Reevaluating Church Music in the Context of Contemporary Life and Modern Musical Culture

Abstract

This paper reevaluated the repertoire of church music with reference to contemporary life and recent musical culture with a special focus on the Methodist youth community in Sarawak, Malaysia. Following the considerations of Zoltán Kodály’s pedagogical philosophy as well as Charles Wesley’s contextual hymnody, the research clarified the ways in which faith and culture may meet in music that connects to the present believers. Through historical and theoretical investigation, musical analysis and quantitative research of 55 participants from 14 churches, the study has found a gap between the traditional hymnals and the contemporary youth expression. Results indicated that a new contextual repertoire that is based on cultural familiarity, pedagogical reach and theological depth can renew congregational participation and spiritual development.