FILLS
In most traditional hymns instrumentation serves as accompaniment – period. Instruments play to guide the singing. Contemporary music often has instrumental “fills” – a few bars where there is no singing, only the playing of the instruments or an instrument playing a solo – and I’ve sometimes had traditionalists complain that this is another aspect of “making a show” rather than truly worshipping. Instruments are intended to accompany, not “show off”.
I could have used any instrument (e.g. harp, tambourine, pipe, lute, horn, trumpet, or cymbal) but I chose the word “lyre” and searched the Psalms for occurrences of that word. Consider these verses:
What do these verses say? Instrumentation can serve as more than accompaniment. Music, the sound itself, is a language and one can actually praise God by playing TO Him. The instrument alone can express the heart of the musician to God; a fill or a solo can lift praise and thanksgiving from the heart of the player to the King of Kings seated on the heavenly throne.
“But,” someone protests, “it leaves everyone else out! If the congregation isn’t singing, we’re all left out – so it’s self-centered and selfish.”
Are you left out when the pastor preaches or a teacher teaches?
Are you left out when someone else leads in prayer?
Are you left out when a choir sings a song for offertory?
When I’m playing bass, I seek to play my bass to the Lord – even if it’s a song I don’t care for. I’m not very accomplished, but I want Him to hear – even if no one else hears – my little offering -- little flourishes or riffs or rhythms that I add to try to create beauty for Him.
I don’t think I’m alone in that endeavor.
When an instrumentalist plays a fill for a few bars, close your eyes, take a breath, and participate the same way you would if listening to a sermon, praying silently with a pastor leading prayer, or listening to a choir.
Even if you don’t like the song – know that God hears the heart of anyone who offers sincere praise. So, offer sincere praise! Join in spirit with the musicians and, for those few bars, enjoy the beauty of the sound wafting its way up to the ears of the one who designed the beauty of sound, of music, to reflect His glory back to Him. Relish it, knowing that He does!
I could have used any instrument (e.g. harp, tambourine, pipe, lute, horn, trumpet, or cymbal) but I chose the word “lyre” and searched the Psalms for occurrences of that word. Consider these verses:
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre
make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!
-- Psalm 33.2Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving,
make melody to our God on the lyre!
-- Psalm 147.7Let them praise His name with dancing,
making melody with the tambourine and lyre!
-- Psalm 149.3What do these verses say? Instrumentation can serve as more than accompaniment. Music, the sound itself, is a language and one can actually praise God by playing TO Him. The instrument alone can express the heart of the musician to God; a fill or a solo can lift praise and thanksgiving from the heart of the player to the King of Kings seated on the heavenly throne.
“But,” someone protests, “it leaves everyone else out! If the congregation isn’t singing, we’re all left out – so it’s self-centered and selfish.”
Are you left out when the pastor preaches or a teacher teaches?
Are you left out when someone else leads in prayer?
Are you left out when a choir sings a song for offertory?
When I’m playing bass, I seek to play my bass to the Lord – even if it’s a song I don’t care for. I’m not very accomplished, but I want Him to hear – even if no one else hears – my little offering -- little flourishes or riffs or rhythms that I add to try to create beauty for Him.
I don’t think I’m alone in that endeavor.
When an instrumentalist plays a fill for a few bars, close your eyes, take a breath, and participate the same way you would if listening to a sermon, praying silently with a pastor leading prayer, or listening to a choir.
Even if you don’t like the song – know that God hears the heart of anyone who offers sincere praise. So, offer sincere praise! Join in spirit with the musicians and, for those few bars, enjoy the beauty of the sound wafting its way up to the ears of the one who designed the beauty of sound, of music, to reflect His glory back to Him. Relish it, knowing that He does!