Ralph Carmichael: The Father Of Contemporary Christian Music

Music and religion are often intertwined, whether it be religious chanting or hymns used to worship. However, in the case of Islam, the relationship between religion and music is more strained, as Islamic law strictly forbids listening to music. However, there is a very strong religious debate on what constitutes music as diversion and what is acceptable to use in worship and religious purposes. There are two concepts in Islam which are relevant to this conversation: sama and ghina. The ghina is the simpler of the two, referring to music and performance associated with secular art music; this is normally banished. Ghina is the only genre which is referred to as “music”. The sama, on the other hand, is more complex. Sama, which literally means “listening” and thus, includes the music being listened to (as well as dance as performed by mystic societies) is more complex. The abundance of writings about the sama is chiefly due to the debate surrounding the legality of music and dance from a legal, mystical, and religious perspective. Some elements of music have been categorized as acceptable sama by religious authorities, including Koran cantillation, singing of unaccompanied hymns, old Bedouin songs, and simple functional folk songs used to mark events in a community or individual’s life, thus considering them to be “non-music”.

The group’s first album, Life, reached Billboard’s chart of top 10 gospel albums including the songs, No Way and Everything. Their next album, Victory Live!, hit the number one spot in the gospel album chart and also number one in the with the song, Victory.

But for the music this is different, there is nothing wrong with upbeat music or making it sound like popular music provided it is still correctly teaching what they believe. A study by D. Parker (2012) shows this, in his paper ‘Music as a Bridge- An alternative for existing historical churches in reaching young adults’ Parker suggests that the use of contemporary music can be a way of bridging the historical, traditionally perceived church with younger generations, or in reality any person or more current times. As this alone can often break down the barrier of the assumption churches are outdated and that hymns are sung and organs are used, while having a proper band and playing songs that resemble more recent years’ music developments can give a new perspective of the church (D. Parker, 2012, p. 38- 42). Although this being said, in the paper it is also clear of the division that arises with the idea of using more contemporary music within the church. This is very much a reflection of the change in culture over the decades, with some older people in churches seeing the development of rock and roll as evil and therefore having no place in the church worship, yet not seeing the benefit it can have on the potential growth of the

African American religious music is the foundation of all contemporary forms of so called “black music.” African American religious music has been a fundamental part of the black experience in this country. This common staple of the African American experience can be traced back to the cruel system of slavery. It then evolved into what we refer to today as gospel music. The goal of this paper is to answer three main questions. What are the origins of African American religious music? How did this musical expression develop into a secular form of music? What is the future of African American religious music? These questions will be answered through factual research of African American traditions, artists, and various other sources.

To participate in worship, a person must have a relationship with God. In other words, how can a person worship someone he/she does not know or experienced. To obtain that link an individual must become a part of the body of Christ by accepting Jesus as their personal Savior and surrender their will for God's will and plans for their life. They must also have had an encounter with God as Saul on the Damascus road and David with his many issues. However, music has a multipurpose, it drives away evil spirits, calms the mind, and drives a person toward the love and warmth of Christ.

In the antebellum South of the 1840s, there were three very popular genres of music: stage music, parlor music, and sacred music. Elements of all three of these genres are still emphasized in today’s music curriculum. Although these genres as Dusenbery knew them are no longer popular, they’ve slowly evolved into today’s music. Music theatre has replaced stage music, pop music has replaced parlor music, and sacred music has evolved into modern worship music. Although the average WVU students no longer dance to a fiddle on Friday nights, they do however flock to clubs where different music warrants similar social experiences. Perhaps the only true difference between music then and now is the prominence of religion. As more defining lines were drawn between church and state, the popularity of religious and sacred music greatly diminished. During Dusenbery’s time, religious music like Sacred Harp were incredibly popular in the south. It’s very likely that many students participated in Sacred Harp sings throughout their years at UNC. No religious music holds this level of importance in today’s music

Gospel songs combined religious lyrics with melodies and rhythms inspired by early blues and jazz. Many churches rejected this new integration of religious conviction and popular song as devil's music that had no place in a house of worship.

Throughout the many years of time, music has been associated with the lives of humans. Ranging from the oldest recorded music in 1888, The Lost Chord, to Motherese, or the way that mothers “sing” to their babies to communicate to them, to our modern music of radio stations blaring our favourite song while we drive from place to place. Music has found its place within human lives, intertwining its existence with ours. Incredibly enough, humans have found a way to harness music with our very hands and create elegant melodies from tools. Beginning with instruments that look like a guitar, instruments that look like a flute and instruments that look like a drum, we began making controlled music with rhythms and harmonies. As years passed and civilization began to grow, musicians came to be. These ancient musicians played music for others on the instruments that they would make and performed for many.

Since Keith did that, it has encouraged other Christian artists to compose songs from bible stories, which is why Keith’s religion has left its mark artistically on the Christian music

Frequently, religious music consolidates call and reaction designs and spontaneous creation (Stewart, 1998). Spirit ownership ordinarily happens amid a consecrated melody while in the meantime dancing gets to be stupor like. Drums assume a focal role in the both the melody and move. Music reflects the convictions of the community, sends petitions

Hart said, “God is sound.” (Potter, 58) This quote resonated with me because no three words have ever spoken more truth. Coming from a musical, Catholic background, I have always been told that singing is praying twice. Music truly is a gift from God because God gave us the ability to hear.

1. Discuss the use of music in Catholic and Protestant worship practice, from the development of polyphony, through the music of J.S. Bach. In so doing, discuss the shift in responsibility for musical development from the Catholic Church to the Lutheran Church.

Music not only has issues in discrimination and racism but also in religion. In an article by Lake State Publications (2002), the transformation of music started during the early Christian era. It said that only Gregorian Chants were recognized in sacred ceremonies. However, secular and non-religious songs became rampant when the church had an unlikely encounter with the French Nobles called troubadours causing them to write the very first secular songs and ask the ministers to sing them to the public. Secular music continued to gain importance to the masses and vocal music became more important

Music helps to conserve and promote the most prized possession of human civilization: religion, culture and tradition. Each community has its distinct music through which it can display its culture and tradition. For example though dāpā and gospels both are religious and devotional songs they introduce us to two distinctly different cultures. Dāpā is a religious Newari music that praises Nāsadya, the local god of music and dance. On the other hand, gospels are highly emotional evangelic vocal music that originated from the African-American Christian community in the

Praise, Worship, Singing to God... Christian music is a way to talk to our God. It can be rap, pop, country Or just about any genre. Christian music can get you in your feels or get you pumped up. Like I believe that Christian music is the best music because it is clean, it is real, and because it brings us closer to God.