Sunday 23 December 2012

Religious Music Lyrics Is Composed For Religious Use Or With Religious Influences

By Herman G. Bussard


Sometimes we refer to liturgical music as church music or sacred music because it was composed for the purpose of being performed during religious rites, worship services or other religious services. There are two ways that this kind of music is written or composed as a rule. Music that has been composed to complement religion can be located in large quantities. Many of the traditional styles of music have been adapted to fit the religious purposes. Music that was intended for the church was created by several famous classical music composers. Over time these musical arrangements get revised and adapted to fit secular types.

There are assorted groups that regularly incorporate music combining the religious lyrics with modern idioms or melodies from current day songs. An example of changing or arranging the context of religious songs to fit the melodic preferences in style and rhythm can be seen with gospel music. Many different cultures have distinctive types of religious music that sometimes follows certain monotheism and tonality that is distinctive to their cultures as often seen with Asian or Native American societies.

The distinctive liturgical music characteristics that identifies each comes from a wide range of the qualities used according to their individual liturgies for each particular denomination as they are composed. Several times some of the music is restricted to particular religious ceremonies that have been influenced by modern times as well as traditions that have been handed down through the generations. Some of the music and religious practices and music can be traced back to reveal they were first composed for temple and synagogues worship by the Hebrews in ancient times.

The story depicting the growth of church music indicates that it evolved from the music originally performed in the Jewish synagogues where the performers were often accompanied by an organ. In the twelfth century the polyphonic style was adapted to this type of music which involved two or more independent melodies being woven together. It was an interesting note to discover that during the Medieval period the liturgical music was performed mostly in court ceremonies instead of the church or cathedral setting.

Throughout the years the liturgical music was performed by small choirs that were accompanied by instruments rather than the vocal soloists of the past. Many famous composers contributed to this musical form which additionally emerged into styles such as organ music, requiems and masses. Today we are still familiar with many of these types of liturgical music that has also been expanded into new forms by some twentieth century composers.




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