I stole this quote from Will Deuel’s site.
“Religion cannot exist without music. It is too abstract…Music comes before religion, as emotion before thought, and sound before sense. What is the first thing you hear when you go into a church? The organ playing. What is the last you hear as you come out? The organ. And in the Catholic service, the mass itself is sung. Music comes aeons before religion. You can’t tell me that the nightingale is singing to his mate out of anything but the joy of life, for the love of singing. These things lie deeper than thought, as sound strikes deeper in us than sight. When we were savages, I venture to suppose, we were much more impressed by the sound of thunder than by the flash of lightning.”
- Alfred North Whitehead
I want to bring to the stage this Easter weekend one of the pioneer contemporary Christian music groups. Glad. They are deeply evangelical, so some might be surprised that I would highlight a group that works with pastors like John Piper. – but as Whitehead points out above “music came aeons before religion.”
Formed in the early 1970s around West Chester State University near Philadelphia, this band is known for both their jazz flavored rock and their a cappella classics. Current members are Ed Nalle (who has always been their producer as well), John Gates, Jim Bullard, Don Pardoe and Chris Davis. (see website)
Please welcome Glad singing Martin Luther’s provocative hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God.
The following is just for fun and perhaps raises the question of just to what “contemporary” Christian music might refer – Variations on a Hymn (that hymn thing)
As we move into Easter Sunday, I want to pray that evil indeed has its end and renewed life is possible for us all and for all of creation. Glad – Easter Song
Very enjoyable! I especially like the Variations on a Hymn – that’s one I’m going to share with my husband, even though he’s not into ‘church’ songs, but he is into good harmonies and creativity/having fun with music.