The Bible and Music

I grew up going to church with my family every week and a big part of every mass was the music.  It was played when you walk in, between readings, during communion, and as you left.  Music was always there, but I didn’t realize how important it was to the experience until I was older.  Part of this is because my church did not have the best music for the first half of my life.  It detracted from my enjoyment of mass, but it also caused me to have an unfair negative stereotype towards all church music.  As my church brought in new musicians, I realized that biblical music can be very beautiful.  Something that once made me cringe is now a comfort and adds into the entire atmosphere.

Music was not always a part of mass.  As we talked about in class, instrumental music was not always welcomed in the church.  It was often frowned upon, but I think it makes the experience more enjoyable or spiritual.  After witnessing church with and without music, I find that I get lost in the ceremony of it all much easier when there is music.  A sung prayer accompanied by music has more of an impact on me than a prayer said in a monotone voice.  For example, Christmas mass has upbeat, happy songs to compliment the feeling of the season.  Ash Wednesday has a more serious tone, because it is not quite as joyous of a time.  Being able to hear these different tones put into music is what helps me feel the emotions of the mass more authentically.