We went to the Chris Tomlin concert in Ft Worth over the weekend. (It was AMAZING)
During the concert we got to learn and sing a "rebirth" of sorts of a hymn that Christians were singing in ~200 AD. It was awesome! Thought others might like a glimpse of it. Not sure when it will be released but I am excited to see it when it does.

Quote:

---

sorts of a hymn that Christians were singing chanting in ~200 AD.

---

fify

Negative. It was a type of music that was of popular nature. The way they explained it on Saturday was that it would have been similar to songs that would have been sung in daily life.

Popular nature doesn't mean not chanted. We know what it sounded like because it had the notation - which is cool. It probably sounded something like this:



Its kinda neat that because examples of ancient tonal notation survives, we know what this and other ancient tunes sounded like. The same notation used here evolved into the Byzantine notation we still use today in the Orthodox church.

There's something magical about singing hymns that have been sung for centuries and centuries before us.

The real question is how this 1800 year old tune sounded when Chris added a modern sounding bridge with theologically vapid lyrics, which built into a major climax by the 4th repetition.

And which exactly are the "theologically vapid" lyrics in this song? The whole thing is pulled straight from the papyri and rearranged into a modern song. If early Christians worshiping our triune God is vapid then so be it. If it is them pointing out to the pagans of the time that in fact all good gifts come from the one true God is vapid then I guess all apologetics is airheaded and useless. If it is the sing and response section of the arrangement then I suppose all corporate recitals of creeds and doctrine should be stopped.

If you have a hang up about worship music because it's not in your hymnal, get a life.

Whoa dude…sorry, I really meant no offense but can see how that might not have been clear. I was making light.

I was just joking about the oft-debated practice of taking beautiful hymns of old and modernizing them with out-of-context lyrics and emotionally charged musicianship. Personally I really really don't like it, but to each his own.

I apologize for coming in hot and being less than gracious in my response. I completely missed any lighthearted intent.

All good brother…just when I think I have keyboard sarcasm figured out, sometimes it still comes out wrong.

Scotts Tot said:

---

All good brother…just when I think I have keyboard sarcasm figured out, sometimes it still comes out wrong.

---

I thought it was funny. I find much of todays worship music a bit repetitive and often musically cringy. I'm fine with the message but I make a distinction between Christian music and Christian worship music. Many great songs with strong Christian messages seem to reach more people because they music arrangements lend them to being appreciated more.
The Byrds, U2, Bob Dylan, The Fray, and for those who like hip-hop, I dig 'Church Clap' by KB. I'm also a fan of most renditions of 'Oh Happy Day' covered by many artists including Aretha Franklin and Glen Campbell.