Who Burst the A Cappella Bubble?
I still love a cappella music. Just not for the reasons I heard growing up.
Not because scripture demands it. Not because God prefers it. Not because of gopher wood.
But I still love it, and I believe the tradition of a cappella singing is a wonderful gift Churches of Christ (and other denominations) make to the fellowship of believers.
However . . .
A friend of mine just told me about the first time someone put a Christian music cassette in his hands. It blew apart his only-a-cappella-for-these-compelling-reasons world. For him, it was John Michael Talbot’s “The Painter.”
I got to remembering. I think for me it was Amy Grant, Sandi Patty (or is it Sandy Patti — I can’t ever remember), and Steve Green.
Now my “Christian music playlist” is filled with Chris Tomlin, Bebo Norman, and Shawn McDonald.
How about you? Who was the first Christian recording artist you remember? Who are you listening to now?
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We’ve been planning our next Zoe conferences (Nashville in October; Fresno in January; and Lubbock in March). The theme is “Fearless.” Randy Gill and Brandon Scott Thomas were telling me about the songs that are being recorded. Can’t wait.
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I’m sitting here having lunch at Panera while pecking away on my Mac. In the last ten minutes, two guys have attempted to walk through a full-length window.
Now THOSE are some clean windows, my friends.
Matt Elliot,
Glad somebody knows about Buddy besides me. I can’t believe I made anybody’s cool list.
A friend recommended your blog to me awhile back, and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the past few months. I have yet to comment but thought I would jump at this post’s solicitation.
Growing up Southern Baptist, we rarely sang a cappella except for an occasional last chorus every now and then. Having several CoC friends in middle school and high school, I was always amazed at the beautiful strong voices I heard in worship when visiting their churches. I used to think, “If I had only grown up Church of Christ, THEN I would know how to sing alto!” Just last week at my church (which happens to use instruments) the worship leader silenced them near the end of “It Is Well.” I couldn’t help but notice how much quieter everyone became, as if we were suddenly self conscious of the sound of our own voices. I really appreciate those who use the piano, violin, drums, guitar, or whatever to lead in worship, but I am sure thankful for my exposure to the beautiful a cappella I witnessed in a few Church of Christ churches growing up.
My first Christian cassette tape was the Stephen Curtis Chapman one where he does a rap with DC Talk. G-O-T-T-O-B-T-R-U.
These days I am a huge Derek Webb fan … mmm, and Andrew Peterson and Jill Phillips. Yeah, and you’re right on Shawn McDonald.
Amy Grant and Michael W Smith, for sure, were the ones I first heard way back when. But these days, when I choose to listen to a CD, I almost always choose Casting Crowns (can’t believe no one else has mentioned them!)
Originally, it was listening to Amy Grant on vinyl at the missions center at Lipscomb in the early 80s–and debating why it was okay to listen to the music there but not in church. But my real “this can’t be wrong” experience was Micheal Card. Most recently, it was last night at a very traditional CofC that lets kids sing and dance with great music off of a VBS DVD.
Kyle, good choice on “You Move Me” it was written by Pierce Pettis and Gordon Kennedy. Pierce wrote the song when he spent his first Christmas without his kids after his divorce. He basically said that God moved him from despair to hope during that holiday season. And Gordon Kennedy is from the Christian rock band White Heart.
On another note John Michael Talbot’s “Hermitage” burned down a few months back. Talbot has recorded like 2 albums a year for some 25 years putting him on par with Frank Zappa for albums recorded, And like Zappa most of what is recorded is well………
1982-1983
Russ Taff – Walls of Glass
Amy Grant – Age to Age
These two albums got me through a very difficult summer.
Oh, Char! I so agree with you re. Casting Crowns!!
CC –
Whiteheart is still my all-time favourite band.
jim –
i share your feelings on that 98% of ‘Christian music.’ I wish there was no CCM ghetto, but I learned way back when I first started getting into music that there *are* musical gems to found in the ‘Christian music’ scene [*snarky dig at CCM 'artistry' deleted*] That said, it’s not like mainstream Top 40 is a gold mine, either.
