The Band In The Praise-and-worship Tradition

Music in the praise-and-worship tradition is often accompanied by a small consort or band of instruments. Precedent for the band in worship goes back to the foundation of the Salvation Army in the nineteenth century. This article describes this history and suggests how the contemporary worship band can be used as a means of musical leadership. Using Contemporary Instruments and Music The worship band may be defined as any ensemble of musical instruments with a rhythm section foundation. The rhythm section is comprised of drums, bass, and one or more of the following: piano, guitar, organ and/or synthesizer, and percussion. Other instruments in the worship band may include woodwinds, brass, or strings. (Sample instrumentations will follow. ) The repertoire of the band generally consists of contemporary music in the pop, jazz, rock, or Latin idioms. (These are general categories. Other ethnic styles may be prevalent in some churches, particularly in areas with non-Western ethnomusicol…