Worship Music

[SoMissTV]

We've touched on this before:

Everyone has personal opinions on the style and type of worship music that they enjoy. Personally, I'm a fan of the old school stuff: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Martin Luther, etc. If it was written after 1920, it's too contemporary for me. I need to hear a powerful organ, four-part harmonies, and four line stanzas for me to feel as if I'm hearing the voice of God.

What about you?

[Skink]

Blue Grass spirituals.
I'll Fly Away, I Hear the Voice, Can You Imagine, Weary Blues, etc.
They talk to me.

[SoMissTV]

Oh, I love those, too, but not during worship.

[dollfus46]

We've touched on this before:

Everyone has personal opinions on the style and type of worship music that they enjoy. Personally, I'm a fan of the old school stuff: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Martin Luther, etc. If it was written after 1920, it's too contemporary for me. I need to hear a powerful organ, four-part harmonies, and four line stanzas for me to feel as if I'm hearing the voice of God.

What about you?

We have something we can agree on. I don't want drums and guitar backing up the choir. Now, I like to listen to contemporary CD's, but leave it in the car CD player. Don't bring it into the church. I love Bill Gaither and his groups. Particularly The Issacs. But I don't want to sing it myself in church.

[SoMissTV]

I had no clue, QM. Do you play for a church in town? There are a number of openings right now.

And yes, you will have to play for us sometime. Have you ever had the opportunity to listen / play the organ at First Trinity Presbyterian Church in Laurel? It's an amazing piece.

[SoMissTV]

I had no clue, QM. Do you play for a church in town? There are a number of openings right now.

And yes, you will have to play for us sometime. Have you ever had the opportunity to listen / play the organ at First Trinity Presbyterian Church in Laurel? It's an amazing piece.

[aaron]

Nothing gets me in the mood to worship like Casting Crowns. I've also found that the song leader can make a huge difference. I was at a Christian leadership conference once in Atlanta where they sang songs in between seminars. Even though it was the same songs that I sing in my local church, there was something about the music, the worship leader, and 10,000 people singing that affected me in a way that few services have.

[SoMissTV]

And, I've never seen the organ in Laurel. It sounds impressive.

Just found some details on it.

It is a 1925 Aeolian-Skinner with 72 ranks. Details on the stops here. (http://first-trinity.org/concert/stops.html)

I think it's second only to First Baptist - Jackson within this state.

[Hermione]

I love formal church music too, but I enjoy our yearly "Heritage Sunday" when we break out the old hymns by request. I have Mozart, Great Mass in C and Alison Krause with the Cox Family in the car CD. A collection of traditional Anglican hymns in the Walkman (which I've successfully hidden from myself) and you'll find me singing "I'll Fly Away" when I'm working in the house.

PS I'm impressed by both QM's hitherto unguessed talent, and SoMiss's hitherto unguessed knowledge of pipe organs! Wow!

[SoMissTV]

I am full of surprises.

[cubby 1]

I peronally like a mixed service. A little of both. I was raised on just piano and organ, but I really think there is a lot to be said for the guitars and drums. It brings a different side to worship.

c1

[Quark]

Great topic.

My tastes are very eclectic.

Michael W. Smith is simply outsstanding, if you haven't heard Let it rain then you are really missing something, it is simply outstanding.
Kirk Franklin, also outstanding. My favorite Now Behold the Lamb.
Handel's Messiah is a must. One of my families traditions for years was to attend a Messiah sing-in. If you've not attended a Messiah sing in check your local papers. You won't be disapointed.
I recently got turned onto Blind Boys of Alabama. I recomend them.
Johnny Cash, great.
Emmylou Harris, great.

Just to name a few that come to mind.

[Tully Mars]

My church went to 100% contemporary worship several years ago and I am completely hooked. We have a praise team with supporting band including drums, lead guitar, bass and occasionally something different like violin, flute, etc. The music in our church ranges from artist such as Mercy Me, Matt Redman, Casting Crowns, Newsboys, Third Day, Switchfoot, & Chris Tomlin. We have even on occassion used songs from secular artists if they happen to fit in with the message for the day. In short, we like to jam. I have become so used to contemporary worship that I tend to get bored pretty easily in a traditional worship setting.

[bpitt]

I dig the OLD stuff, myself. And I really like it when my 6 year old sings it, acapello (sp?). She just seems so angelic when she does, gosh, I love my kids.

