Music in the Afrikaans reformed churches has reached a cross-road. This is evident in the many articles written on the subject, workshops held on the issue and outcries for help from several organists in various congregations. Scholars all agree that research on the topic of responsible renewal in church music is necessary. Furthermore, it seems the organ is systematically being dismissed as a church instrument, especially in evening worship services. It seems the organ is (unjustly) thought of as an old fashioned instrument capable of playing only classical music and thus not able to cater for the musical needs of today’s postmodern churchgoer. This study aims to provide recommendations for the renewed usage of the organ in an aesthetic music environment that will assist churchgoers of various spirituality types to worship with conviction. This study is based on thorough research on three specific concepts: 1. Aesthetics: In order to use aesthetics as a valuable tool for music renewal, it must first be established that it is indeed a Biblical concept. Study into the concept of aesthetics in the Bible is undertaken. 2. Spirituality: Every person differs in his perception of worship and this is mainly determined by his spirituality type. The different musical preferences according to these spirituality types are investigated. 3. The organ: The organ has established itself as a versatile church instrument since the Middle Ages. It has adapted to the changing musical styles through the ages. It is reasoned that the church organ can still provide in the musical needs of all churchgoers today. This does not mean that the organ is elevated as the exclusive church instrument, but it is argued that the organ can successfully be used in conjunction with other instruments in worship today. After these three concepts are investigated, practical guidance is given in the usage of the organ in combination with other instruments according to the aesthetical requirements of the different spirituality types in today’s Afrikaans reformed worship service. / Thesis (DMus)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Music / unrestricted

The church music of the Southern African Dutch Reformed Church is in the midst of a paradigm shift: traditional liturgy is changing; in many church services well-known organ music and congregational singing are making way for music in a contemporary style. A music band is often used instead of the organ and hymns from the Liedboek are mostly replaced by songs in various styles. Traditional liturgical music is in a period of uncertainty and experimentation. The views of clergymen and church musicians seem to often and increasingly diverge when considering spirituality of the services and the role that congregational music plays in the spirituality. Research has shown that the organ is still the music instrument of choice for services of the Dutch Reformed Church and that 90% of clergymen find the use of organ music in church a positive experience. The average post-modern church member prefers that traditional and current musical styles are used side-by-side in the liturgy and liturgical music of the church to cater for the requirements of the different spiritual styles in congregations. The writer establishes that effective organ playing, with or without other instruments, can adequately provide for the majority of these post-modern worship styles. It is necessary that organists adapt to the changing demands of congregations through continued studies. / MMus (Musicology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The church music of the Southern African Dutch Reformed Church is in the midst of a paradigm shift: traditional liturgy is changing; in many church services well-known organ music and congregational singing are making way for music in a contemporary style. A music band is often used instead of the organ and hymns from the Liedboek are mostly replaced by songs in various styles. Traditional liturgical music is in a period of uncertainty and experimentation. The views of clergymen and church musicians seem to often and increasingly diverge when considering spirituality of the services and the role that congregational music plays in the spirituality. Research has shown that the organ is still the music instrument of choice for services of the Dutch Reformed Church and that 90% of clergymen find the use of organ music in church a positive experience. The average post-modern church member prefers that traditional and current musical styles are used side-by-side in the liturgy and liturgical music of the church to cater for the requirements of the different spiritual styles in congregations. The writer establishes that effective organ playing, with or without other instruments, can adequately provide for the majority of these post-modern worship styles. It is necessary that organists adapt to the changing demands of congregations through continued studies. / MMus (Musicology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The presence of at least two prominent streams of church music within the DRC is evident – this is also true of most other Protestant and Reformed churches. There is tension between the ‘old music’ and the ‘new music’; traditional church music and contemporary church music; the official repertoire of church music and the utilized repertoire of songs. Liturgical singing often includes various free songs (songs outside the official hymnal). Songs from various traditions are cut and pasted or copied and merged into liturgy through a process of bricolage. Within bricolage liturgy there is a growing tendency towards bricolage liturgical singing. A brief overview of the history of church music illustrates the complexities regarding church music. The official song of the temple was often complimented by the ecstatic song of individuals. The more formal and official song of the church often stood in contrast to the song and music that were played and sung in houses and elsewhere. Christian believers in different eras expressed themselves in different forms and genres of music. The Bible does not support a blueprint for church music. There is no Biblical church music, mainly because no ‘melodies’ could be preserved (cf. Mowinckel 2004:9). The latter is further complicated by the culture-bound nature of Biblical music and songs. The Biblical data mostly provides snapshots of instances where God’s people utilized music and singing in their interaction with the Almighty and covenantal God. Certain principles and guidelines for church music could be drawn from these, although the danger of fundamentalism, relativism and subjectivism remains. A study of liturgy illustrates the important role of music and singing within the dialogue of the liturgy. Recent studies emphasize that church music could function as a ritual symbol within a specific cultural or sub-cultural community. As such church music is closely related to the culture (or sub-culture) of a given community and can never be evaluated apart from that culture. Within a postmodern culture, church music will be greatly influenced and coloured by the values and attitudes of postmodernism. The latter have major implications for musical styles, genres, repertoires and the sanctification of church music. Within postmodernism the borders between sacred and secular are not so clear, neither between sacred (liturgical) music and secular music. Within Western culture and postmodernism there is a growing need for an inculturated and an inter-culturated song, expressing the smaller narrative(s) of the local congregation in idioms, language, metaphors and styles true to the local culture. Church music is closely related to the spirituality of the local congregation. The dominant type of spirituality will necessarily have a sound influence on the musical genres, accompaniments, styles and repertoire of the local congregation. The growing phenomenon of popular spirituality has definite implications for church music. At least three circles of spiritualities must find expression in the song of the local congregation, namely an ecumenical spirituality, a denominational spirituality and a congregational spirituality. Where the official song (Liedboek van die Kerk) gives expression to the denominational or Reformed spirituality as well as the meta-narrative, the free song often gives expression to the congregational spirituality as well as the smaller narrative. It is argued that the freely chosen song is an important means of expressing the spirituality of the local congregation (culture). In this sense, it does not threaten the official church song but compliments it. These two could stand in a positive and creative tension. Regarding liturgical singing, the DRC is presently moving from a societas through a phase of communitas to a new societas. It is impossible to predict the outcome of this process. As Burger (1995:31) indicates, a communitas-phase releases a lot of new energy that could be of great value to the church. Church music, as folk music and cultural music, will have to be faithful to the culture and spirituality of God’s people living in the twenty first century within a given context. The age-old tradition must continue hand in hand with a new song. Vos (2009:5) summarizes accurately: “However, each generation of believers must interpret the ancient sources and traditions of the Church anew, within the demands of their time, without being unfaithful to the traditions in which a definitive liturgy exists”. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Practical Theology / unrestricted