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Music that is used as a functional part
of corporate Christian worship can properly be called church
music. It varies greatly among religious groups by reason
of differences in tradition, dogma, taste, financial support,
and degrees of musical skill.
By far the largest amount and the highest artistic level of
church music may be found for the choir, that is, in CHORAL
MUSIC. The traditional choral forms of the church--MASSES,
MOTETS, ANTHEMS, and CANTATAS--were developed to fill needs
of the liturgies from which they sprang. Nonliturgical faiths
have not contributed significant musical forms but have provided
additional dimensions to those named here.
The music of the early church was intended for unison chorus
(PLAINSONG), but the general acceptance of POLYPHONY in the
Middle Ages moved the performance of part-music into the choir,
which further benefited by the addition of instruments to
the performing combination. In later years, such widely different
sects as the Russian Orthodox and the Disciples of Christ
have stressed choral music but have forbidden the use of instruments
in their worship. Christian Science traditionally employs
only a solo singer. Most denominations have depended on choirs,
paid or volunteer, to supply the bulk of their vocal music,
generally with ORGAN accompaniment. The organ has been an
important feature of church music because it satisfies the
need for variety in supporting choral music without imposing
the burden and expense of an instrumental ensemble; it is
also a satisfactory instrument for leading congregational
singing.
There has been a centuries-long debate on the propriety of
the popular idiom in church. Borrowing from secular sources
in order to "intoxicate the ear" was deplored in
the 14th century by Pope John xxii, and the matter has never
since been settled satisfactorily. The CANTUS FIRMI of the
Renaissance were often taken from CHANSONS. Luther adapted
secular tunes to the needs of his CHORALES, and, since the
middle of the 20th century, folk and popular idioms have again
been incorporated into the music of the church.
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