Buddy –
Don Francisco is my second-earliest musical memory ever (behind the songs ‘The Gambler’ and ‘You Are Always On My Mind’). And my CoC preacher Dad can play Phil Keaggy!
I feel left out. I was never in the bubble to begin with….
I think it was burst about 800 years after the church was established.
“Jesus Done Left Chicago” by ZZ Top! Come to think of it, that is what I am still listening to.
I grew up in an Independant Christian Church, so a capella was new to me when we joined a Church of Christ 7 years ago–however, my favorite “Christian” artists are Rich Mullins,Charlie Peacock and Jennifer Knapp. I had heavy SCC and Amy Grant influences in there–I think Amy’s “Straight Ahead” was the first concert I ever went to!
Ha ha Sarah-I loved that SCC/DC Talk combo-that was great!! Got to be TRU!!
Like Adam G., I was never in the bubble either (though I did go to many an A Cappella and AVB concert!)-I remember watching Michael W. Smith’s video of Secret Ambition in a middle school class and I was hooked-then I started going to concerts, and haven’t stopped yet!! I also was an Amy Grant fan back in the day (I won front row tickets to her concert one time), but LOVED Rich Mullins (I cried when he died) and DC Talk rocked.
Now, oh my-the list could go on…Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe (have you seen their blog?? Hillarious!! I have it linked off my blog), Casting Crowns, David Crowder, Skillet, Switchfoot, plus vome MWS and SCC thrown in, and much more…
Rich Mullins was my first real taste. We had tickets to go see him in the concert he was on his way to in Wichita KS when we got the news he was killed. That was a sad day.
Others I like … You guys need to check out the Daniel Doss Band. He has written some awesome stuff, especially ‘God In Me’ and ‘Hold On’. I’m a huge Tomlin fan. I’m convinced God will chose him to lead worship in heaven. Philips, Craig and Dean are awesome and some of the first I listened to.
Did anybody else out there like Carmen, I mean, like, alot?
I have been wanting to be impacted by some more Christian Music, but I am pretty ignorant about the art. Would love some recommendations for some good stuff.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Jim:
Believe me, I share your sentiments. I’ve never really liked top-40 radio, and unfortunately for guys like me, much CCM is rooted in that style of music. But as time has passed some more interesting artists have emerged that I find quite satisfying and inspirational. Would be interested to know what other kinds of music you like so some of us could help you find a good match.
Same for you, Matthew. What kind of “secular” (hate that word) music do you tend to listen to?
I love acapella music. However, Derek Webb songs like “The Wedding Dress”, really draw me in and make me think.
Metallica “No Leaf Clover”
My first experience with non acappella Christian music was with Elvis Presley (How Great Thou Art!) and The Happy Goodmans (When God’s Chariot Comes!)
On my Ipod, I have Yolanda Adams, Don Moen, Casting Crowns, Elvis, The Happy Goodmans (good memories) and the Gaithers. I also have a great gospel song recorded by The Commodores right after they were joined by Lionel Richie entitled “Jesus is Love”. It is the most listened to song on my Ipod. I highly recommend that you download it.
“JEEESUS….ISSSSSSS…THE CHAMPION!!!!”
Ha. Carmen.
Can’t believe no one mentioned Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys. Their all-instrumental “This is My Father’s World” is awesome.
Copester:
I may be one of the older readers of your blog (b. 1945). I was raised in the instrumental churches of Christ/Christian churches fellowship. I never knew there was such a thing as a cappella singing churches of Christ until the late 50s or early 60s. My dad was preaching for the Park Church of Christ in Goldfield, Iowa, and one fine Sunday morning this family visited our services. Sat right on the front row with the piano right in front of them. Nothing happened until the pianist struck the first note. The man go up, took our hymnal (“Great Songs of the Church”), and slammed it down full force on the wooden pew. It sounded like the Crack of Doom! He then marched his family down the center aisle of the church and out of the building. That’s when I learned about a cappella music.
