Music and the congregation

Notes: "`Church music is always used in a context in which its performers are not exclusively and its hearers not even primarily concerned with music in itself'. The goal of music in worship is to transcend the hearing and performing in order to acknowledge and honor God's presence in the midst of the Body. This is best done by active participation, preferably by performance, thus the necessity of congregational singing. Congregational singing affirms the reality of One Body in Christ. The responsibility of offering praise and prayer to God is therefore not relegated to a select few (the choir or soloist), instead the senses of speech and hearing as well as thought processes are employed by many in the act of worship".; "Taken from `Cantate Domino' quarterly, February 1983 (Diocese of Chicago publication).

Subjects: Church music - Episcopal Church; Church music - Anglican Communion; Singing - Religious aspects - Episcopal Church; Singing - Religious aspects - Anglican Communion; Public worship - Anglican Communion; Public worship - Episcopal Church