Scripture Isaiah 35:1-3, 5-7, 10
This passage from Isaiah is like so many Old Testament passages that emphasize the importance of singing. From the beginning of the Bible, music is seen as an integral part of worship. It is an expression of great joy, as our passage said twice, "sing for joy."
So it is appropriate that today we celebrate Music Appreciation Day in our church. It's a day when we sing the old hymns and have many pieces of special music.
To today I want to raise the question, "What is good music?" It is a question that is reminiscent of Socrates' philosophical inquiry, "What is the good life?" And like his, this one is not an easy question to answer. "Good" is very hard to define.
I remember well that I once served a church that almost split over the question, "What is good music?" It was what I have always called "The Great Hymnbook Controversy of 1975!"
The denomination had published a new hymnbook in 1975 to replace the old classic hymnbook of 1958. The old one was a masterpiece of the great old hymns of the faith. The new one, however, included some of the new, "contemporary" songs.
Roger, the church pianist, played every week from the left side of the sanctuary. He was a professional musician with a full load of students and gave annual classical concerts in the community auditorium. He was an incredible, classically trained musician.
Linda, the organist, played every week from the right side. She, too, was an outstanding musician. She was a housewife who spent most of her spare time playing music. She was very gifted and was frequently called upon to play for funeral services throughout the community.
But when the decision was announced that the church would buy new hymnbooks, these two key leaders lined up on opposite sides. Roger favored the old hymnbook; Linda the new. All their friends just happened to agree with their position, although I suspect that none of the rest of us understood the differences as well as these two did. Rumors flew. Passionate arguments took place over church suppers and coffee gatherings.
Finally, there was a church business meeting at which the issue would be settled. The room was packed with partisan participants. And in a dramatic showdown of the musicians, both Roger and Linda gave prepared speeches to the congregation.
Roger argued long and fervently that the great old hymns of the 1954 hymnbook were the mainstay of our faith. They had sustained this congregation through difficult days. It was the music and its good quality that had made our worship strong.
Linda responded with equally fervent and eloquent arguments that God's Spirit was not dead, and that all the good hymns were not written 200 years ago. God was still inspiring good musicians to write contemporary songs that would lift our spirits to the highest levels of worship.
In the end, the church finally voted for a compromise solution proposed by one of the deacons. They decided to put the old hymnbooks in the sanctuary where they would be used on Sunday and the new hymnbooks in the chapel where they would be used every Wednesday night.
This great conflict reminded me of the difficulty of settling the question, "What is good music?" I had another music director who told me, "There is no accounting for taste."
I suspect his statement is true, but there is still good music and bad. Almost anyone can tell when a song is on key or of proper pitch and when it is not. Any kind of music can be done poorly and it can be done well.
But different people like all kinds of music. Some like cowboy worship with Western songs. Some like contemporary worship with choruses. Some like traditional worship with songs from the hymnbooks. Some like Gospel worship with gospel songs. Some like a classical worship with Bach, and Beethoven and dignified hymns. My musician friend was right, "There is no accounting for taste."
But I come today to say that I like our kind of music.
I like our service because it focuses on the choir. Sometimes I regret that we don't have folks who will sing solos more often, but I like the focus on the choir as a whole.
I like that the choir members blend together. It doesn't matter if you can see their faces. They become a unit in harmony. And that is what the church is supposed to be too. There are to be no prima donnas in the church. We are just a group of folks sharing life together under Christ our Lord.
I like our music because it is not showy. Some church people sing like they were on the Tonight Show. Our folks don't use a lot of hand motions or frilly runs on the scale or screaming last notes to demonstrate how high and loud the soloist can sing. Some music seems to me designed to get applause with the last loud screeching high note. If you want applause, there is a clear way to get it. Make the song loud at the end.
One of our former music directors, Katherine Fortenberry, once told me that her brother influenced the way she sang. Her brother told her, "Just sing." And she cut out all the showy parts of her music and she "just sang" and did it beautifully.
Our music is modest in that regard. It seems to let the music speak for itself. And I like that.
I like the variety of our music. Our musicians and choir serve up a steady diet of music that runs the gamut from classical to gospel. Our choir sings from the full range of musical styles. I'm glad that we are not stuck in one style alone. The variety is good for us. It is good music.
I like our focus on the instruments. The Church of Christ has no instruments. Bless their hearts. They are missing something wonderful in worship. Our three musicians provide 10 minutes of wonderful music each week.
I'm glad we have Max Smith playing the organ for us. He is only in the 11th grade and has been taking piano since the fifth grade. We have watched his amazing progression. We are privileged to witness the development of a rare talent right before our eyes. I love to see his hands flying all over the keyboard. Just last week, he won a state competition as the best student of all the piano teachers in the state. His mother said his was the only last name that didn't have only three letters in it. He was competing against the children of Asian families who quite often win such competitions.
Dr. Jim Pigg plays the keyboard for us on any Sunday that he is not delivering babies. The keyboard is one of those new-fangled instruments. On any given Sunday he may transform that keyboard into a beautiful oboe or violin. And I can't tell that it is not a real oboe over there. He has added a whole orchestra to our worship.
Dena Gibson has been with this church longer than I have. Week by week she startles me with the grace of her music. In the early service, she is the special music. Come in quietness of an early morning, and her piano will infallibly lead you to the throne of grace. And her sweet spirit is a compliment to her music.
Regina Compton has brought a wonderful excellence to our choir. Her faithful dedication and creative genius has moved our choir to a new level of competence.
A chor member said, "Come to choir and she will teach you music."
She is a teacher - a teacher of music - what a wonderful, high calling.
Our choir members come week by week at 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights to prepare the special music for our church, and it is special. In this season of the year they also come on Sunday afternoons to prepare the Christmas cantata, to be sung with the Presbyterians. Their dedication is an inspiration to us all. And we deeply appreciate their work and their gifts.
I like our music. I would come to this church for the music alone.
And now I am back to my question, "What is good music?" And I have an answer for your. Come on any Sunday, sit and listen, and you will hear truly good music.