The Story Of Christian Music

Music has been at the heart of Christian worship since the beginning, and this lavishly illustrated and wonderfully written volume fully surveys the many centuries of creative Christian musical experimentation. From its roots in Jewish and Hellenistic music, through the rich tapestry of medieval chant to the full flowering of Christian music in the centuries after the Reformation and the many musical expressions of a now-global Christianity, Wilson-Dickson conveys 'a glimpse of the fecundity of imagination with which humanity has responded to the creator God.' Book jacket.

For many churches today, music has become one of the most important factors in attempting to reach unbelievers with the gospel. Writing from his own personal experience as a former worship leader, Dan Lucarini questions the use of contemporary music in the worship of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

An insider's look at the birth, evolution and growing popularity of Christian rock music. Unprecendented sales for music groups such as DC Talk and the Supertones, as well as the recent successes of crossover artists such as Jars of Clay, MxPx and Sixpence none the Richer have inspired interest and further investigation in this very underrated area of Rock.

Chronicling the amazing rise of this genre from its gospel roots to today's diverse musical sound, this guide offers a complete capsule encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian artists as well as an introduction to the music form. 40 illustrations.

Throughout the centuries, some of the most creative musical geniuses have produced works to be performed as part of the life of the Christian church. The result is a great wealth of hymns, anthems, oratorios and other sacred music, from which organists and choirmasters throughout the world draw the hymns and other music for worship today. How has this magnificent tapestry developed? And where does the relatively small part of the pattern with which each Christian tradition is familiar fit into the tremendous variety of the whole? These are among the questions addressed by Andrew Wilson-Dickson in this absorbing account, as he takes the reader through each period of European musical history, as well as the Orthodox tradition, the growing African scene, and the many-sided American picture - North and South.

From Africa through the spirituals, from minstrel music through jubilee, and from traditional to contemporary gospel, "People Get Ready!" provides, for the first time, an accessible overview of this musical genre.

Music is at the heart of the world's cultural heritage, and from the beginning has played an essential role in Christianity, with many of the greatest composers creating sacred music of all kinds. Tim Dowley traces the story of Christian music from the earliest Jewish traditions through the Renaissance and Reformation to the present day, discussing both the various liturgical traditions and non-liturgical sacred music. Dr Dowley also covers the fascinating history of hymns and sacred songs, and Christian expressions in modern jazz, folk, rock, and pop idioms. This comprehensive volume ranges widely, with specialist features on Christian music worldwide, and a focus on such varied topics as Christmas carols, the music of Handel and Bach, spirituals and the blues, medieval polyphony, Hildegard of Bingen, and Contemporary Christian Music. Dowley considers key questions, such as: What is Christian music? Is it solely music used in Christian worship? Or music with spirituality, with the power to move people? And what is the role of the Bible in all this? Richly illustrated with almost two hundred photographs and pictures, Christian Music: A Global History is a book for anyone who is moved, inspired, or intrigued by any kind of music from the Christian tradition. Key features include: - Comprehensive coverage of the history of worship music, from ancient times to the present day - In-depth articles on key themes and individuals - Provides historical, theological, and liturgical contexts for Christian music - Includes specialist articles written by international experts - Covers both Western and non-Western musical traditions - Richly illustrated throughout

The Sound of Light is a sweeping overview of the history of gospel music. Powerful and incisive, it traces contemporary Christianity and Christian music to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation after examining music in the Bible and early church music. From the psalms of the early Puritans through the hymns of human composure of Isaac Watts and the social activism of the Wesleys, gospel music was established in 18th century America. With the camp meeting songs of the Kentucky Revival, the spirituals that came from the slave culture, and the hymns from the great revival after the Civil War, gospel music advanced through the 19th century. The 20th century brought recording technology and electronic media to the table. Gospel music has developed with Christian revivals and the history of American gospel music is the history of Christianity in America. Gospel music reflects the American spirit of freedom and the free market as a Christian culture emerges in the 20th century, providing a spiritual as well as economic foundation. The Sound of Light presents gospel music as part of the history of contemporary Christianity. It is a work broad in scope that defines a music essential to understanding American culture as well as American music in the 20th century. Don Cusic is the author of ten books, including the biography Eddy Arnold: I'll Hold You in My Heart and an encyclopedia of cowboys, Cowboys and the Wild West: An A-Z Guide from the Chisholm Trail to the Silver Screen. He joined the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University in 1982, teaching courses in the music business. He earned a Masters and Doctorate in Literature from MTSU. Since August of 1994, Cusic has been Professor of Music Business at Belmont University.