Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2016 February 26

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February 26

Traditional church music vs contemporary church music

The content and musical style of contemporary church music seems to be substantially different from traditional music. Traditional church music seems to be very opera-like with easy-to-sing tunes, and the content is about glorifying God. Contemporary church music seems to personalize God's relationship with the individual. Are there contemporary church music made in the similar style of the 19th century and earlier and is concerned about God's deeds or relations with mankind, not just the individual? 140.254.77.172 (talk) 19:26, 26 February 2016 (UTC)

• John Rutter. Although he's more or less admitted that he himself is agnostic and writes church music because he likes the way it sounds, likes the work it entails and people he gets to work with and hopes people like it. Blythwood (talk) 19:51, 26 February 2016 (UTC)
• Arvo Pärt has also written contemporary church music in a traditional style. His inspiration comes more from Gregorian chant than opera, however. --Xuxl (talk) 11:47, 27 February 2016 (UTC)

As for hymns, Sydney Carter (died 2004) David Willcocks (died 2015) and Patrick Appleford are among fairly recent writers of modern hymns in a traditional style. For contemporary choral music, see John Tavener. Alansplodge (talk) 16:57, 27 February 2016 (UTC)