Figure 1.--The early Church fathers banned musical instruments from church services. Singing from an early point became an important part of the service. Despite this early ban, the Church played an important role in the development of music, one of the glories of western civilization. Luther and most other Potetnts placed a renewed emphasis on congregational singing like the early Church. And he was willing to accept instrumental music, especially an organ. This influenced Catholic chuch music. Here we see a Cathokic Church organ and a young orodigy. We are not sure if the chuch is American or Germanm but would have probably been taken in the 1900s. Looking at the women in the background it is probably a kittle later, perhaps the 1910s. A reader suggests the 1920s because of the cloche hat the woman in the background is wearing. We are not sure, however, that the woman is wewring a classic cloche of the 1920s. This was more of a style for younger women.

While music is important in most Christian faiths, the use of music has varied widely among the different denominations. The early Church fathers rejected musical instruments which were associated with dance and licentious celebrations. Singing was not allowed, but important. Over time this changed and modern instrumental music began to develop within the Church. There ws also singing, but the singing was a first chant and even when hymns began to be sung, the lyrics were liturgical rather than composed. Organs began to be used in the late-medueval period (11th century), although it took centuries for this to become firmly estanlshed. Many boy choirs are associated with the Catholic Church. Protestant churches have also sponsored boy choirs. Christianity is the religion with the strongest musical tradition. A reader writes, "Certain Christian movements have taken a severe attitude toward music. Right after the Reformation organ music was banned and although most Reformed congregations today do use their organ, some very orthodox denominations in the Netherlands will sing semibreve natural notes only as half or quarter notes and sharps or flats are considered frivolous." Music has an important place in the Catholic Church. Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation in Germany without any intention of dividing Christinity (1517). But the Papacy's refusal to accept major reforms and attempt to supress Luther and other reformers turned the Reformation into a revolt and the century of bloody religious wars which followed. Protestants and Catholics and the Protestants themselves divided on a wide range of theological issues. Music was one of those issues. Musical instruments, especially a Church organ were permitted in Church and added to church music and the singing of hymns. An impressive organ was often the pride of a church. Protestant sects differed on music as well. At the time of the Reformation, organ accompaniment had become widespread, but differed from Lutherans. Catholics retained instrumental mysic, especially organ music performed only by musicians. The congregation did not, however, sing along which would hve been difficult given the complex, demanding compositions. Lutherans adopted a mixed approach, blending instrumental and vocal music. Some of the music was performed by professionl musicians and some of which was sung by the congregation. Calvinists on the other hand chose simple unaccompanied congregational psalm-singing. When King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church he founded his own church which became known as the Anglican Church. Henry hsd no problem with Catholic theology or the use of music in the Church. He just wanted control of the Church, most famposly so he could divirse his wife, Queen Catherine. And there other reasons, but they had nothing to do with theology. In desrroying the monastaries, he began to undemine the boy choir tradition. While Henry ws not a Protestabt. Hus son Edward and Elizabeth were. And as a result of their reform and even more so Oliver Cromwell, the Catholic musical tradition was largely destroyed. Many imprtant composers wrote music for the Anglican service, especially choral music. Much of the wirk was service settings and anthems. They also wrote notable hymn tunes. Church music in the Orthodox Church of Eastern Europe developed from the Byzantine tradition. There are no musical instruments used in the Church. It is only sung music. Even so, the boy choir tradition of the west was never adopted in the Orthodox Church. Many boy choirs are associated with the Catholic Church. The Anglican Church in England is especially noted for its magnificent cathedral choirs. Protestant churches have also sponsored boy chours. Christianity is the religion with the strongest musical tradition.

