I can’t stand Christian pop music. Give me the old stoic hymnal any day. I occasionally go to my sister’s church. And they must play a full hour of Christian pop. BORING!
I do not care for the use of “praise” music in congregational settings, with the projection of the words on a screen, like a Mitch Miller sing-along. This has become prevalent even in the Church of Christ with the New Testament, non-instrumental approach to songs. Some CoC congregations have added “praise bands” in the auditorium. My main objection to the “praise” music is it is repetitious and doesn’t really “praise,” IMO.
Give me some Southern gospel shaped-note singing any day. Most any Stamps-Baxter songbook selection will do.
The ECUSA Hymnal 1982 is due to be revised. I am not at all looking forward to what they come up with. Modernity-culture PC nonsense, I suspect...
Modern instruments are tuned at standard 440 and old hymns were written when the key of “a” was as low as 410...often depending on the the “a” pipe of an organ. So sometimes a hymn written say in the key of c can be hard to sing especially when when the high notes can be an octave and third higher than base clef c(standard starting note for treble clef c). Some Baptist hymn books have lowered the registers of many songs by a 1/2 step to a step in recognition of this problem and many songs are now much more singable and enjoyable.
My issue with many contemporary Christian praise music is that it is often written by folks who tend to sing in a high tenor or soprano pop like tessitura. The praise and worship band leaders will imitate these songs in the way they heard them on the radio and sing like solo virtuosos with trick rhythm riffs and sudden full octave shifts that most untrained voices can’t follow( baritones and mezzos, basses and altos are lost or are stuck singing at a higher register than they may be comfortable, or may try to harmonize if they are talented enough to follow these complex ‘jiggy’ meolodies, or they go screaming to the comforts of traditional worship services). Sound engineers trade subtlety and finesse in operating the speakers for the power of brute force, blasting the ears of the listeners, intimidating many folks into silence.
I know some contemporary Christian music is very good, though the shorter praise songs don’t have to be repeated 10 times ad nauseum. The time spent repeating the same songs could be used for more praise songs or longer hymns.
I call it “Seven-Eleven Music,” seven words repeated eleven times.
Christian pop is distracting during Mass but I love it driving around town. My granddaughter and I crank it up and sing along. That has to be good.
When we’ve had to relocate for work and have had looked for a new church (Baptist), I gone online and called the pastors. My list of questions is:
What version of the Bible do you use? If not KJV, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.
What hymnal do you use? If they say they don’t use hymnals and/or they put the words of the songs on a screen, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.
When I walk into your church, will I see drums? If “yes”, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.
What contemporary/pop Christian do you have? The correct response would be “none”.
When we moved to Tennessee, we incorrectly assumed it would be easy to find a “good” fundamental Baptist church. We were wrong. Finally, we did find one but it was a chore. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting 5 or 6 churches; they’re everywhere. Sadly, most have gone contemporary, especially with music, and are into the razzle-dazzle.