"They feared music's ability to arouse inappropriate feelings and to lull the sinner's fear of eternal damnation, to 'mistake the natural Effects of Musick, for the Comforts of the Holy Spirit.' At best, they felt, it might be useful in communicating with those who lacked the intellectual capacity to respond to their preaching. Nevertheless, scripture mandated the congregational singing of psalms, and scripture was their infallible guide. Choirs were considered both unscriptural and a Roman corruption, as were instruments, especially organs. The psalms were to be sung in unison, plainly and by all. They had no aesthetic significance as music; their role was to instruct by virtue of their scriptural authority."
This brought to mind the ongoing debate I've had with myself and with other religious musicians: how and with what are we to play the Lord's music? The Puritan stance to me seems rather austere. If God felt that music were a distraction, why would he have us sing in church? Furthermore, why would he have made it so beautiful and given it the power to move His children to action? By way of contrast, Tabernacle organist Alexander Schreiner has the following to say concerning devotional music in the introduction to his collection of organ voluntaries:
"Music which accompanies worship should never be performed in a fast tempo. Devotional music, whether vocal or instrumental, cannot be hurried without losing much of its purpose. Charles Marie Widor, at present the oldest among great church organists, has often said, 'Time was made for God and organists.' The spirit of worship is opposed to any hurried feeling...Church music has never been fast. Great composers such as Palestrina, Bach and Handel, have always written their inspiring church music in stately and slow rhythms. Care must be used not to allow the nervousness and speed of this recent age to invade God's timeless sanctuary."
"The organ is the most desirable instrument for the production of devotional music. The sustained, majestic tone of organ pipes suggests peace, quiet and the calm of the infinite. It tends to relieve that tense and nervous roughness which often accompanies the practical struggle of life. Its steady bass and diapason suggest nobility and greatness to a degree not possible with any other musical instrument."Oh, that every house of God where His children meet to praise and worship Him could have a pipe organ as magnificent as the instruments I have had the pleasure to use in His service! Alas, this is not so. While Schreiner later states that the harmonium is an acceptable substitute in smaller chapels and that the piano is the "least appropriate instrument for church services" with its
"strident effect", my experience has taught me that in the right spirit and with a skilled musician, these, as well as the electronic organs which came about after Schreiner's time, can be quite adequate substitutes.
To anybody reading this- I'm curious as to your thoughts! Mine is admittedly an entirely Christian perspective concerning this. Comment below or email me with your thoughts.