Incidentally, “Great Songs of the Church” was a joint publishing effort of Standard Publishing and E. L. Jorgenson of the churches of Christ (a cappella). The last song in that hymnal (I still have a copy of GSOTC) is M. C. Kurfees’ “How Blest and How Joyous” (Unity Song). The opening lines are: “How blest and how joyous will be the glad day, when hear beats to heat in the work of the Lord; When Christians united shall swell the grand lay, Divisions all ended, triumphant His Word!” That is the song that took the brunt of the disgruntled brother from Texas or wherever he came from!
I can’t believe no one has mentioned (that I’ve seen so far) Caedmon’s Call, though one of their founders was Derek Webb, who does appear to have some fans here. They were the first band that proved to me that Christian worship music could actually be good music, not this syruppy-sweet pop mush that prevailed in the 80s. Hearing them at the Metro Bible study at First Baptist in Houston was an incredible experience that forever changed how I looked at worship.
An attempt to discuss your bigger question … sincere apologies upfront if this sounds like preaching to the choir!
My guess is that the a cappella bubble went bust a long time ago. We sang the Brahms Requiem in my high school concert choir and I thought I was in Heaven and wondered where in the world I had been?
Further exposure to church music from plainsong to Renaissance through to the 20th Century – Hassler, des Prés, Tallis, Gibbons, Lassus, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Schubert, more Brahms, Vaughn Williams, Howells, Pärt, to name a few – captured my heart for worship as CCM, with its heavy origins to American country music, folk rock, Sacred Harp, barbershop, R&B, inspires the hearts of many others towards worship.
PowerPoint slides are convenient and flashy for mega church worship, but they have also been instrumental in allowing good a cappella singing to go bust. They have played havoc on raising up a couple of generations of worshippers with respect to learning how to use a hymnal, read notes, and understand when the praise band plays, and when the backup singers (i.e., congregation) are supposed to sing along with the soloists holding the microphones. Very few congregations are being taught how to sing new hymns – this would be a great aid to those coming into a church for the first time or coming from church backgrounds where part-singing was not part of their tradition. Too, children are no longer allowed to explore the wonderful tactile experience of holding a hymnal and discovering all its musical and inspirational adventures during real-time worship. For time and convenience they can get a worship CD or be stimulated by following picture-perfect kids in a worship video, but their other musical/liturgical senses are not otherwise engaged. Today’s emphases on style over content and flashes of American Idol are busting the ‘a cappella’ bubble and have been slowly seeping into our worship culture.
Congregational singing – whether the hymns are from the Wesley brothers or from Hill Song – should be just that: congregational. When congregations can sing out and be heard and the corporate spirit of worship can be felt in spite of a power hungry organist, praise band, or worship singers who enjoy stroking their microphones, then it’s a happy day of reflection and praise! (BTW, some need to take a listen to their worship podcasts and process through some of the hymns done congregationally when led by their praise team octets – the octets are crooning and slurring into several different keys simultaneously and none of their melismatic singing matches. No wonder there is confusion among the ranks of congregants who are trying to figure out what they’re supposed to sing.) Not everything written by Handel or Chris Tomlin is appropriate for congregational singing.
Any ideas out there on what the worship arts and media set-up in Heaven will be like? At least the polyphony, melisma, and part-writing will be perfect!
I remember being quite confused as a 10 year old playing beautiful classical “hymns” written for God – but not “acceptable” for worship! It simply didn’t make sense. For anyone who has a “gift” of music – you know what I’m talking about – it is a “God-thing” to be able to make music – whether on an instrument, or with a voice – it’s all “music in your heart”. Anyway – got out of the deep conservative south … fast forward to chaperoning a teen trip to a DC Talk and Audio Adrelaline concert…and I was sold! Totally amazed and blown away by literally thousands of young people worshiping and praising God! LOUDLY! Changed me forever. Still love the close harmonies of a capella – but give me EVERY kind of gift of music – and let us all give that gift from our hearts – that’s all God asks for!
