Library Faculty Presentations

Sing to the Lord a New Song: Early Church Music

Document Type

Exhibit

Event Date

Spring 2010

Conference/Event

Biblical Heritage Gallery, Center for Biblical and Theological Studies at Cedarville University

Location

Cedarville, OH

Abstract

For centuries, those who composed music for the church were arguably the major influencers on the development of music in the western world. At other times, the culture of music in vogue was adopted by the church and integrated into worship elements. Church music has generally been based on singing, written for individuals and choirs to express the words of Scripture and the experience of faith as encouraged by the words of Bible, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19)
From the early, simple monophonic chants sung by the clergy and monks alone, to the complex polyphony of the Renaissance sung by choirs, to the vibrant congregational singing inspired by the Reformation and the revivals, to the simple singing of the Psalms without instruments in the settlements of the New World, music has continued to lead God's people in personal and corporate worship experiences. This exhibit provides selected examples of church music starting with the plainsong of the Middle Ages on through the development of Gospel hymns in the 19th century. In addition to the main exhibit, a supplemental exhibit is available on sacred music shape-note singing.

Keywords

Early church music

Comments

Repeated and revised in Spring 2014

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