Concert Prefacesby Charles Hulin IV (2003)

I know that some of you sometimes find yourselves presenting music for people who only consider music to be worshipful when it is based on a hymn or some other Christian song. Some of you have to play instrumental preludes or offertories in this type of situation. Occasionally, you may be playing an entire recital in such an environment. In what follows you will find five "Concert Prefaces" that may help to bridge the perceived gap between spiritual and musical things.

Please feel free to use these prefaces in bulletins, concert programs, or as readings. Also, please feel free to add to or subtract from them as suits your situation.

Maybe you'll be inspired to write some prefaces of your own!

Christian Composers Most classical composers through the beginning of the 20th century were Christians. As Christian composers, they produced music that demonstrates Christian values and priorities. The excellent work of these composers glorifies God. Even the few composers who claimed not to be Christians were living in a culture deeply influenced by Christianity, and their music reflects it.

The Artist's Perspective Artists are interested in expressing the human condition. They are interested in all of life. As an art form, classical music explores every facet of the human condition: pain, passions, conflict, disappointments, as well as love, joy, peace, self-control, and much more. As music gives a broad picture of human experience, it provides a tremendous gift to the church. It shows something of the need for God in daily life outside the church’s walls. It also speaks of the presence of God wherever we find ourselves.

Talent is a Sign of God Talent is a sign of God. In the abilities of gifted composers and performers we see some indication of God’s glory and completeness. God’s creativity underlies creative human achievement.

Channels of Grace Throughout the history of Christianity, people have been inspired to draw closer to God and God’s ways through paintings, poems, music, and more recently, books and films. Although these inspiring items were not always intentionally Christian, God used them as channels of grace to draw people closer. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. It seems that music that is wholesome and excellent must also be a gift from God.

God and Beauty The Bible tells us that holiness is beautiful (I Chron. 16:29), God is beautiful (Ps. 27:4) God’s reign is beautiful (Zechariah 11:7) a spirit that is gentle and quiet is beautiful (I Peter 3:4) the presence of those who preach the gospel of peace is beautiful (Romans 10:15) In Isaiah 60:13 God says "beautify the place of My sanctuary." In Psalm 149:4 we are told that God will "beautify the humble with salvation." We can look at God’s created world and see that it is beautiful. Certainly the Biblical descriptions of heaven are beautiful.

God and beauty are connected, and many people have found that God speaks through beautiful music.