What is virtuosity? It isn’t just about the sound itself, but who makes the sound and how they make it. Today’s episode is the third in our series on virtuosity. In the last two episodes, Joshua Busman and I both considered whether virtuosity is or isn’t acceptable—and why—in evangelical worship music and in fundamentalist Christianity. …
Should you play or sing virtuosic music in church? Many fundamentalist Christians don’t think so. This week’s episode is the second in our series on musical virtuosity. Last week, Joshua Kalin Busman discussed how evangelical musicians might tone down the difficulty of their music—balancing their churches’ need for musical “amateurism” with the reality the “amateurish” …
Musical virtuosity in church services. Is it showing off? Giving God your best? Christians often come to opposite conclusions. Today’s podcast episode is the first in a series about virtuosity. We’re kicking off the series by talking with Dr. Joshua Kalin Busman, an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina—Pembroke. He researches “music in religious …
This post is part of a series on the National Congregations Study, a sociological study of religious congregations in America. Check out my summary of the study’s main findings and specifics on worship services, the growing informality of worship services, and what the study tells us about the power of small groups and choirs. Who knew …
Drums Are Not That Common And 6 Other Surprises from the National Congregations Study Read More »
This post is part of a series on the National Congregations Study, a sociological study of religious congregations in America. Check out my summary of the study’s main findings and specifics on worship services, the surprises and highlights of the study, and what it tells us about the power of small groups and choirs. The recent report …
National Congregations Study: Worship Is Increasingly Informal Read More »
This post is part of a series on the National Congregations Study, a sociological study of religious congregations in America. Check out my summary of the study’s main findings, the growing informality of worship services, the surprises and highlights of the study, and what it tells us about the power of small groups and choirs. Want …
National Congregations Study: How Does Your Worship Service Compare? Read More »