[RHB]

I grew up with the Catholic hymnal "Glory & Praise." Most of the music was written in the 60s and 70s, so not as old-school as some have mentioned. Nonetheless, that is the music that speaks to my heart and reminds me of some many great memories of my hometown church. I didn't know until I was 10 that guitars and drums weren't normal for mass. There as so many great songs in the Glory & Praise. Someone out there must remember where this lyric came from....

....If love is Lord of heaven and Earth, how can I keep from singing?
or my favorite .....I will go Lord if you lead me, I will hold your people in my heart.

[cubby 1]

I dig the OLD stuff, myself. And I really like it when my 6 year old sings it, acapello (sp?). She just seems so angelic when she does, gosh, I love my kids.

Actually its accapella. Sorry, just the music major coming out in me.

c1

[Ted]

Just found some details on it.

It is a 1925 Aeolian-Skinner with 72 ranks. Details on the stops here. (http://first-trinity.org/concert/stops.html)

I think it's second only to First Baptist - Jackson within this state.This article (http://first-trinity.org/concert/concert.html) gives a bit of the history of that instrument.:)

[SoMissTV]

This article (http://first-trinity.org/concert/concert.html) gives a bit of the history of that instrument.:)

Actually, that's where I pulled my information. :)

[Ted]

Actually, that's where I pulled my information. :):)We're on the same page, ain't we?
I grew up in that church.

[SoMissTV]

It's a beautiful church. I have always loved that facility.

[Quark]

Darn you Quark...you quoted Johnny Cash. Now I can't hate you. ;-) :laugh:I can be confounding. :)

[Conveyor Belt]

Contemporary music in a church is a big turn off to me. While I'm not opposed to a tasteful use of timpani in a full orchestral setting, a rhythmic drum is not something that I like. Honestly (do I even have to say that?), when I see church on TV and the people are holding their hands up and crying and the church music is pounding with guitars in the foreground, it really, really weirds me out...

[dollfus46]

I love formal church music too, but I enjoy our yearly "Heritage Sunday" when we break out the old hymns by request. I have Mozart, Great Mass in C and Alison Krause with the Cox Family in the car CD. A collection of traditional Anglican hymns in the Walkman (which I've successfully hidden from myself) and you'll find me singing "I'll Fly Away" when I'm working in the house.

PS I'm impressed by both QM's hitherto unguessed talent, and SoMiss's hitherto unguessed knowledge of pipe organs! Wow!

I have to get B & N to order that one for me. I have three of Randy Travis's spiritual CD's. That deep voice is perfect for it. I wish he'd put out more CD in both spiritual and country.

[dollfus46]

Great topic.

My tastes are very eclectic.

Michael W. Smith is simply outsstanding, if you haven't heard Let it rain then you are really missing something, it is simply outstanding.
Kirk Franklin, also outstanding. My favorite Now Behold the Lamb.
Handel's Messiah is a must. One of my families traditions for years was to attend a Messiah sing-in. If you've not attended a Messiah sing in check your local papers. You won't be disapointed.
I recently got turned onto Blind Boys of Alabama. I recomend them.
Johnny Cash, great.
Emmylou Harris, great.

Just to name a few that come to mind.

Yep, I have a Blind Boys of Alabama CD. It's on loan now. Thanks for reminding me. I'll get it back.

[dollfus46]

Contemporary music in a church is a big turn off to me. While I'm not opposed to a tasteful use of timpani in a full orchestral setting, a rhythmic drum is not something that I like. Honestly (do I even have to say that?), when I see church on TV and the people are holding their hands up and crying and the church music is pounding with guitars in the foreground, it really, really weirds me out...

Whew! I thought I was the only one.

[jmb]

I prefer the old traditional hymns because that's what I grew up with but the other worship music is okay too. I'm showing my age with this one but I love Elvis' gospel music, whether it's "Rock-a My Soul" or "How Great Thou Art".

[Monkey]

Contemporary music in a church is a big turn off to me. While I'm not opposed to a tasteful use of timpani in a full orchestral setting, a rhythmic drum is not something that I like. Honestly (do I even have to say that?), when I see church on TV and the people are holding their hands up and crying and the church music is pounding with guitars in the foreground, it really, really weirds me out...

CB, I agree. I guess some people have different ways to worship. I for one, don't care so much about the "band", clapping, holding up your hands, etc. . . but if that's how someone else worships, to each his own.

I'm a member of FBC Jackson, and I think they do an excellent job of meshing both contemporary and traditional music. I much prefer the traditional worship style, however a contemporary praise song thrown into the mix is pleasant also.