Tuesday 19 November 2013

That well seems empty

One of the things we do as a family is to make lists of presents we'd like to receive from each other - it saves all the silliness of getting stuff that cost money and energy that, frankly, one would really have preferred not to receive. I usually ask for a bunch of odds and ends according to whatever I'm interested in, including some worship CDs to pick up new material for the coming year.

So I've had the usual emails from Eden etc who sell such things online here, followed up the links, listened to the samples.

That well seems to have run dry.

There are some big names in there.

I just listened to another bunch of samples of songs crafted around one man's vocal style and stage manner, with odd vocal hooks and strange sounds in the background: sure it probably sounds cool at a gig, but not to sing as a congregation in worship together. There was another where the songs were all awkward, melody doing odd things and not sitting well in a tune, although at least the backing was more accessible.In fact, to be quite honest, all the samples I listened to didn't really seem to have much of a God-centric and congregation friendly focus at all.

I've had other worship albums in the past, and while some have been great, some I've really struggled to find more than 1 song that can be used, and then with a bit of flinching and the feeling that people aren't objecting out of politeness, rather than because they actually like it.

There are exceptions. Keith and Krystin Getty have done some good songs, although their album arrangements tend to be a little too 'Disney epic' with strings and stuff, and they are mostly hymns requiring some consideration, rather than covering a range from exuberant praise through to deepest worship. Matt Redman has been another oasis in the desert, and I really appreciate him writing songs with a tune, but it's nice to have material from a greater range of sources.

Maybe I should be looking to other sources and countries outside of the traditional white 3? (That's North America, Australia and the UK). Would Africa and South America have anything to bring? Salvadore from Spain were one of the highlights at a certain Christian Music pop festival earlier this year.


I don't really want to go backward too much.

Last night at worship practice we went through He Brought Me To His Banqueting Table, which was a song we did in the 80s, though a classic of the style. What style? Well the way we ran through it wouldn't have been too out of place in Soweto apparently, and I'm still buzzing a little this morning from it.

One of the signs that God is at work in His church is that He inspires worship in His people for them all to worship together. I'm not really seeing it so much, at least in terms of material being recorded and published. I wonder if the worship simply isn't commercial enough, and is therefore relatively invisible? Is there an underground spring of worship somewhere that is a source of fresh water, now the obvious spring on the surface has run dry?

13 comments:

  1. Even back when my musical world was more or less limited to the "Christian scene" (early to mid 90s), I never cared much for the "worship music" genre. (I suspect it has improved significantly since then.)

    In the last year or so, I've started "discovering" some of it. There's really some quality stuff being written by people/groups who years ago I would have turned up my nose to (awkward sentence): Hillsong, Matt Redman, Paul Baloche, some of the Worship Central stuff out of London. Really quite good and lyrically/theologically solid (as opposed to fluffy, "me" songs).

    It's an interesting discussion, what to sing in church. Seems like inevitably someone's personal taste is the arbiter. I'd like to say that songs based on, say, the Psalms are better than "made up" stuff, but that may well just be personal taste. I don't think I can use the Bible as a trump card like that. Or maybe I can?

    I've been thinking about this lately. How to teach young people that hymns can be rich and beautiful (and that, in fact, the hymn/chorus dichotomy is false, since many choruses end up in the hymnals!); how to bring in new music that's sensitive to the people who gather, different ages, etc.

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  2. Taste is a tricky one, isn't it, and your 'discovery' may reflect a difference in taste to me.

    However in the context of my comments at the start, I struggle to find newly written material that could be sung in church by a congregation that isn't from a small number of sources. My selection criteria are sound theology, a focus on God (me songs have a place, but it needs to be as a tiny minority - who you gonna worship?) tunes that have clear entry and exit points and a feeling that doesn't require an accomplished and extensive worship orchestra to create.

    Over the last couple of years I've introduced a number of songs from a variety of sources while carefully leaving out a number of others. No names, but American big stadium worship gig types were one kind, simply because we are not in a stadium, the music doesn't reflect who we are (often US cultural values) and sometimes they sing about stuff that's not at all God-focussed (protest music ain't worship, nor is finger-pointing accusation).

    Which means that most of the new songs have come from Matt Redman, Paul Baloche, Keith & Krystin Getty & Stuart Townend.

    But not all of them have gone down well or easily, nor have settled on the congregation. Part of that is down to the use of recorded tracks until recently, so where people don't know a song I *think* they often tend to stand and watch until it's finished, rather than having to sing it and learn it. Some of it is just down to cultural influences again, and some of it taste. I'm really trying to avoid a situation where Matt Redman is the only writer of new material that we use in the coming year, even though he's produced some great songs.

    The chorus/hymn dichotomy never was except in the minds of those determined to hold onto one set of traditions while another group wanted to introduce some new ones. ;-)

    But seriously, for those of us that grew up in and emerged from traditional churches, hymns were sometimes a big hurdle because they had been so much a part of a worship form that opposed the new life we had experienced. It was only really since coming to Heyford Park that I developed a hunger for songs to sing with content and depth that I began to appreciate them and find life in them. For someone without that background I should expect there to simply be a bunch of songs people can sing in church, written in the style of the pop music of their era, and in some cases that music will really grate on their ears, while in others it will simply be how that song goes.

