21^st Century Church Music on the Perspective of Change and Communication

Abstract

We used a computer of which size was so huge in order to do simple mathematical works 30 years ago. However now, we live in smart world that we can contact to all of the world with handy devices whenever we want. 21^st Century is the 'Social Communication' era and its pace is too fast to adapt former change and output. There is no exception on Korea churches. We need to communicate more and more with various tools ever before and this phenomenon is spread to the churches. Therefore, in churches, the methods of gospel and missionary works have developed and turned to relationship-orientated by social communication. This paper is focused on the worship and church music on the perspective of social communication and changes. Because the service is needed much communication among the church and worship works. And also, church music is the critical key(or path) of church communication. In order to offer the understanding of church music based on 21^stC and new social communication, this paper provides the practical musical evidences in christian history and considers musical role and function on the three communication categories of service-Kerygma, Koinonia, and Leitourgia -communication. The essential of communication is everlasting connection, relation and continuing changes and need to balance between love and respect. That is core of communication ability. As the change of church music will be continued, new delivery system by mass media will be emerged and new concept churches-they are based on new theology and various purpose of establishment-will be established. Thus, Korea church needs prepared worshipers and leadership for its future ministries and worship music. This paper provides some conditions for 21^stC leadership and messages for the whole worshipers who don't try to expand the popularity and develop the quality of church music but also communicate with past generation and have ability to fill the churches' needs. In addition, the leadership needs to be filled with the integrated hearts and the skillful hands to lead the church music. Though classical church music feature that consist of special group, some artists who majored classical music, it became remains of traditional church due to no social communication. until now, we can discover a lot of cases that creative and experimental church music isn't accepted and ignored in Korea christianity. In 20thC, we had to try to get competitiveness by this thought, the most indigenous korean style is worldwide. Furthermore, we should get abilities to expend the point of view and accept understanding so that we can discuss the procedure that combination of our own valued korean culture and noble history brings to make something creative and future-oriented, influence to the world and lead the changes. I don't want Korea church music to resemble the classical church music in median european history. Without social communication, churches became isolated from both the object and the subject of worship. Above all, this paper is focused on facing the trend of 21^stC Korea church music and considering the attitude and role for the next-generation leaders of church music and worship leaders rather than criticizing and analyzing korea church music and suggesting any new solution. However, as introducing four musical practices for opening the place of communication by service and advancing to the holy sanctuary, we can search the proper direction of worship music on the new point of view.