Psalm singing is experiencing a revival today. Sacred harp groups are increasing in the U.S. and Europe, and Sea Chanties have catapulted in popularity, chanting has also returned to the life of many congregations. Our little band of churches in the CREC has made Psalm singing a central part of our mission. And you may ask, “What is behind such a renewal of interest in singing sacred music?”
Three elements stand out:
First, people seek permanent things whenever a society undergoes tumult and confusion. They flee from the fleeting. They seek things that stabilize their culture and those who they love. Music, especially biblical music, offers consolation and strength when nothing else in society makes sense.
Second, many are discovering that church music is not as complicated as it appears. Reading music, or at least following sheet music, is achievable, even for those who did not grow up in musical homes or churches. All it takes is a few good practices, and suddenly, we are singing things that, on paper, look quite complicated. If you put a few folks together with a few simple songs with a few predictable lines, you can easily sing a metrical psalm, and then if you take it to the next step, you may learn a through-composed psalm and then a fugue tune, and then the sky is the limit. But ultimately, all it takes is a willingness to learn something new.
And finally, this renewal has come because parents have seen the benefits of singing in their own homes. Even if they did not grow up in singing homes, they now see the fruits of singing in their homes and among their children, congregational music moves from the eucharist table to the tables of our homes and even at work.
Tonight, we have a selection of Psalms (and a couple of hymns) that fit lots of these layers of knowledge. We have a chant, which is quite predictable, but then we have a fugue tune that will require a bit of work and several things in between.
I pray this evening will further encourage you to pursue Psalm singing. May this revival be more than a fad or a trend; it should be a way of life for God’s people.
