Drums In Worship

Every style of music embodies certain rhythmic features, many of which can be clarified, enhanced, or emphasized by percussion instruments. This article outlines the historical use of percussion instruments and discusses their function in the praise-and-worship tradition. The Vital Role of Percussion in Worship One of the three major components of music is rhythm (the other two being melody and harmony). Rhythm is the organization of music notational values into a pulsated time continuum. Rhythm includes such factors as beat (pulse), meter, tempo, and patterns of notes of varying lengths. The percussion section of an orchestra or band plays a major role in helping to establish, maintain, and control the rhythmic motion and timing in the music that the ensemble performs, particularly in contemporary styles of music centered around a rhythm section. Within the contemporary rhythm section, the drummer traditionally has the primary responsibility for the establishment, maintenance, an…