Sousa

www.scatteredchristians.org

Another Sermon for the Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2006 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2006
Expounding the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 - with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15

This's Fight'n Music for Christians

I Timothy 6:17 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Good clean music can be enjoyed by a Christian!
Good music is NOT enjoying pleasure of sin for a season!

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Colossians 3:16 - 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.

but for our thinking as well, which would surely include music we hear and music causes us to think, etc. (well, usually, anyway)...
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

"Christian" Music or "Fight'n" Music

"Christian" music today has no fight in it!

It is either horrible noise, devilish words, rock structure - or the opposite type of music singing peace and 'quiet' and keeping butterflies for pets!
Music in churches today is a result of teaching the Great Commission and Modern Christianity
GC product is all about earthly PEACE, etc.!

Paul tells us to be the proper soldier!
Philippians 2:25 - Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
II Timothy 2:3 - Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
II Timothy 2:4 - No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Philemon 2 - And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
(not to strive, however... but we are still to be the soldier!

Who are we suppose to fight?

the lost? no!
the brethren? no!
OURSELVES!!! - Romans 7:15-23 - we oppose ourselves - II Timothy 2:23-26

Instead of fighting to change one's life to please God, Christians today, including more and more bible believers, sit around and listen to their quiet little peaceful music family sing their little entertainment sessions!

MUSIC HAS REPLACED THE FIGHT IN CHRISTIANS

Distinctive SOUND, not just words!
I Corinthians 14:7,8 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

distinctive in words!
distinctive in music, too!

Japheth music... Bar / Classical / early Romantic

Marches - classical form

Philadelphia Era in America

peaked at turn of the century
Bands in America - history, an interesting story to learn!
Days of personal independence - attaining goals - being unique, etc. (even Paul Bierly...) (aim for the prize and go for it!)
Tell folks what to do... etc. (shoelace story) (difficult man - demanding)

An era that is gone forever - I was in on the struggling death - but it is being brought back by myself in my office if nowhere else!

The March
John Philip Sousa
1854-1932

Marches in America

for practical purposes - Revolutionary War to Civil War
March music is considered 'military' music - no wonder Christians don't like it any more than the 'world.
True march era - 1850-1940's
EVERYONE had a band.

Sousa was the peak and the rest, slowly brought it down by bringing in syncopation: Henry Fillmore / Karl King and a few others
Filmore fired his drummer because the drummer refused to play syncopated.

Sousa marches were considered to be:

gems of simplicity and understatement
rousing counterpoint
overall energy
uplifting
driving
some emotional / poetic / somber - or brash and powerful
ongoing drive is the number one characteristic

Official March of US - Stars and Stripes Forever

March Music

Melody!

Beautiful melodies - but still stirring and memorable!
unison / counter / individual / different ones in one piece
Very technical and demanding to the players skill level
Counter-melodies
people are bored today with melody!

Harmony

all covered in all ranges by all different instruments
proper Japheth progressions
No dissonance in the music!
no sudden dissonant chord - it was part of a progression that led you to the next point!
arpeggio's and broken chords in background
Key - in flat keys of F, Bb and Ab. (the trio modulates

Rhythm

Clean rhythm - syncopation existed but not dominant - just used!
A good march still doesn't have to appeal to the flesh, but it can stir you do action!
syncopation - but the bass drum still stays on the beat and the snare on the off (helps pick up the feet, bass drum puts them down!)
duple time / meter
6/8 - if they want you to feel the triplets
120 bpm - Sousa (during my walk today, my wife asked me why I was walking so much fast now - I was thinking Sousa melodies!)
100 bpm - European

Instruments

technically demanding
full range from LOW to HIGH with all that can be in between
flute and piccolo - high (descant melodies / answers to WW - runs
clarinet - runs and arpeggios that show harmonic structure
sax - double melodies
trpts - melody and fanfares - in your face
low brass - set the foundation and also get their own countermelodies
percussion - heartbeat - drive and pushes (bells and harp, as well)

March Music Form

Different sections / strains

Several separate melodies

A contrasting section known as a trio

Military March Form

Introduction -

First Strain

Second Strain

Third Strain

Introduction to trio

Trio

Regimental March Form

sometimes longer introductions
no dogfights
shorter

Circus influence

live music at the circus
Marches were known as Screamers!
Merle Evans - the great circus band leader

March examples played during sermon:

In the following order:
El Capitan - Sousa
Hands Across the Sea - Sousa
Semper Fidelis - Sousa
Circus Screamers:
    Royal Decree
    Screamer - Jewell
    Melody Shop - Karl King
Stars and Stripes Forever - Sousa