The Role of Composition and Orchestration in the Contemporary Church: A Practical Model of God-Honoring Creativity in Modern Worship

The role of composition and orchestration in the contemporary church is sometimes overlooked because of the simplicity of today’s worship songs. There is an obvious tension between excellence and authenticity when approaching modern worship. Through following examples of church arrangers as well as secular composers, the writer has composed and orchestrated an original piece for use in a contemporary worship context. A philosophy and methodology for creating this composition are both outlined, with three components addressed in each: increasing the musical complexity, ensuring theologically correct lyrics, and purifying the intention of the heart in order to glorify God through the creative process. The result is a six-minute composition entitled My Victory (He Brought Me Out)