Searching for the "Good Song" - Determining the quality of Christian songs within the polarities of worship (original) (raw)

© © U Un ni iv ve er rs si it ty y o of f P Pr re et to or ri ia a This theoretical section leads to a catalogue of criteria for "Good songs": These are criteria for quality, for "Good Text", such as biblical and theological value, how easily it is understood, whether it takes human experience seriously and its poetic value. Criteria for "Good Tune" include its level of difficulty, how heavily it depends on accompaniment, and its balance between the familiar and the interesting and new. The third category of criteria evaluate the match between text and tune in mood, rhythm and climax. The last category looks at the balance in the song between different polarities, such as, amongst others, the balance of past and present, cognitive and emotive elements, between challenge and affirmation, and between universal and particular emphases. This list of criteria is then tested on three songs each of four different songwriters: two traditional and two contemporary: Paul Gerhardt, Charles Wesley, Graham Kendrick and Noel Richards. In each case a background is given, an overview of their work as a whole and a detailed analysis of each song. In the end the criteria themselves are evaluated as to their usefulness and user-friendliness. Suggestions are then made how these criteria can guide worship leaders in their choices of songs for the Sunday service.