{"id":20698,"date":"2009-10-31T22:16:00","date_gmt":"2009-11-01T03:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=20698"},"modified":"2020-03-04T22:20:09","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T04:20:09","slug":"does-the-use-of-parts-justify-the-use-of-choirs-and-solos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-use-of-parts-justify-the-use-of-choirs-and-solos\/","title":{"rendered":"Does the use of parts justify the use of choirs and solos?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

Choirs and solo supporters say that the entire congregation must sing every word simultaneously. They say “If we can not have choirs and solos, you can not sing in four-part harmony.” How can I respond to them?<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

Given the simple fact that men and women do not sing in the same range defeats the argument that harmony cannot be used in congregational singing. Even while singing in what is called “unison” multiple notes at octave intervals are being sung.<\/p>\n

The reason we have harmony is that the human voice doesn’t produce a single note. We sing a base note upon which are numerous harmonics. We perceive a blending of harmonies when those harmonics line up. Barbershop singers refer to “ringing the rafters” when multiple harmonics line up because the frequencies reinforce each other and the result is a louder sound. If only pure notes were required by God, then it would be impossible for the human voice to produce.<\/p>\n

However, the point is that God stated that the congregation is to sing. He didn’t say what musical style must be used. Therefore, as long as singing is done, then it meets the command of God.<\/p>\n

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord<\/em>” (Ephesians 5:19).<\/p>\n

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord<\/em>” (Colossians 3:16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When songs are sung in parts, it remains a fact that the congregation still is singing and thus meeting the Lord’s command. The use of choirs and solos do not meet this aspect of Christian worship. See “Choirs and Solos<\/a>.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: Choirs and solo supporters say that the entire congregation must sing every word simultaneously. They say “If we can not have choirs and solos, you can not sing in four-part harmony.” How can I respond to them? Answer: Given the simple fact that men and women do not sing in the same range defeats…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[1179,520],"class_list":["post-20698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-choirs","tag-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2845,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/choirs-and-solos\/","url_meta":{"origin":20698,"position":0},"title":"Choirs and Solos","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 13:12-16 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Satan never stops in his relentless pursuit of God\u2019s people to lead them astray - I Peter 5:8-9 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the past, we talked about the introduction of musical instruments into the worship. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We showed from scripture that the practice was not authorized\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23279,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-virtual-choirs-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":20698,"position":1},"title":"Are virtual choirs wrong?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, With the advent of social media, we hear about these virtual choirs. Do Christians have the authority to do virtual choirs and post them on Facebook? Doesn't this constitute entertainment because they have an audience? Answer: I can play the card game Solitaire and find it entertaining, even\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15946,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-group-choir-sing-if-it-is-after-the-worship-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":20698,"position":2},"title":"Can a group (choir) sing if it is after the worship service?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 31, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a member of the church of Christ and I want to know is group singing OK during a fellowship? Of course, the fellowship service is dismissed and then the group singing begins. Can you please help me with this? Answer: Your terminology is confusing to me because\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":67349,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-voice\/","url_meta":{"origin":20698,"position":3},"title":"My Voice","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Chadwick Brewer \"Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ\" (Ephesians 5:19-20). Have you ever wondered why God never\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33858,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/music-in-worship-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":20698,"position":4},"title":"Music in Worship (Hart)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Dave Hart When people visit churches of Christ for the first time, they are often surprised to hear only singing. There are no instruments of music such as pianos, organs, drums, or guitars. Neither do they hear choirs, quartets, or solos. Every member of the congregation is encouraged to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/singingCongregation2-300x169.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2840,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-want-to-sing-but-im-afraid-of-being-in-front-of-others-what-do-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":20698,"position":5},"title":"I want to sing, but I’m afraid of being in front of others. What do I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 30, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a feeling that I really need to sing, but I just can't get the nerve to get up in front of everybody. Is this a sin? I'm a shy person and I've been getting feelings that God wants me to sing in church, but I just can't\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20698"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20698\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}