The Evolution of Language in Worship Music

As we discussed in class yesterday, the language used in worship songs and hymns from the Psalms in previous centuries is very different than the language we are accustomed to in the twenty first century. Words such as “thy, thou, doth,” and “dost” are not part of typical language usage today. However, the language used in older worship music reflects a different time period. Growing up in the Christian church, I noticed that some older hymns use older language, while newer worship songs contain modern language. I also think that this is reflective of the how the style of worship music has evolved. Hymns are normally slower songs and sometimes more simplistic, whereas new worship music is more upbeat, sometimes not dissimilar to pop songs, and even rap or modern country music. Language and how it impacts the style of music can certainly be seen through the evolution of music over time.