    To introduce hymns to young people it might be worth looking out versions that are more accessible - like Rend Collective's You Are My Vision - rather than trying to get them to love a version with a nasty old organ honking away. (;-)

    This is now looking like a blogpost - time to stop!

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  3. Oh - one other kind of song I won't use - the ones that have me tell God what I'm going to do for Him. No place for them at all. And yes, a favourite author has written quite a few of those.

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  4. derby - joe5:16 pm

    I think that maybe you should take time to read, listen to artists testimonies. As moat that I've herd are very inspiring, and there ministry is definitely god based. Some songs are just performed to suit the artist or for people to sing at home/car. Worship is not restricted to a Sunday !
    You seem to have such criteria for choosing songs, I wonder if there is room fir God to have influence. Or are your sessions just about your taste in music ?

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  5. You mean like singing "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" forever but never actually getting there? ;)

    Last Wednesday at youth worship I led "Great is Thy Faithfulness" with only an acoustic guitar (and a shaker). Same tune and tempo, slightly different "feel"/rhythm than the organ version. Not sure it translated -- it's very difficult to tell with youth these days. :)

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  6. @ Marc - Aspirational lines? It's a fine line to walk, although later on in that song I'm tempted to change the words to "When the world has seen the light, they will dance with joy like we're standing still".

    @ derby-joe - In everything we do as Christians there's a mixture of God and us. Sometimes there's quite a lot of God and sometimes there's quite a lot of us. Fortunately He's gracious, and works with our failings instead of stopping the show until we're perfect. And so it is with guys that lead worship, write and record songs etc etc. Me included too. On many albums you can see that the songs were never intended for church use but were mostly an expression of the artist and what they were thinking or seeing - there's nothing wrong with that, but they don't easily find a place in corporate worship. And some were written as 'big songs' for gigs etc, and some were to protest about stuff. No use in church where our focus is God, and not someone's objections or promoting their band.

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  7. derby - joe1:26 pm

    It still seems that this would be largely based on your musical opinion compared to that of the church or God !
    Our worship leader has turned many times without song sets in mind then relies on god to give him the songs when required.
    So much to the point that he played LZ7 - light (one I'm assuming you wouldn't like, based on previous comments) a fortnight a go. As it started there were a few sour face - particularly from the elder people (including me) but after a minute we had a whole church dancing and waving hands - this felt a true holy spirit moment. At the end of the service a young man stood up and said he felt that was for him, he was living a double life. Church on a Sunday but nobody else was any the wiser. This wouldn't have happened without our worship leader relying on god, and being open and faithful enough to allow God to use him this way.

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  8. d-j I rather think you're making a lot of assumptions about a person, a church and a God. But great that your worship leader was listening to the Spirit and able to bring a song despite offending you to begin with.

    But I'd be interested to know, if, having been spectacularly successful once, your worship leader then made this a regular part of the set, how would you feel? It's not a song I know, so I can't otherwise comment on it.

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  9. derby - joe3:33 pm

    I'm only using your comments / criteria for songs to use from your original blog post.
    As for assumptions about a God I find a very odd comment.
    I know my god and certainly don't make assumptions about his work, it is there for all to see everyday. Is this to say because your a leader in a church you know god better ?
    As having had a look back at your posts it does seem that by being a leader you seem tothink you have a place if authority over others. When actually is your job not to serve others ? Jesus could have ruled over all, but didn't he chose to serve.
    As for making things a regular set. Im of the opinion that ALL the sings we sing are worshiping a great god. Even if not always your ideal taste, it's what you think and feel while worshipping that matter. And as long as it's all for the glory of god then I have no problem.
    Churches are evolving and need to have a bit of variety to keep things interesting.
    Our last church in Doncaster became a very stale and stagnant place. With the same people making all decisions according to their taste etc. Unfortunately what once was a vibrant place kept declining (there was nothing aimed at families) so they start to go elsewhere, or even worse stop all together. Then you get back biting etc, and before long it was a church of men not god.
    Sadly I heard that the church is no longer open as if last summer. And this still breaks my heart to think of what happened to what was a place full of spirit and love. Yet two or three people have the ability to undo all of this.
    Just have to have faith that god has a plan, and will become clear one day - hopefully : )

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  10. "Im of the opinion that ALL the sings we sing are worshiping a great god."

    And there we may have to differ. TBH I don't think all the songs that we find on albums from Christian artist are worshipping God, and of those that are, not all will work in a church.

    Thank you for your opinions. We might discuss this, but I've a feeling I'm judged and condemned already, so it may not be that useful.

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  11. derby - joe10:54 am

    I have not condemned or judged anyone. I have merely made comment on points I've read in your blog.
    If some points hurt or offend I apologise, but that was never my intention.
    I feel Gid showed me your blog fir a reason - hopefully so we both get something out of it.
    But to try and end a conversation just because you don't like what you hear us like old stylechurch leaders who can't be wrong questioned. Which then becomes a dictatorship, something which has done tremendous harm to Christianity over the years.
    I will be praying for you and your church

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  12. derby - joe10:55 am

    *God*

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  13. d - j: I'd be interested to hear more about your church experience, and what decisions you thought the leaders had made that were about their own taste that eventually caused the church to close.

    As for ending a conversation, that wasn't what I did, so much as observe that what ever I said would make no difference to your opinions because you had already made up your mind about who and what I am.

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