Why is it that modern Christian music is so bad but hundereds of years ago it wasn't?

Question

Why is it that modern Christian music lacks so much musically but in the past it was the Christain composers who wrote the best stuff (i.e. Bach). What happened to the musical skill of Christains?

What's got me wondering is how if I listen to really old music I perfer the Christain stuf but if I listen to something written in the last few decades I pretty much can't stand the christain stuff.

Answer 1

Marketing, marketing, marketing.

Answer 2

Hudreds of years ago, most of the music played was by Christian composers, because back then you had to come from a noble or elite background to be taught music, and more Christians came from that background centuries ago than non-Christians.
Now, I think Christian musicians are just like all other musicians, i.e. self-taught and writing songs that are based simply on their experience in the modern world, not on a rich moral and intellectual culture that existed centuries ago.

Answer 3

Well, fundamental christianity happened, I think. Im not saying devout christianity is a bad thing (its not), but it seems to me that when the secular/modern world also "appreciated" good music, it became an issue of separating "us" v. "them" from a musical standpoint: secular music became bad, and something to be abhorred. Nowadays, christian music struggles hard to define a separation between secular (sensual/corrupt/bad) music and acceptable christian music - a hard line to draw, since music knows no boundaries.

These days, sad to say, I think Christian music is scared, and so is relegated to merely following the advances of secular music, so as not to gain critical acclaim or become too "secular."

A nice thing is that lots of newer christian artists are challenging those definitions and allowing the music through.

Answer 4

I believe 1) 100s of years ago 'music' wasn't necessarily allowed in most churches so when it was obviously it was good. But I also believe the change in societal thinking. 'Back then' we lived in a society of tradition coming from an age of communication, story telling, relational type communities. Travel wasn't big so people stayed where they were, found out who they were in that stability and in that got to know the soul God created within them and therefore could relate better in words who God was to them.

Today, fads, trends, popularity rule our society. It is more about coming up with the next big hit then expressing your heart. I believe there is good songs (good artists) out there that truly have an anointing to express heart. But, I also believe style has changed to be less personal and more explanatory. Songs explain God instead express God.

Answer 5

It is probably just that a lot of the Christian music that is out there now is just trying to appeal to the masses, where as conductors from centuries past just worried about making great music. When you make great music, it ends up appealing to a lot of people anyway, many musicians now just fail to see that.

Answer 6

I think they want to sell so bad that they have left their heart
out of it. You are so right, the old hymns are great. They are
trying to reach a modern day audience, but you can't modernize
what never changes.

Answer 7

Almost all American musicians are Christian, and many of them have pro-God lyrics. As an example, Kanye West did 'Jesus Walks.'

Answer 8

I am Orthodox Catholic, and our music, some of it recently composed, is not bad at all! Come join us and hear.

Answer 9

I think it's because it's a load of crap...just like christianity. And all religions come to think of it.