Here are some varied quotes from musicians that show they feel the music (tune) itself communicates.
“Words make you think a thought.
Music makes you feel a feeling.
A song makes you feel a thought.”
~ E. Y. Harburg
"The aim and final end of all music
should be none other than the glory of God
and the refreshment of the soul."
~ Johann Sebastian Bach
“Music speaks what cannot be expressed,
soothes the mind and gives it rest,
heals the heart and makes it whole,
flows from heaven to the soul.”
~ Unknown
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
~ Hans Christian Andersen
“Music expresses that which
cannot be put into words
and cannot remain silent”
~ Victor Hugo
"Music is the hardest kind of art.
It doesn't hang up on a wall
and wait to be stared at and enjoyed by passersby.
It's communication.
It's hours and hours being put into a work of art
that may only last, in reality, for a few moments...
but if done well, and truly appreciated,
it lasts in our hearts forever.
That's art.
Speaking with your heart to the hearts of others."
~ Mr. Dan Romano
"Bach gave us God's word,
Mozart gave us God's laughter,
Beethoven gave us God's fire.
God gave us music that we might pray without words."
~ On an old Opera Hall
"Music expresses feelings words cannot."
~ Unknown
"Music can name the unnamable
and communicate the unknowable."
~ Leonard Bernstein
Music makes you feel a feeling.
A song makes you feel a thought.”
~ E. Y. Harburg
"The aim and final end of all music
should be none other than the glory of God
and the refreshment of the soul."
~ Johann Sebastian Bach
“Music speaks what cannot be expressed,
soothes the mind and gives it rest,
heals the heart and makes it whole,
flows from heaven to the soul.”
~ Unknown
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
~ Hans Christian Andersen
“Music expresses that which
cannot be put into words
and cannot remain silent”
~ Victor Hugo
"Music is the hardest kind of art.
It doesn't hang up on a wall
and wait to be stared at and enjoyed by passersby.
It's communication.
It's hours and hours being put into a work of art
that may only last, in reality, for a few moments...
but if done well, and truly appreciated,
it lasts in our hearts forever.
That's art.
Speaking with your heart to the hearts of others."
~ Mr. Dan Romano
"Bach gave us God's word,
Mozart gave us God's laughter,
Beethoven gave us God's fire.
God gave us music that we might pray without words."
~ On an old Opera Hall
"Music expresses feelings words cannot."
~ Unknown
"Music can name the unnamable
and communicate the unknowable."
~ Leonard Bernstein
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6 comments:
wow, you realy can't let this one go,
But i do thank God that at the missions conference I was at last week bro Paul Washer was continuously referencing to those 'Christian rappers' (without any prompting concerning music). I also was thankful that Steve Camp (since you brought him up, before) also posted a Lecrae video (friend of shai linne) several months back, not to mention Brother Todd Friel playing several Shai Linne pieces on his radio show.
What's funny is that certain styles are accepted like classical and jazz even when it's from ungodly people expressing their ungodly emotions (not to mention the over catholic stuff).
I'm truly saddened and disappointed how many times this subject has been posted about over and over again. What a blast to such ministers and those who are edified by their music (i hope they don't ever come across this).
The scope of Christian rap (due to the genre) covers more than any other style because it's so varied (though that's completely ignored-some strictly band instruments, some jazzy, some more digitalized, etc..). One album entirely centered on the atonement, another by various artists each song summarizing the pauline letters, another defending against the da vinci code, another on OWen's killing sin, another on deliverance from masturbation, another from defending sola scriptura, another covering exegesis vs Eisegesis and the fruitful list goes on.
Julius,
I’m sorry that this post seems to have upset you. But it wasn’t about rap, nor was it even mention.
The point was that there is a message in the music and that music communicates. Any serious musician will tell you that, thus the quotes, otherwise why write an instrumental piece. If an instrumental piece did not communicate then it would be like a person talking but only saying “Blah, blah, Blah….”
Surely, we can agree that just because Paul Washer says something is ok does not make it so. While we should always respect the views of those in leadership above us, we are to still be Berean and check it out according to Scripture. Even the greatest pastors of all times had their flaws and their unbiblical beliefs, such as slavery, although at the time they saw no problem with them.
I never said that that Classical music gets a free ride. I have pointed out that there are some seriously flawed classical pieces and some very flawed writers. Just as there are some seriously flawed hymns. Jazz actually has many of the same problems that rap does. Jazz conjures up a picture of smoky, beer halls not a picture of the Holy Lord’s redemption of man.