Catholic

The early Church fathers rejected musical instruments which were associated with dance and licentious celebrations. Singing was not allowed, but important. Over time this changed and modern instrumental music began to develop within the Church. There ws also singing, but the singing was a first chant and even when hymns began to be sung, the lyrics were liturgical rather than composed. Organs began to be used in the late-medueval period (11th century), although it took centuries for this to become firmly estanlshed. Many boy choirs are associated with the Catholic Church. Protestant churches have also sponsored boy choirs. Christianity is the religion with the strongest musical tradition. A reader writes, "Certain Christian movements have taken a severe attitude toward music. Right after the Reformation organ music was banned and although most Reformed congregations today do use their organ, some very orthodox denominations in the Netherlands will sing semibreve natural notes only as half or quarter notes and sharps or flats are considered frivolous." Music has an important place in the Catholic Church. A French reader tells us, "Not long ago it wasn't permit for the women to sing inside a chuch. It was the reason why only men and boys sang in Catholic choirs. Today we continue to consider that to sing a chant it is to pray twice. Myself I know well the Ordinary Chants of the mass, I began to learn them when I was 8-9 years old ( about 1952 ) in this time I was just altar boy and get a good experiance because I stayed till past 15 years of age. By the time I was 10 years old I was able to read the Gregorian music and know a quite number church chants. The texts are not always easy to memorize for a child. When I was a boy, altar boys were still raught the Latin chant. Many altar boys were also members of a boy choir. The best trebbles could becam soloist for the interpretation the Aria. A boy soprano loses his voice about 14 years old; sometime his voice breaks and becoms mezzo, alto. For many boys it is a difficult period. I still remember when my voice broke. Pope Pious XII in 1951 created the International Pueri Cantores with the French priest l'abbé Maillet as the managment. At this time practicly all the Catholic boy choirs copied the costume worn by the French choir: open collar white shirt, blue sweater, blue short pants, white kneesocks, and black shoes. White albs were worn during chuch performances. A lot of Church music is written for the boy trebble. By instance all the Aria le Messie of Händel are written for multiple voice tonality, including the boy trebble, alto and bass voices. The first basic chants we had to learn in the 1950s were: Kyrie ( Gregorian version ), Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Alleluia ( several versions ), Credo, Benedictus, Pater noster, Ave Maria, and Ave Verum Corpus ( the two versions ).

Protestant

Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation in Germany without any intention of dividing Christinity (1517). But the Papacy's refusal to accept major reforms and attempt to supress Luther and other reformers turned the Reformation into a revolt and the century of bloody religious wars which followed. Protestants and Catholics and the Protestants themselves divided on a wide range of theological issues. Music was one of those issues. Musical instruments, especially a Church organ were permitted in Church and added to church music and the singing of hymns. An impressive organ was often the pride of a church. Protestant sects differed on music as well. At the time of the Reformation, organ accompaniment had become widespread, but differed from Lutherans. Catholics retained instrumental mysic, especially organ music performed only by musicians. The congregation did not, however, sing along which would hve been difficult given the complex, demanding compositions. Lutherans adopted a mixed approach, blending instrumental and vocal music. Some of the music was performed by professionl musicians and some of which was sung by the congregation. Calvinists on the other hand chose simple unaccompanied congregational psalm-singing. Hymn singing became a central part of the Protestant service. In Luther's new church the chorale became the most important part of the musical worship. And they were often ccompanied by organ music. Luther personally composed many chorale tunes. They are basicically hymn music. One of the great figures in music, Johann Sebastian Bach, wrote a great deal of his organ music for the chorale format (Chorale Preludes). The choir commonly sang a motet. These choir pieces could be much longer than modern hymns. These longer pieces are called cantatas. The lyrics, unlike Catholic music, were not derived from the liturgy but created by poets or insome cases taken from the Bible itself. Bach wrote an impressive 200 cantatas for the church. He also created two epic passions which tell the story of Jesus dying on the cross with great force. Several other composers have made important contributions to Protestant church music, including Heinrich Schütz, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Pachelbel, and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.

Anglican

When King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church he founded his own church which became known as the Anglican Church. Henry hsd no problem with Catholic theology or the use of music in the Church. He just wanted control of the Church, most famposly so he could divirse his wife, Queen Catherine. And there other reasons, but they had nothing to do with theology. In desrroying the monastaries, he began to undemine the boy choir tradition. While Henry ws not a Protestabt. Hus son Edward and Elizabeth were. And as a result of their reform and even more so Oliver Cromwell, the Catholic musical tradition was largely destroyed. Many imprtant composers wrote music for the Anglican service, especially choral music. Much of the wirk was service settings and anthems. They also wrote notable hymn tunes. Some of the best known composers include William Byrd (who also wrote Catholic church music) and Thomas Tallis in the Renaissance, Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell in the Baroque period, and in later periods Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Charles Stanford, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Edward Bairstow, William Mathias and John Rutter. Some of the most beloved hymns sung in Protestant churches from English Anglicans, hymns like 'Amazing Grace'. Elizabeth despite being a Protestant sought to create a 'middle way' for the anglican Church and as it developed it became perhaps the most Catholic of all the Protestant churches. It was in the Anglican Church that the previously Catholic tradition of boy choirs was revived (19th century). The Anglican Church in England is today especially noted for its magnificent cathedral choirs which now include girl boirs. .

Orthodox

Church music in the Orthodox Church of Eastern Europe developed from the Byzantine tradition. There are no musical instruments used in the Church. It is only sung music. Even so, the boy choir tradition of the west was never adopted in the Orthodox Church.

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Created: 8:04 AM 1/21/2016
Last updated: 5:39 PM 1/21/2016