Church Music in the Pattern of Worship

This paper was derived from a lecture-recital. Requirements for music in worship are  the words should be fitting, b) the music should fit the words, c) the music must be of spiritual quality (Bridges quoted on 'making worldly man feel at home rather than reveal to him something of the life beyond his knowledge'), d) must fit pattern of service. This last is explored in some detail, covering issues such as the variety of mood in a service, the tendencies of different centuries with respect to musical content – with attention given to the nineteenth century, then the matter of 'personality intruding, the question of emotion and the desire for a 'good sing'. How to introduce the more suitable music? The solution is context: music, even though at first sight 'highbrow', will be appreciated in its right place.