Music and church music issues

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I had a few piano lessons at about kindergarten.

I started the saxophone in 4th grade, never taking private lessons.

I was in the orchestra, band, marching band, concert band, stage/jazz band, etc. from 8th through 12th grade.

In 12th grade, instead of (early) college calculus, I took the music theory course which was very interesting.

Saxophone, bugle (Boy Scouts), trumpet, flute

In graduate school in computer science, I sat in on more than 30 credit hours of music courses, including taking a few as allowed by my graduate assistantship (e.g., jazz improvisation, guitar and voice classes, private classical guitar lessons from Bill Carter, a world expert in the bass lute, etc.).
I wrote and used ear training software (Prolog logic programming language) using a PS/2 Model 30 and IBM MIDI sound board that kept learning statistics. The minor third was the hardest interval for me to distinguish.

More: Musical analogies to programming

In graduate school in computer science, I took guitar classes and private classical guitar lessons from Bill Carter - a world expert in the bass lute.

William Carter is a founding member of the acclaimed Palladians and a virtuoso player of the baroque guitar, lute and theorbo.

William Carter is also an enthusiastic teacher, and is Professor of Baroque Studies and Lute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Carter-William.htm (as of 2022-12-10) (1st quote)
https://www.linnrecords.com/artist-william-carter (as of 2022-12-10) (2nd quote)

More: Musical analogies to programming

My high school jazz (stage) band director, Roy Folmer, explained many times (paraphrased here), "If you are not good at music, play loud and fast. It is much harder to play slow and soft". Needless to say, we had to learn to play slow and soft, at which point, we could then easily play loud and fast, and vary the volume and pace as needed.

I heard it from him first, but later heard it from many others.

To the extent that music helps one do what Jesus wants, music is good.
To the extent that music does not help one do what Jesus wants, music is not good.
Ask yourself the following. Are the following met when hearing church music?

Semantics: Is the meaning of the music clear and understandable? Words help. Are there words? Do the words mention Jesus? How about the blood? How about the cross?
Technique: Is it more than just loud and fast?
Range: Does the range take men (and other groups) out of their singing range?

Traditional hymns were written to fit the average vocal range of both men and women. Modern church music requires men to either have an effeminate voice or a very large vocal range. Look around when this modern church music is being played. How many men are not singing?

Most modern church music songs require a payment to use them and do not include words such as "Jesus", "Christ", "blood", etc.

Years ago, the popular church music artist Michael W. Smith was criticized for having written and/or sang many songs but not mentioning "Jesus" or "Christ". That might limit the revenue from other groups wanting to use his songs.

There are many verses in the Bible that talk about "praise" in terms of music.

The Greek words for "glory" and "praise" are two different words.

More: A dark and enigmatic praise

More: Whether this or that: What is your opinion on glory?

More: The word glory in Latin and Greek

We see terms of musical praise using instruments Psalms 150, the last chapter of the Psalms.

Psalms 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. [kjv]

αινειτε αυτον εν ηχω σαλπιγγος αινειτε αυτον εν ψαλτηριω και κιθαρα [lxx]

… bucinae … psalterio … cithara [v]

… trumpe… sautre … harpe. [wy]

150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. [kjv]

αινειτε αυτον εν τυμπανω και χορω αινειτε αυτον εν χορδαις και οργανω [lxx]

… tympano … choro … cordis … organo [v]

… tympane … queer… strenegis … orgun. [wy]

Psalms 150:3

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KJV: Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Hebrew: הללוהו בתקע שופר הללוהו בנבל וכנור׃

Greek: αινειτε αυτον εν ηχω σαλπιγγος αινειτε αυτον εν ψαλτηριω και κιθαρα

Latin: laudate eum in clangore bucinae laudate eum in psalterio et cithara

Wycliffe: Herie ye hym in the soun of trumpe; herie ye hym in a sautre and harpe.

Psalms 150:4

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KJV: Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Hebrew: הללוהו בתף ומחול הללוהו במנים ועוגב׃

Greek: αινειτε αυτον εν τυμπανω και χορω αινειτε αυτον εν χορδαις και οργανω

Latin: laudate eum in tympano et choro laudate eum in cordis et organo

Wycliffe: Herie ye hym in a tympane and queer; herie ye hym in strenegis and orgun.

The English word "timpani", as in a drum, comes from the Latin word "tympanum" ≈ "drum" which comes from the ancient Greek word "τύμπανον" ≈ "drum" which comes from the ancient Greek word "τύπτω" ≈ "beat, strike".

Psalms 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. [kjv]

αινειτε αυτον εν τυμπανω και χορω αινειτε αυτον εν χορδαις και οργανω [lxx]

… tympano … [v]

… tympane … [wy]

A cognate is the Latin word "stupeo" ≈ "stunned, dazed" which is related to the Latin word "stupidus" ≈ "struck senseless, amazed" and is the source of the English word "stupid".

