One of the first “Worship Wars,” The Reformation (1500-1599), kicked off the regular use of instruments in worship. Around the 15th century, the regular usage of the organ in worship was introduced to the Western Roman Church. Prior to the 15th century, the organ was used sparingly in worship. Between the 10th and 12th centuries the organ was used in processions and calls to worship (earliest example is the Hydraulis [water organ] used in Roman coliseums). The organ never seemed to gain ground in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and, to this day, has not. On the flipside, the Ethiopian and Coptic churches were using percussion instruments. Lutherans used a mixture of accompanied and un-accompanied music, while the Calvinists preferred un-accompanied music.
However, it was the Lutherans and their master organist, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is noted for his influence on the development of the chorale prelude. Through the four-part chorale (hymns as they are now known today), based on newly harmonized melodies, Bach created chorale preludes based on these harmonizations. There were earlier composers of chorale preludes. However, Bach composed 100+ chorale preludes based on his harmonizations of familiar melodies of the day. There is some disagreement as to their usage. This author chooses to keep with - they were used at the start or end of the service, for preludes and/or postludes.
Chorale preludes introduce the congregation to music being sung that day. This is when worshipers heard the melodies being used in the service. In Bach’s case, he had to compose the music and then learn it. Today we have prominent composers such as Paul Manz, Michael Burkhardt, Joseph Martin, Mark Hayes, Lyndell Leatherman and numerous others that compose hymn preludes (chorale preludes), based on popular hymn tunes and songs used in worship settings. Most organists/pianists plan preludes/voluntaries based on the hymns or themes for each worship service, as did Bach. Additionally, this music has taken many hours of practice to prepare.
With this in mind, can we consider ways in which we can assist those that do not want to listen to the prelude find more productive ways to prepare for worship other than idle chit-chat? Here are a few examples – using the time to pray, read the bible lesson(s)/reading(s) for the day, meditate on hymn texts of the music being played, sit silently with eyes closed, and many others.
Are there ways in which your congregation appreciates the prelude?
Have we, in some instances, lost the sense that entering into the presence of the Divine demands respect? Do we truly anticipate an encounter through Word and Sacrament? Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God. Yet only he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries. (See Exodus 3:1-17.) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+3%3A1-17
ReplyDeleteI always tell people that when they hear the word "prelude," they should not think of it in the sense of "something that comes before." Rather, I ask them to think of the word in terms of the same way they would a Chopin or Rachmaninoff prelude. In this sense, a "prelude" is a short piece of music intended to portray or evoke a certain mood. In the church, that "mood" is preparation for worship.
ReplyDeleteI work in a Lutheran parish and people are pretty quiet when they come in. We start with the announcements, then have the prelude. I never have issues with people talking during the prelude.
Also, in Lutheran tradition, "chorale preludes" are used as free introductions to they chorale they portray. (As you've already noted, many of these can stand alone as voluntaries within the service.
When my prelude is hymn based (probably 80% of the time), I include the hymn number in parentheses, hoping that people might actually turn to it and meditate on the text as I play.
Here's an article I wrote about how people might prepare for worship - including during the playing of the prelude: http://smljax.blogspot.com/search?q=prepare
Blessings on your ministry!
Tony Cruz