The Church's Attitude Toward Music in the Medieval Era

Music has come a long way from the Christian Church in the first millennium to the present day. From liturgical choirs to modern day Christian Rock in churches, coming to church sometimes seems more than just a religious service. But was it always appropriate to have a drummer and electric guitar during Mass? Where did the music all start and how did the authoritative church figures feel about music?

Some people would be surprised to hear that the church disapproved of certain music during service such as instrumental music and rejected music for pleasure. While songs of praise were encouraged, some early church leaders rejected other aspects of ancient practice. The Middle Ages began with plainchant; most sacred songs of the time represented vocals only. Gregorian chant was mostly in unison and gradually separated into parts sung in parallel motion a perfect interval below the original chant. The "Church Fathers" - otherwise known as St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Jerome, and St. Augustine - interpreted the Bible and set down principles to guide the church. The Church Fathers also shared similar views with the Greeks, who believed the power of music rested in how it ethically affected its listeners.

St. Augustine, upon hearing psalm after psalm, was afraid of the pleasure music could give him; he feared music's pleasure factor might drive him to think less of God and more of sinful thoughts. Consequently, most church fathers rejected music simply for enjoyment for the same fear St. Augustine experienced. The Church Fathers stressed the use of music, not for secular reasons, but only as a way of praising God. Thus, they frowned upon music without religious purpose and labeled all other music evil.