This post was written by Randy Newman on February 27, 2009
I write a lot about “integration.” I try to say that we need to see the wholeness of life, the places where faith and thoughtfulness intertwine.
Pointing to examples of written works that model this is difficult. There aren’t enough displays of deep reflection about how the Christian frame of reference shines light on other topics.
When I find such examples, I want to point you to them. Jeremy Begbie’s recent book, Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music, is a beautiful example of thoughtful integrative thinking.
This is not a book about so-called “Christian music,” or about using music in worship services, or about what kinds of music are worth listening to. Such topics, Begbie freely admits, are worthwhile. They are just not the subject of his research and writing.
Instead, he examines music in the most general sense and asks what it does, why it moves us, how it transforms us, and how we can better employ it in our sanctification.
For this blog, I’ll just offer a few examples from his many challenging insights.
First, good music has the effect of taking us away from home and bringing us back again. Many pieces of music (both classical and popular) state a home theme, then take us away from that theme through variations and contrasts, and finally return us back to the home theme. The noteworthy observation is that, when we return home, even though the notes, and in some cases the words, are the same, our appreciation of home is different. It’s as if we’re hearing things that certainly were there the first time but we didn’t notice them or appreciate them. Many hours of listening to music that does this can actually improve our appreciation of our current “home.” In other words, it can foster a sense of gratitude or help us savor God’s gifts.
Second, good music is composed of variations upon a theme. A good composer states a simple theme near the beginning of a piece (think of those first four notes of Beethoven’s fifth symphony) and then weaves variations of that theme throughout the song or symphony or concerto. The more you train your ear to listen for these motifs, the more your mind will be able to do the same with thoughts or ideas. In other words, music can actually train us to be more meditative and contemplative.
No wonder we’re commanded to sing so often in Scripture. It’s not just to have a fun experience. God’s gift of music isn’t just for entertainment - it’s for discipleship. Music transforms us.
There’s more…but I’ll save those discussions for future blogs.
Want a suggestion for hearing a masterful display of theme and variations? Find a recording of Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme by Paganini. Listen to all of them! You’ll never be the same.
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