Many Christians struggle with whether or not to listen to secular music. While most secular songs glorify immorality, many also uphold godly values like honesty and purity.
When listening to songs that may or may not be appropriate, the best way to determine their classification as secular music is with an open heart and mind. But be wary not to compromise your relationship with Christ by listening unknowingly.
Definition
Secular music refers to any compositions which do not feature religious themes or were not made specifically for church services. The definition of secular music can change over time as artists explore various genres as they find their perfect sound – this has resulted in an eclectic variety of styles such as Baby Shark and Johnny B. Goode!
Secular love songs typically explore romantic or sexual themes while being sentimental or encouraging in nature. Genre of these songs often depends on the artist; examples could range from operatic show-stoppers to country-western ballads; these songs could cover topics related to love itself as well as politics or other social issues.
Early examples of secular music are long gone, yet we do have samples from the Medieval period. Drumming and harps were popular instruments as they could easily be brought along on traveling musicians’ tours; most folk songs featured love lyrics, political satire, or dance-oriented tunes.
As Renaissance composers experimented with polyphony, their musical lines began overlapping to produce complex harmonic harmonies. For instance, bass singers might maintain a rhythmic beat similar to drumming while tenor singers provided melodic lines moving at slower tempo. The resultant soundscape was beautiful yet complex.
By the 1800s, composers had nearly entirely abandoned modal music for harmonic harmony – this allowed them to create more complex and sophisticated love songs.
Modern Era brought with it crooning and jazz music, made famous by singers such as Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby with hits covering an array of topics such as Vietnam War protests or civil rights struggles. Songwriters began including lyrics that addressed these social issues into their works – something Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby are no strangers to today!
Simon and Garfunkel made an indelible mark on folk-rock in the ’60s with their landmark tunes Bridge Over Troubled Water and The 59th Street Bridge, even after their personal relationship had come to an end. Though their relationship may have ended abruptly, both artists made significant contributions to popular music both as solo performers as well as collaborators.
Types
Sophisticated music covers many genres. Genres that fall under this umbrella include pop, rock, folk, jazz and hip-hop; even classical composers may create secular pieces although most tend towards religious composition for sacred pieces. Pinpointing an exact definition that gives secular music its characteristics can be tricky because musical styles come and go in fashion over time and thus alter what might constitute secular music during different eras.
At the peak of Romanticism, opera was the main form of entertainment; but by the early 20th century crooning and jazz conventions had come into their own as popular forms of popular entertainment. Some of the best love songs written during this era came out of these genres – Fever is an example. This stunning tune exhibits this transition between classical and non-classical styles; its slow tempo belies its dramatic buildup that is characteristic of Romantic-era songs like these; Fever also explores romanticized notions of love like “candlelight dinners” or moonlit walks.” This type of music tells a romanticized tale that will always remind listeners about where they came from: Fever is an unforgettable tune encompassing both time periods!
So it is no coincidence that some of the most beloved love songs today are secular, such as Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love” or Donna Summer’s Fever, an adaptation from Rossini operatic showpiece. Additionally, early love songs weren’t necessarily about specific people but rather general notions of romance.
Before the Middle Ages and Renaissance, only religious music was notated and documented. Later, musicians started writing and playing both secular and religious music; troubadours in particular were known for their expertise on lute, an early form of the guitar. But only with John Dunstable introducing sixths and thirds as chorded intervals did secular music really start taking off.
Today’s music is predominantly secular in nature. Therefore, it is crucial that we take secular music seriously – its expression reveals millions of people’s search for a relationship with God; not simply partying or engaging in illicit sexual behavior but seeking meaning in something bigger than themselves.
Origins
Love songs have long been part of culture across the globe for millennia. Fragments of ancient Greece and Egypt still survive today in form of poetry on papyrus or stone, while medieval troubadours mastered singing about idealized romance through songs about idealized love affairs. Additionally, opera composers dramatized romance through music while amorous parlor songs played an important part in courtship relationships.
Although the church attempted to restrict non-sacred music in medieval Europe, itinerant musicians such as troubadours spread secular melodies among people through itinerant musicians known as troubadours. Traveling with instruments such as harps, bagpipes, flutes, fiddles and kettledrums – some still found today – they provided entertainment that was easy and lightweight enough for itinerant entertainers to use while on tour.
Troubadours were known for creating songs of love, humor and sadness that resonated with audiences in villages, towns and cities they visited. Additionally, they sang a wide range of folk songs and improvisational pieces; their musical style differed slightly from churches at that time – less polyphonic with less precise rhythms.
One of the earliest medieval love songs is a chanson by Guillaume de Machaut. Composed in French with a syllabic meter and rhyme scheme consisting of thirds, fifths and gigues, this beautiful and passionate composition expresses love with great depth and intensity.
Romanticism saw an explosion of more complex love songs during its period, including Rossini’s operatic masterpiece “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” With its demanding tempo changes and rich harmonic palette, Rossini created one of his iconic operatic show-stoppers; Dvorak composed “Song to the Moon”, an equally romantic piece later on during this period.
Modern artists from various genres have produced love songs with lyrics that explore a broad spectrum of emotions and perspectives on relationships. These tunes serve as sources of inspiration for many other musicians as well as becoming integral pieces of pop culture.
Influences
Some religious people see listening to secular music as an act of transgression due to its potential for escape or the promotion of messages which go against their religion, however this decision must ultimately rest with each individual themselves. Classical, jazz, rock and pop can all fall within this genre category while secular music provides inspiration and comfort across cultures and beliefs.
Secular love songs often encompass themes related to romantic relationships and can be written in different musical styles. One popular form is ballad music, often performed rap style. Ballads often express sentiments of love or desire. Some examples include Elton John’s “Rose” and Carly Simon’s “Call Me Maybe”.
Love songs have long been used as a reflection of changing cultural ideas about love, sex and relationships over time. Rock and roll offered new avenues for musicians to express their emotions about love through musical composition; its influence remains prominent within today’s culture.
Trubbours were among the early examples of secular love songs during Medieval and Renaissance Europe, known for writing lyrical poems accompanied by string instruments like harp or lute; these melodic lines would often repeat.
Songs from the Romantic Era often contained powerful imagery and emotional turmoil, depicting passion, death and betrayal of lovers in its songs. This period also witnessed an upsurge in operas, operettas and symphonies celebrating romantic love; Dvorak’s Song to the Moon from this period uses falling sixths and rising octaves to create a haunting melody; it marked an early 20th-century transition towards crooning and jazz styles of music.