Amen, Karin.
Michael Card…
and U2.
Still 2 of my favorites.
Mike, I’m not sure what this sentence means–”It blew apart his only-a-cappella-for-these-compelling-reasons world.” But it is of interest that when people list their “Christian Recording Artist” they are all ones who use instruments. So I guess he was saying that was the first time music with instruments spoke to his soul.
In my case the artists that I enjoy are the ones who don’t do rock or hip hop or at least did not early on in their career. Amy Grant, Twila Paris, John Michael Talbot, Michael Card, etc. You can hear the good lyrics without being overpowered by instruments. Also they don’t place one in physical “hypertension” just spiritual. If Fanny Crosby, L.O. Sanderson, John Wesley, etc had live in our time–they would been grreat Christian recording artists.
But does no one remember Pat Boones “Wonderful Time up There”? A song about Heaven in the 50′s that incidentally was one of the most danced to songs of those years. Good Beat for “The Hop”.
U2, Fernando Ortega, Delirious and Sonic Flood were my early influences.
Oh, and in my spare time I used to lay down drum tracks to Zoe songs. Seriously, I played along to Zoe songs on my drum kit because they allowed me to experiment with various sounds and rhythms. Brandon… look me up if you need a drummer.
Early influences: Jars of Clay’s first album and DC Talk’s Jesus Freak
Modern day influences: Anything Derek Webb, Hillsong, Caedmon’s, U2, and Paul Baloche (one of the great worship songwriters today).
In my experience, I find many different expressions of worship (instrumental, a cappella, contemplative) meaningful to me for different reasons. I am moved by a traditional rendition of “How Great Thou Art” as much as singing “Salvation Is Here” (Hillsong) with a full band.
Amy Grant–I’d love to live on a mountain top–I can still remember the exact place in Neosho where I was driving, the car I was in, the direction I was headed, and about what time of day it was. It rocked my world. I have never been the same since.
I was at a church here in Franklin for a Christmas concert last December and Amy came on stage and sang about five songs. I wish she would have sang Mountaintop.
My main fellowship is still in an a capella church but I also attend Grace Chapel whenever I can. There is a lot we could learn about music…and not just the instrumental part…and how it moves us.
Drop the entertainment arguments. Those are so bogus. Let the praise the Lord with all our heart and not just out of rote memory.
Listening to Herald of Truth each Sunday as we ate lunch…with the theme song of A WONDERFUL SAVIOR…after coming in from the little country church where Daddy preached…and the beautiful singing by ACC’s chorus…and I knew then THAT harmony was what brother Teddlie was trying to teach in those wonderful singing schools I attended. Later, being able to get HYMNS FROM HARDING early Sunday mornings before leaving for worship services.
the gaithers were one of the firsts for us and of carmen… now we love leeland, anderw peterson is a great song writer…chris tomlin, living here in middle tn we are blessed to have many song writers here …so lots of new songs floating around all the time…
{by the way lynn i will tell mom and dad you said hey … christy sharp sanford here : ) }
just picked my oldest daughter up from camp tahkodah this past weekend …
“Drop the entertainment arguments.”
I’m not sure what you mean. Are you saying that entertainment has a place in worship or that the argument that some worship is turning into entertainment is not really true?
I worship in an a capella congregation and find that even we are guilty at times of having turned corporate worship into a production. I think this is unfortunate and many folks still believe that as long as we don’t have instruments, we are fine.
I’m reading “Hearing God” by Dallas Willard and he has some really interesting thoughts about how we “talk” to God. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is looking to change the way they interact with God. Imagine the notion that the most important relationship in our lives is enjoyed with someone who almost never makes an audible noise in communicating with us. And then consider how much focus we place on the audible noises we make in trying to communicate with him.
Third Day rocks!
For me it was Twila Paris, Michael Card, and Rich Mullins (Rich’s songs will always be some of my favorites). Now I love Ginny Owens, Casting Crowns, and Third Day.