What’s the best present to receive?

A broken drum, you just can’t beat it.

An organ in a church has many parts that do work, much like the organs of the body do work.

The ancient Greek word "ὄργανον" ≈ "instrument, implement" and often meant a musical instrument.

Psalms 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. [kjv]

αινειτε αυτον εν τυμπανω και χορω αινειτε αυτον εν χορδαις και οργανω [lxx]

… tympano … choro … cordis … organo [v]

… tympane … queer… strenegis … orgun. [wy]

More: An opus on the workings of work

Exodus 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. [kjv]

… השופר … [he]

The ancient Greek word "σάλπιγξ" ≈ "war trumpet" and appears to be pre-Greek in origin. The Latin word "bucina" ≈ "curved bugle" as in a war trumpet and comes from two Latin words and is the source of the English word "bugle".

The Latin word "bow" ≈ "cow" as in "bovine".
The Latin word "cano" ≈ "sing, play".

More: Horns and trumpets and tubas

The ancient Greek word "κιθαρα" ≈ "stringed instrument" is the source of the English word "guitar" through Spanish through Arabic through Latin through Greek. In the Bible, the word means a string instrument, which can be a harp, lyre or other instrument.

The ancient Greek word "λύρα" ≈ "lyre" and is the source of the English word "lyre". The word "harp" is of Germanic origin. The German word "Harfe" ≈ "harp". The English word "chord" is related to the "cords" as strings on the instrument.

The ancient Greek word appears to be related to the Proto-Hurro-Uratian word "*kinnar" for "lyre" or "harp".

The modern Greek word "κιθάρα" (kee-THA-ra) ≈ "guitar".
The modern Greek word "άρπα" (AR-pa) ≈ "harp"
The modern Greek word "λύρα" (LEE-ra) ≈ "lyre".

The modern Greek word "κιθάρα" (kee-THA-ra) ≈ "guitar" is the source, through Latin and Arabic and Spanish, of the English word "guitar" and appears many times in the Bible.

The ancient Greek word "κιθάρα" ≈ "lyre, lute".
The Spanish word "guitarra" ≈ "guitar".
The Latin word "cithara" ≈ "lyre, lute, guitar".
The Arabic word "قِيثَارَة‎" (qi-ta-ra) ≈ "guitar".

Psalms 81:2

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KJV: Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Hebrew: שאו זמרה ותנו תף כנור נעים עם נבל׃

Greek: λαβετε ψαλμον και δοτε τυμπανον ψαλτηριον τερπνον μετα κιθαρας

Latin: adsumite carmen et date tympanum citharam decoram cum psalterio

In the context of his discussion on speaking in tongues, Paul uses a musical analogy in 1 Corinthians 14:7.

1 Corinthians 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? [kjv]

ομως τα αψυχα φωνην διδοντα ειτε αυλος ειτε κιθαρα εαν διαστολην τοις φθογγοις μη δω πως γνωσθησεται το αυλουμενον η το κιθαριζομενον [gnt]

… tibia … cithara … [v]

… pype … harpe… [ty]

… Pfeife … Harfe… [lu]

1 Corinthians 14:7

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KJV: And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

Greek: ομως τα αψυχα φωνην διδοντα ειτε αυλος ειτε κιθαρα εαν διαστολην τοις φθογγοις μη δω πως γνωσθησεται το αυλουμενον η το κιθαριζομενον

Latin: tamen quae sine anima sunt vocem dantia sive tibia sive cithara nisi distinctionem sonituum dederint quomodo scietur quod canitur aut quod citharizatur

Tyndale: Moreover whe thinges with out lyfe geve sounde: whether it be a pype or an harpe: except they make a distinccion in the soundes: how shall it be knowen what is pyped or harped?

Luther: Hält sich's doch auch also in den Dingen, die da lauten und doch nicht leben, es sei eine Pfeife oder eine Harfe; wenn sie nicht unterschiedliche Stimmen von sich geben, wie kann man wissen, was gepfiffen oder geharfet ist?

*G2788 *4 κιθάρα (kith-ar'-ah) : of uncertain affinity; a lyre:--harp.

Usage

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κιθαρα

1 Corinthians 14:7 ... whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction ...

κιθαραν

Revelation 5:8 ... the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials ...

κιθαραις

Revelation 14:2 ... harping with their harps:

κιθαρας

Revelation 15:2 ... the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

A harp guitar is a combination of a harp and a guitar.

One word for what appears to be a harp-like instrument is the ancient Greek word "κινύρα" ≈ "harp" which comes from the Hebrew word "כנוך" (kinnor) ≈ "wailing" which is a defective spelling of the Hebrew word "כינור" (kinnor) ≈ "wailing".

Details are left as a future topic.

