Serving Assorted Preferences and Future Generations in Our Songwriting: Kevin’s Quick Response
An observation and follow-up question:
In our efforts to give authentic voices to the praises of modern people, we have, I think rightly, attempted to write modern worship songs. However, it often seems to me that much of the “modern” music really isn’t that modern. This is possibly because it’s written by more mature saints (a good thing), but the tunes often sound like they’re microwaved from the previous decade.
- Is it worth the effort to write “modern” worship songs?
- How can we give voice to modern man without becoming obsessed with being “hip?”
- How do we balance being culturally relevant with being historically connected? Or are either important at all?
Reformed Praise presents Martin Luther's setting of Psalm 130 in a fresh, reflective, piano-driven setting suitable for a wide range of worship music styles.
The Christian community of the 20th and 21st Century, including songwriters and musicians, has consistently been 10 years behind culturally. We are so afraid of becoming hip, that we wait. One of your questions even shows this fear. Here are my less than adequate answers.
1. Yes, it is worth the effort.
2. First, we cut down the worry of being obsessed just a bit. We’ve worried ourselves right out of the box. Style and preference are usually extra-biblical. It’s like anything else, keep the focus on Jesus.
3. Both are very important. It’s about where we come from, where we are and where we are going. For the most part, we’ve had no problems changing the buildings we meet in over the years, why should music be any different? Music in and of itself should be treated as being just as neutral. At the same time, in many of our worship spaces, even when modernizing, we have conciously kept certain connection to the past within those building.
These are short answers and from a guy who doesn’t know a whole lot, but there’s my shot at it. :)