For those of you who, like me have not been that attracted to mainstream “Christian” music, and prefer more alternative music, you might check out some of the following bands that are musicians who are Christian. Some of this is very eclectic and an acquired taste:
Sufjan Stevens
The Danielson Famile
Soul Junk
Doug Burr
Half-handed Cloud
Anathallo
Jeremy Enigk
low
Serena-Maneesh
The Weird Weeds
Enjoy,
Todd
Hearing Christmas music as a child was my introduction into Christian instrumental music. Much later, Michael Card blew me away. Mike, did you hear Monte Cox sing the Card song at the PU lectureships in 2007? Not a dry eye in the place when he finished.
Oh, and yes………he changed the arrangement to be a cappella!
Matt Redman, The David Crowder Band, Steve Fee, Todd Fields, Charlie Hall, Kristain Stanfill…just to name a few. But, I’ll take Chris Tomlin over all of them!!!
I wonder if there is any hope this fad will pass? Most of the songs are very hard for a congregation to sing, hence the need for a “praise team.”
Casting Crowns!
Dan, I’m sure the folks who can’t read music might be wondering “when this 4-part fad will pass?” I am all about the congregational aspect of worship when I am in that setting, but my alone time was definitely influenced by Michael Card. Russ Taff was the first concert of any kind I ever went to and Bryan Duncan opened. Late in the ’80′s Card, Taff, Petra, Carman and Stryper were my regular listens with a smattering of MWS. Card is probably the best cross-over writer of that era writing songs many often associate with Amy Grant. I taught a class last week using “Traitor’s Look.”
Today Mercy Me, FFH, and Third Day are probably my most listened to of the CCM, though my kids know the songs from “Radiance” better than any of those. I still listen to the Eagles and Rush more than anything, but when I want to sing in the car Acappella (old/new) is the media of choice.
The Weird Weeds are most definitely NOT a Christian band.
I am just amazed at all this. I have only heard of 2-3 of all these “artists.” Where do you hear them anyway? The ones I have heard sound more like a wounded calf bawling. Where on earth is the inspiration? Believe me, I would really like to know.
You know…it is kind of funny (and ironic) that so many have mentioned Michael Card as we are having this a cappella conversation. I just remembered that a few years back at ACU-Michael Card came and did a small, intimate concert and he was talking about how beautiful he found and how much he loved our a cappella singing. He was encouraging us to sing along, and he said something to the effect of, “I KNOW you guys can sing-come on!”, and “There is definitely something to this a cappella music-don’t stop” I know I am not quoting him verbatim, but I remembered that. I guess it is all about perspective.
I do love a cappella singing, but also greatly enjoy jamming out at a concert or in my car to instrumental music. They both have a special place in my heart!
A wounded calf bawling probably touches the heart of a few humans, not to mention the calfs creator. To each his own. You can’t take personal preference and taste out of the equation when talking about either instrumental or a-cappella music. Some people just love sappy sofa sized landscape paintings from the local starving artist sale while others are drawn to abstract modern works. The same is true for music. It is the heart connection that is made that causes the participant to acknowledge something bigger than themselves exists. That is what making music (or art) in your heart is all about.
Todd
maybetodo,
Thanks for the band recommendations. Excellent. I must agree with your bad taste. You should try out the Flobots from Denver. Also, Katie Herzig has some great spiritual truths in her tunes as well. Enjoy.
Love Song, Larry Norman[R.I.P.], Daniel Amos, etc. But then there are greats like Mark Heard [R.I.P], Pierce Pettis, Vigilantes of Love/Bill Mallonee, Buddy Miller, Julie Miller, Jill Phillips, Derek Webb, Rich Mullins [R.I.P.], Andrew Peterson, Fernado Otega, and the list could go on and on… By the way, Christian is a follower of Jesus–noun; and not an adjective. Music is music and some of it points us heavenward and some earthward and some in between. Good music touches the soul and mine has been touched by Neil Young more often than some/many “Christian” artists.
Amen, Todd.