanity's being made in the image or likeness of God is the beauty of all the different musical styles we've made over the centuries and throughout the cultures. Each one has a unique gift and way of mirroring the infinite glories of the creator God back to him. Wesley wrote of having a thousand tongues to sing God's praise, and when all the peoples of the world bring the best of their musics to the praise and worship of their Maker, it magnifies his worth in ways that only a few styles would fail to do. How incredible that all that richness reflects on the richness of our God!
(2) Considering the issue of style in worship, and how I make stylistic decisions for what music to use at my church, I'll try to be a bit more consise. (Just for background, in the past I've been involved in selecting hymns for the worship services, but haven't been doing that on a regular basis since September 2005. Our corporate worship service is fairly traditional for a early 20th century Southern American Presbyterian service: hymns with organ and/or piano, and a fairly simple service.)
Calvin's advice to let love be the guide is what I try to follow. Often I've found music or songs that are excellent, biblical, and really cool--one's I really enjoy--but they wouldn't being loving choices for using with my congregation. If I choose a musical style too different from what we're used to people may not be able to stay in the room. While its good to help a congregation grow in their understanding of the diversity of styles and the appropriateness of that diversity, it must be done out of love for the people God calls me to serve with my musical gifts. The question, "Can the people stay in the room with this music?" is very helpful for me in asking whether a particular song is a loving stylistic choice or not.
I don't think there are any hard and fast rules for what styles are ok or not ok. It seems like a wisdom issues, one that musicians will have to make on a song by song basis, receiving criticism and encouragement from the leaders and the congregation, and seeking to love them through their music.
One other issue is that our musical styles should connect with people, so as to not obscure the message of the gospel. Paul adapted the style of his preaching (the language he used, whether or not he quoted the Old Testament scriptures or the pagan poets) to the audience he was addressing (Scripturally knowledgeable folks in Acts 13, rural pagans in Acts 14, or cultured pagans in Acts 17). As musicians, we must know those we're called to serve and adapt our musical style to what they can hear with understanding, so that it doesn't obscure the content we're communicating.
You have greater opportunities to minister to people through music when you have a greater range of styles in which you can play.
Posted by swanson at mars 8, 2006 11:05 EM | TrackBack