2 Chronicles 20:28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. [kjv]

και εισηλθον εις ιερουσαλημ εν ναβλαις και εν κινυραις και εν σαλπιγξιν εις οικον κυριου [lxx]

… citharis … [v]

… harpis… [wy]

… Harfen … [lu]

… arpas… [es]

2 Chronicles 20:28

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KJV: And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

Hebrew: ויבאו ירושלם בנבלים ובכנרות ובחצצרות אל בית יהוה׃

Greek: και εισηλθον εις ιερουσαλημ εν ναβλαις και εν κινυραις και εν σαλπιγξιν εις οικον κυριου

Latin: ingressique sunt Hierusalem cum psalteriis et citharis et tubis in domum Domini

Wycliffe: And thei entriden in to Jerusalem with sawtrees, and harpis, and trumpis, in to the hows of the Lord.

Luther: Und zogen gen Jerusalem ein mit Psaltern, Harfen und Trommeten zum Hause des Herrn.

Spanish: Y vinieron a Jerusalén, a la casa de Jehová, con salterios, arpas, y trompetas.

*H3658 כִּנּוֹר (kin-nore') : from a unused root meaning to twang; a harp: -harp.

The ancient Greek word "χορός" ≈ "dance" and is the source of the English word "chorus" which today is a vocal group rather than a dance group.

Psalms 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. [kjv]

αινειτε αυτον εν τυμπανω και χορω αινειτε αυτον εν χορδαις και οργανω [lxx]

… choro … [v]

… queer… [wy]

The Middle English word "queer" ≈ "dance" was used much later, in the 1800's, to refer to sexual orientation. The connection to "dance" appears to be an earlier meaning of "off-center" and "turning" or "twisting" as such movements are associated with dancing.

In that sense, the word "queer" (from Germanic) is related to the word "torque" (from Latin) via the PIE (Proto Indo-European) root "*TERK" ≈ "turn, twist, wind".

The words "torment" and "torture" are related in that they derive from instrument for inflicting pain that involved turning and twisting.

John 6:48 I am that bread of life. [kjv]

εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης [gnt]

Later in the same chapter, Jesus explains what he is all about.

6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. [kjv]

ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εαν μη φαγητε την σαρκα του υιου του ανθρωπου και πιητε αυτου το αιμα ουκ εχετε ζωην εν εαυτοις [gnt]

Today, many churches do not like the idea or metaphor of eating the flesh and drinking his blood. Might what Jesus says be a code word approach?

Many have noted that the modern music in many churches has been used to get Jesus and the blood out of the church service and, in some cases, the church itself.

More: Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus

More: Luke 10:1-4 Follow the leader

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [kjv]

προσευχομενοι δε μη βατταλογησητε ωσπερ οι εθνικοι δοκουσιν γαρ οτι εν τη πολυλογια αυτων εισακουσθησονται [gnt]

6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. [kjv]

μη ουν ομοιωθητε αυτοις οιδεν γαρ ο θεος ο πατηρ υμων ων χρειαν εχετε προ του υμας αιτησαι αυτον [gnt]

The next verse starts the "Lord's Prayer". How many people, pastors, churches repeat the same thing again and again? There has been a trend in music in general and church music in specific ways for worship songs to use "vain repetition" of "much speaking" or "many words" repetition.

More: Matthew 6:7-8 Vain repetitions of vain repetitions

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [kjv]

The 1975 #1 disco hit song, part of which goes "Oh that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it. uh-huh uh-huh." (repeat with variations without end) by KC and the Sunshine Band, contains what is, to many, empty words, repeated ad-nauseam
Some modern church music takes the cross, blood, even Jesus out of the lyrics. Some pastors try to reduce the blood to one drop.

More: John 6:53-61 Misinterpretation and the disappearing blood

More: The one drop of blood salvation fallacy

More: Matthew 6:7-8 Vain repetitions of vain repetitions

More: Empty words

George Harrison (British singer-songwriter and performer) wrote (and performed) the song "What is Life?" in 1971. It was part of the album "All things must pass".

The album included the number-one hit single "My sweet Lord".
Some churches actually sang or played this song which had to do with Eastern Mysticism. The song was involved in a legal battle over copyright infringement from the 1963 Chiffons hit song "He's so fine". Harrison lost the case. The judge ruled he had copied "subconsciously".

More: George Harrison

Amos 5:23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. [kjv]

μεταστησον απ εμου ηχον ωδων σου και ψαλμον οργανων σου ουκ ακουσομαι [lxx]

Remove from me the sound of your songs, and I will not hear the music of your instruments. [bs3]

The Greek for "songs" is the source of the English word "ode".

The Greek for "melody" , from the Hebrew, is the source of the English word "psalms".

The Greek for "viols", as in "violins", is the source of the English word "organ".

Discuss: Is this verse support against loud music with little meaningful content?

Which creates less anxiety, playing a violin or playing a guitar?

With a violin, there is nothing to fret about!

Why do people not get tired of listening to cello suites?

There is always room for cello!

More: Amos 5: The yoke of compulsion