MMF - What's Your Music Service Like??

Bro. Robert, you probably already know my answers, but for others, here is the Primitive Baptist version of things in hymns.

1. Scope - how many songs are sung/played in your typical worship service (if your order of service is a certain number of songs type of format), or how much time is devoted to singing in your typical worship service (if your format is a basic amount of time given over to singing/music)?

===As many as we can in 30 minutes. Usually 8-10, depending on how long and how slow they are, whether they are lined-out or not, etc. We line out about 2/3rds in our church.

2. Proportion - what percentage of songs are congregational and what percentage are "specials" (solos, choir numbers, duets, trios, etc.)?

100% congregational.

3. Agency - do you use instruments, and, if you do, what instruments, and if you use instruments do you ever sing without them?

No instruments, ever.

4. Authority or Responsibility - who selects the songs to be sung?

The pastor selects the first one, the others are open to anyone who wants to ask for one. The minister who introduces the service makes the last selection.

5. ANYTHING ELSE you may think we will find interesting - just don't take us completely off of the subject.

 

1. Scope - 7 to 8 (some hymns and some praise choruses)

2. Proportion - Most are congregational. We'll occasionally have a solo, trio, quartet, etc. song or choir special

3. Agency - piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, keyboard that plays a string instrument and organ, and a keyboard that plays drum beats.

4. Authority or Responsibility - My pastor and song leader meet with a few others to plan the music to fit the sermon usually

5. Source - Usually the Baptist Hymnal, various sheet music, books, a computer program called Song Select (since we use screens for the words), various other sources

6. After the closing prayer the band plays an ending song.

 

1. Scope -

6 or 7, some hymns, some praise music
lasting about 30 minutes or more
always a invitational at the end of service

2. Proportion -

almost all congregational, sometimes a solo,or trio or a choir only
today for instance there was a trombone solo during the offering

3. Agency -

full orchestra, we have almost every instrument there is, even kettle drums guitars and drums
we have on occasion sang without music

4. Authority or Responsibility -

music minister, it seems he works it out with the senior pastor on themes

5. Source -

I do not know what hymnal the songs come from for sure, we do not usually use one,there are hymnals in the pews for those that may not be able to see the screen.We have a full media dept that projects the words above and behind the choir for the congregation.


-Wilma

 

I just thought about this.
The post about my churches music refers to morning service.
Our evening service is completely different.

Some hymns and praise music with a trio type leading the songs along with the music minister, and the orchestra is smaller.

We may have the youth choir or childrens choir once in a while.
Sometimes a solo.
Service still ending with prayer and invitational.

-Wilma

 

This is going to be intersting. I grew up and have attended a variety of styles of worship. Most churches, I would have to say, were very "traditional". Most of my "non-traditional" joy comes from camp, conferences, etc, where I felt more free in my worship experience.

At any rate, here goes the Q and A.

1. Scope -

Number of songs: Choir: One Soloists or groups: One or two Congregational--minimally three, maybe up to 5 or 6

Time frame: 1/2 hour to 45 minutes generally, but has gone for an hour. (another 45 minutes to preaching.

2. Proportion - 2/3 congregational, 1/3 choir/solo

3. Agency - do you use instruments, and, if you do, what instruments, and if you use instruments do you ever sing without them?

Rarely do we sing without instruments. We use the piano, the keyboard, the drums, the congos, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, chimes, cymbals, vibra-slap, guire, tamborine, cowbell, egg rattle, maracas, and whatever else we can find.

4. Authority or Responsibility - Music director.

5. Source - He chooses from several sources.

6. ANYTHING ELSE you may think we will find interesting - When our praise band, "Abbey Road" plays, it is definitely a joy and a time of praise and worship.

 

1. Scope - It depends on the service. Usually, there are three to four hymns, a chorus or two and one "special music". Every fifth Sunday we have a "fifth Sunday sing", which is all music.

A couple of times each summer, we'll take the service outside to the park which is fun because there are always non-Christians who see us and stop by out of curiousity. When we go to the park, it's very casual and about 3/4 music.

2. Proportion - We're too small to have a choir but we used to have a southern Gospel quartet (I was tenor). Everything but the "special music" is sung by the congregation.

3. Agency - If you can pick it, pound it, pluck it or play it, we've got it. Our band consists of drums, bass, piano, guitar, an old Hammond B-3 that was in mothballs when we inherited the church (which reminds me, I've got to tell you guys some time how we got our church building). It gives our town sort of a Tom Petty and the Heartbrakers sound but some of the hymns are just played on piano. Occasionally, we have an accordion and a flute and sax and depending on how much I overslept, I'll bring my mondolin or, if I get up really early, a steel guitar.

We actually had a "Christian" ceilli last spring. I don't know if I've ever even heard of such a thing, but it turned out to be great and a lot of fun, too.

4. Authority or Responsibility - Since we don't have a choir director (I guess the pastor, who is also a musician and I are in charge by default), we all have a hand in selecting what we sing and we encourage anyone in the congregation can ask for a song (doesn't mean we know it, but we'll try).

Soloists are welcome to pick out their own song but they usually check with the preacher first to make sure that their song(s) compliment his message.

4. Source - We use Baptist hymnals and chorus books or we may sing something that's popular at the moment.

What makes our band so interesting is that several of our musicians are or have been professionals and they come from such a wide varity of musical backgrounds.

Mike