Kathryn Cheng is the Assistant Programmes Executive at the Methodist School of Music and a member of Foochow Methodist Church.
Worship
Taking the ego out of worship
Y
ears ago, I worked as a composer on a
message that is being proclaimed? What
film project. After many hours of work,
skills in my toolbox can I use to achieve this?
I produced what I believed was the perfect
Will this inspire the people listening to it?
soundtrack—it hit all the correct emotional
Will this glorify and uplift God's name?
moments, the mixing was skilful, the musicians performed their parts beautifully.
One inspiration I draw on comes from
Pleased with myself, I hit 'Send File',
church music history itself. In the
confident that the director would love it.
formative years of church music, the style of music employed was plainsong.
To my shock, the reply was the opposite:
This type of music had no accompanying
Thanks. It's nice, but not what this project
instruments, no harmony, not even a
requires.
time signature. The focus was always on the natural rhythm of the liturgical text
Every professional artist is familiar with
instead of the music itself.
this scenario and must be careful not to let their perfectionism run away with them.
Although this feature of music has become
The client's vision always comes first, even
less mainstream over time, I try to keep
before their own artistic instincts. Why then
it in mind whenever working with text
would art produced to glorify the Lord be
intended to be set to music. I ask: How can
any different? After all, he is the ultimate
the music be used to enhance the listener's
director, the one who can see the big
understanding of the text? Which words can
picture of our life's story.
be given more prominence? Which chord progression will highlight the message?
Since that project, I have learned a lot as a musician and composer, and was
A quote from Matt Redman's song "Heart of
eventually called to serve at the Methodist
Worship"—"I'll bring You more than a song,
School of Music. With a platform like this, it
for a song in itself is not what You have
is more important than ever to remember
required"—is a useful reminder.
to take my ego out of the equation. It is not about me. Now, whenever I sit down
Being blessed with the gift of music is a
to produce music, I ask myself these
huge privilege. I believe that the best use of
questions: How can I best convey the
it is in praise to the one who gave it to us.
April 2023 Methodist Message 29