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Mar1Sun
Beyond the Notes
Going beyond the notes to discover what the Lord has to say to both the musicians and listeners. March 1, 2020
I spend a decent amount of my time researching Salvation Army music, whether this is purposefully to stay in the know, or just in the nature of my work. Thousands of published music has been released, bought, and performed across the SA world. There is both an undeniable heritage and future for Salvation Army music which continues to broaden in both instrumentation and style. As I continue to fall in love with this music, I appreciate the impact it has had on many people’s lives in both hearing and performing, but also as an extension through fellowship and experience.
In leadership of any SA music group, it is important to put time into score preparation and research. This is the process of highlighting important sections and looking for teaching moments within the music. These are important factors for successful rehearsal management, but we often forget about the meaning of the music. What about the related Scripture, the lyrics to the songs, or the imagery that is intended? These are also important aspects that should be considered as part of preparing scores. How many times do we sit in a rehearsal and hear about dynamics, notes, and key signatures (all aspects that are clearly visible) but fail to be reminded of the text or the narrative of the music (aspects which can be hidden)?The challenge I have given to myself is knowing what I am leading and why I am leading it. Often, I will hear a statement such as, “A contest band just doesn’t play that SA band piece with the same connection.” This opinion can only be true if the SA players truly understand the meaning of the music. Not every piece we play will have deep compositional imagery, but almost every piece has lyrics that are associated with the melodies. How do we apply these words to our own hearts and the hearts of the musicians within our groups? This openness and time of study can lead us to a better understanding of our relationship with God and can turn a time of score preparation into a beautiful time of devotion.
The last point would lead us to consider how we choose music. Do our choices apply to the musicians or the congregation? Will the music and lyrics bless, inspire, and challenge? Wouldn’t it be exciting to see our musicians contemplating and discussing the complexity of what they are playing/singing beyond just the notes and music on the page?
Our music will continue to be powerful and Spirit-filled if we can truly put in the time to improve our understanding of all the tools that are at work. Going beyond the notes to discover what the Lord has to say to both the musicians and listeners.
This article was originally published in the March 2020 MAGAzine. Read the entire issue here:
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