Global Forum on Arts and Christian Faith (E-Journal)
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111 research outputs found
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Singing Dangerously: How Christians Endure Persecution Through Song
No full textFrank Fortunato, of Heart Sounds International, considers examples of Christians facing persecution, and how songs can penetrate their pain and suffering, bringing hope in their trials
Songs from the Thrice-Blooded Land: Ritual Music of the Toraja (Sulawesi, Indonesia) (Dana Rappoport)
No full textArts Consultant Matt Menger looks at Dana Rappoport's ethnography of music of the Toraja of Indonesia, and considers issues of transmission, sustainability, and preservation of indigenous traditions
Bible Storytelling and Healing Communities
No full textIn this paper, Janet Stahl provides a glimpse into the power of Bible storytelling in both personal and community healing. Through years of practical experience working alongside teams of people who are crafting and telling biblical stories for the first time in their own languages, Stahl and her husband have seen effects related to physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational healing. The challenge for storytellers is to learn to identify people who are suffering from emotional or spiritual wounds, and learn methods within the scope of the Bible storytelling to help them on the path toward healing. Library research adds further perspective on the topics of storytelling, illness, emotional health, and resiliency
"They're Playing Our Song": Functions of Western Hymns and Indigenous Songs in the History of the Non-Western Church, with a Case Study of the Maninka People in Kankan, Guinea
No full textEthnic Christian identity (ECI), which Morehouse defines as a Christian community’s cumulative (but not necessarily dominant) cultural attributes, preferences, inclinations, and influences, is negotiated from intercultural and intracultural perspectives. This article is an attempt at functional, qualitative analysis of why communities with existing indigenous hymnodies continue to use Western hymns in the context of navigating intercultural and intracultural ECI. It relies on archival data from early- to mid-20th century missionary reports, along with ethnomusicological resources and personal examples, predominantly from fieldwork with the Maninka people in Guinea, West Africa.Vast strides have been made in the field of ethnodoxology to promote and advocate for local song production for the worldwide Christian church. In many communities, however, Western hymns remain a staple of the Christian worship order—even when locally produced options exist. In this article, Katherine Morehouse explores this enigma for ethnodoxologists, while reaffirming the important role that ethnodoxology plays in the global and local church. Looking at attempted, failed, and repeated attempts at indigenous hymnody from a historical perspective may shed light on how indigenous hymns and Western hymns function differently in non-Western church communities, particularly as they relate to identity construction and maintenance. Each Christian community is in a constant state of identity negotiation, as local church communities around the world situate themselves in relation to the global church and to local “others,” creating a unique ethnic Christian identity (ECI).
Theorizing the Local: Music, Practice, and Experience in South Asia and Beyond (Richard K. Wolf, editor)
No full textEvy Pun shares part of her history with the category of "world music," the multi-musical situation she lives in now, and what she's learned from Richard Wolf's book, Theorizing the Local
Liturgy in Migration: From the Upper Room to Cyberspace (Teresa Berger, editor)
No full textChristopher Montgomery casts a pastor's eye at a collection of chapters about the liturgy in contemporary life and history
Music, Modernity, and God: Essays in Listening (Jeremy Begbie)
No full textDr. Katherine H. Morehouse recommends Jeremy Begbie's recent collection of chapters on musical meaning, modernity, and theology
Music Endangerment: How Language Maintenance Can Help (Catherine Grant)
No full textEthnomusicologist Todd Saurman considers language endangerment, musical endangerment, and community involvement as he looks at Catherine Grant's recent book, Musical Endangerment: How Language Maintenance Can Help. Todd feels strongly that music is a key to community health and well-being, especially as in its role in communication. He recommends Grant's book as a good discussion-starter, while also suggesting other points to keep in mind when working with minority communities and weakening musical traditions
Towards a Global Music Theory: Practical Concepts and Methods for the Analysis of Music Across Human Cultures (Mark Hijleh)
No full textMichael T. Balonek reviews Mark Hijleh's Towards a Global Music Theory. What benefits to global music analysis are suggested by Hijleh's book? Balonek critiques the positive and negative aspects of the book and offers guidance about the right readership
Worship with Gladness: Understanding Worship from the Heart (Joyce Ann Zimmerman)
No full textWith so many new publications on the topic of Christian worship, how can you tell which books are worth reading? Rob Hewell recommends a new book by Joyce Ann Zimmerman that should be added to your To-Read list