Christian musicians know of the obligation to make music as agents of Gods grace. They make music graciously; whatever its kind or style; as ambassadors of Christ; showing love; humility; servanthood; meekness; victory; and good example . . . Music is freely made; by faith; as an act of worship; in direct response to the overflowing grace of God in Christ Jesus.Co-sponsored by the Christian College Coalition; this thought-provoking study of music-as-worship leads both students and experienced musicians to a better understanding of the connections between music making and Christian faith."Christian music makers have to risk new ways of praising God. Their faith must convince them that however strange a new offering may be; it cannot out-reach; out-imagine; or overwhelm God. God remains God; ready to swoop down in the most wonderful way; amidst all of the flurry and mystery of newness and repetition; to touch souls and hearts; all because faith has been exercised and Christs ways have been imitated. Meanwhile; a thousand tongues will never be enough."Best relates musical practice to a larger theology of creation and creativity; and explores new concepts of musical quality and excellence; musical unity; and the incorporation of music from other cultures into todays music.
#2600501 in eBooks 2013-11-07 2013-11-07File Name: B00GISRQZA
Review
7 of 12 people found the following review helpful. A fine writer shoots himself in the footBy B. SloaneAs other reviewers have noted; Morddens decade-by-decade series on the Broadway musical has been superb to this point. His wit and genuine love of the form; together with an encyclopedic knowledge of social and cultural history; made his earlier books treasures -- "Coming Up Roses" was the best of a choice lot.What a disappointment that "Happiest Corpse" turned out so bitter and screed-filled. Specious politics aside; by indulging himself in extended rants against Burt Lancaster; the movie version of "The Producers"; "Ragtime"; stupid audiences; and so on ad nauseam; Mordden clouds the fact that hes really not reporting on a corpse at all. Its easy to miss among the political outbursts; but Mordden finds many recent shows to praise and wonderful scores to extol. Yet the reader can hardly appreciate the good news when the overall tone of the book is so nasty. Its sad; not to mention ironic; that Mordden has become as humorless and bombastic as the Left he so thoroughly despises.Two final comments: (1) Morddens reference to "Patty Lu" is not a mistake but a joke from a previous Mordden footnote; in which he pretends that Robert and Pattys family name is Lu; and Jubilation T.s last name is Corn. Its a lame joke but Mordden seems more prone to these lately. (2) Mordden cant have seen "Bat Boy" or "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" to dismiss them so snottily. Both were terrific musicals in the classic form; even if their subject matter was outre. Mordden falls all over himself praising "Urinetown" (no Barbara Cook there either; by the way); a good show but not the equal of either "Bat Boy" or "Hedwig".0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Could Have Been BetterBy Catherine GoltzFirst of all I would like to say this is a bit insulting to musical theater fans. It covers musicals from the eighties and nineties as well as the first three years of the 21st century. Yet the chapter "Junk is a Genre" is quite awful. It mocks shows that got bad reviews from the critics like MAMMA MIA and JEKYLL AND HYDE (not a "stupid flop" as the jacket says) but were quite popular. But why would HAIRSPRAY be considered stupid junk? Frank Wildhorn is certainly not a songwriter who "speaks to people who dont know what musical theater is". Also Wildhorns two long running shows were not terrible; they were great but not masterpieces because they lost money because they were dark and costly. Morddern just seems to loathe his work. I think THE CIVIL WAR would have worked had it been a book musical as it was recently revived as "For The Glory". His thoughts on Lloyd Webbers shows are mixed too. I know his most recent work ANYTHING GOES covers more recent shows like WICKED; but maybe an improved (two-volume) version can be done one day?13 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Bitter and CrankyBy Scott E. MillerMorddens other musical history books are so informative and entertaining. This one is angry; bitter; cranky; condescending; and not terribly well written. The books organization is messy at best; his right-wing politics needlessly intrusive; and his opinion of current musical theatre offensive and closed-minded. In fact; the musial theatre is healthier; more exciting; more inventive than at almost any other time in history. At what other time did we have brilliant experiments like Urinetown; Bat Boy; Songs for a New World; The Last Five Years; Avenue Q; A New Brain; Euphoria; Dream True; A Light in the Piazza; etc.? Mordden is just a fuddy-duddy who cant see what a glorious time this is for the art form.