Music, Instruments, Worship and Singing – How about this history? Part 4

If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship? Paul Basden

In the early 14th century, Pope Clement the V wrote that "many ministers of the Church,” in addition to neglecting their prayers in favor of sports like falconry and fox hunting, "do not fear to dance licentiously in the church cemeteries, and at times sing silly songs." To correct what was becoming an accepted practice, he decreed that the liturgy should be "devoutly chanted" in all Cathedrals and churches. Once again what was sang and how it was sung was mandated. The singing moved away from hymns and songs to ‘devout chants.’

John Wycliffe (1328-1384) was interested in the common person being able to understand and participate in every part of what was happening in the church world. His life ambition was to provide the Scriptures so that the common person could understand them and apply them. Regarding the singing or chanting that was common in the church, Wycliffe complained: “No one can hear the words, and all the others are dumb and watch them like fools.” The singing had again moved back to chanting by professionals. The average person was a spectator and not a participant. The sound had taken over the message. Instead of God as the ‘Audience of One,’ the congregation had become the audience.

At the Council of Trent (1545-1563), church leaders met to address the problem of the difficult and extremely varied music that was being sung throughout the church world. At the Council of Trent the first official manual giving basic instruction in music and singing was formulated. It was decided that the music for worship must be within reasonable scope. The complexity of the music had to be at a level that did not keep the congregation from participating. The emphasis was moving back towards the participation of the congregation.

Martin Luther composed a number of hymns in the 16th century. Many of the hymns he wrote borrowed their melodies from popular tavern drinking songs of that period. As a young student, Luther earned money to pay his school fees by singing in the streets of Eisenach. Luther played the lute and sang. Music and singing was an important part of his life.

One of the three main tenants of Martin Luther’s Reformation was the restoration of congregational singing. The Reformation Movement defied the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church that only ‘professionals’ were allowed to sing worship songs in public.

The controversy around music continued! Stay tuned for Part 5.