I have not disparaged the individuals. I have only encouraged others to consider the music and that it has a message. If music does have a message then its message should never be in conflict with the words or we are sending a mixed message. All through Scriptures, the Lord points out that He does not want a mixture, clothing, animals, plants, believers and unbelievers.
Have you never listened to a purely instrumental piece? If so you listened because it had a message. There are businesses around that will design music for a business that the goal is to get a particular reaction from the customers. They agree there is a message in the music. If you were to do some serious research, you would find that only some Christians say that there is no message in the music. Why is that?
Sorry to have offended you, but if it spurs you to seriously consider the matter then it was for good.
Berean Wife
I really like these quotes! Music sets the tone and brings about emotions in ways that words and/or pictures can not. Once I was at an organ recital in Westminster Abbey. The organist was playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons. The Winter passage really gave me the heebie-jeebies. Sitting in a place far away from home, surrounded by dead people entombed in the walls, listening to that, was unnerving.
Until it got to the Winter part, I was really in a good mood, excited to be in London, thinking the world was my oyster. Music can affect the you feel.
Kelli,
In the real Abbey! I've been there before when I was a teen. It is sorta a creepy place, even without the music.
I'm glad you said that music can affect the way you feel, it shows it communicates.
I'm glad you liked the quotes. I agree with the idea that music expresses what we cannot express in words.
Berean Wife
The only thing remotely offensive is the references to 'if you do research....' my concern is not personal because I've already wrestled such things according to scripture and have found the arguments not springing from scripture-as a Berean I've only grown deeper in my appreciation for such a God glorifying means of music, yet I'm always thinking 'what will someone else read and think?' in that I'm concerned because this is something akin to 'straining out a gnat'. WHereas the reason I added this stie to my blog is because (other than this) you usually go scripture then...)
Message? Yes, but the message to one and to another is quite different especially when you don't understand the genre (and reading someone's biased research on it isn't going to help or a short interview). The genre has no limits in the style or message, mood it creates (and so-called experts usually ignore that and just group all types together).
TO mention godly men doesn't mean, since they approve then that's it: but it does say something when you have godly men who are not shy to point out errors and compromise like Friel and Washer(while not being the angry legalistic type) yet would commend such. I'm no prophet but you will see more and more respected and time-tested ministers who will indeed testify to the validity of this medium.
Julius,
I didn’t mean anything negative about doing research, just that I have researched the music issue for well over two years reading absolutely everything I could get my hands on, Scripture, Commentaries, early church fathers, recent authors, musicians, etc. I have read things that literally sickened me and other things that angered me, but much that just caused me to shake my head. I have read from both sides of the issue – “Anything” is acceptable and the verses used to back it up set against the no musical instruments, Psalm only singing and their verses. Each claims to be right and uses Scripture to back it up.
I have arrived at my conclusions based on Scripture and not just the handful of verses that deal with music, but the whole of Scripture and how we as believers are to be in relation to the world. Am I perfect, by no means, far from it? However, I do have a better understanding of music and our worship of the Lord than I would have otherwise. I am confident that “anything” does not go just as I am confident that shunning musical instruments in worship is just as wrong. Might the line between those two extremes change in my mind at some point I’m sure it might. But I am confident that there is a line that God has determined and His line does not move, I need to be aiming for His line and not remain content that my line is close enough.
While some may say that the line is only drawn between acceptable lyrics and unacceptable lyrics, I have found that music types have lines also, otherwise you’re back to “anything” goes or no musical instruments. You may disagree and say that only the lyrics matter and that is your prerogative, I can only share what I have learned. You must check it out for yourself.
I’m not worried about others disagreeing with me. They are welcomed to and if they choose to be offended then so be it, but I must not change due to another’s opinions of me unless convicted by Scripture or the Holy Spirit. They are welcome to refute with Scripture all they wish and I will consider it. If nothing else, maybe I will encourage them to read the Scripture if only just to prove me wrong.
Actually, wouldn’t the music’s message be the same for the same tune and style, yet the difference would just be our interpretation of the message? But if some regularly interpret a tune as meaning one thing whether that is the message, intended or not, should we not be concerned about misinterpreting the combination of tune and lyrics. In other words, having the tune contradict the lyrics if only in the mind of some? 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. We should never risk causing any brother to stumble even if we perceive we are at liberty to use any music we desire to worship the Lord.
When I researched this music issue, godly men such as Calvin, Luther, Spurgeon, Keach , Gill and Edwards were some who I read a lot from. They would have all disagreed with Rap, worldly popular music, as a medium for the gospel message, although they would have also disagreed among themselves, about where the line for music is. Some would have even disagreed with using musical instruments in worship. So, it would depend on what Godly leaders you choose as a reference point.
Berean Wife
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