Music in Worship

by C. David Green

Worship Texts

1. Psalms – the heart of true worship in all ages
2. Canticles – songs in scripture other than the psalms
   1. E.g. Song of Moses; Magnificat; Song of Simeon
3. Liturgical texts
   1. Earliest appeared in the 1st century
   2. E.g. Kyrie; Gloria; Sanctus; Agnus Dei; Gloria Patri
4. Carols
   1. Composed
   2. Tell a story
   3. Multiple verses
   4. E.g. O Little Town of Bethlehem
5. Hymns
   1. Composed
   2. Tend to be more theological
   3. After the ancient period are usually multi-verse
   4. E.g. A Mighty Fortress is Our God
6. Scripture songs – fragments of scripture
   1. E.g. Be Exalted, O God; Create in Me
7. Gospel songs
   1. Composed
   2. Tend to focus on personal experience
   3. Usually multi-verse
   4. E.g. When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

Musical Genre

1. Chants
   1. Psalm tone plus cadence
   2. No fixed meter
   3. Adaptable to any text
   4. Not as interesting musically
2. Carols
   1. Simple melody
   2. Definite meter
   3. E.g. O Little Town of Bethlehem
3. Chorales
   1. Block chord harmony
   2. Fixed meter
   3. Useful only for texts with compatible meter
   4. Easy to sing, but more interesting than chant
   5. E.g. A Mighty Fortress is Our God
4. Art music
   1. Wide variety
   2. Complex melodies and harmonies
   3. Generally performable only by trained musicians
   4. E.g. The Hallelujah Chorus
5. Spirituals
   1. Relaxed meter
   2. Repetition
   3. Responsive parts
   4. E.g. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?
6. Gospel
   1. Simple melody and harmony
   2. Fixed meter
   3. E.g. When the Roll is Called Up Yonder
7. Contemporary
   1. Simple melody
   2. Harmony not important
   3. Variable meter
   4. Rhythm more important