“But is it any good?” The role of criticism in Christian song composition and performance

Dan Fitzgerald; Brian Schrag

Dan Fitzgerald The Seed Company
Brian Schrag SIL International

Keywords: Composition, Worship, Christian song, Singing, Criticism

Abstract

A challenge to more valuable criticism of new Christian song, including a method for analysis.

Author Biographies

Dan Fitzgerald, The Seed Company

Dan Fitzgerald (Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology, University of Florida) was a member of the Baka Bible translation project with SIL in Cameroon from 1995 to 2008. He is currently the Oral Bible Storytelling Coordinator with The Seed Company.

Brian Schrag, SIL International

Brian Schrag (Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology, UCLA) is SIL International's Ethnomusicology and Arts Coordinator, and developed the World Arts program at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics in Dallas, Texas. He has performed sustained ethnomusicological research and community development in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. Brian also applies ethnomusicological and therapeutic principles in promoting well-being among people affected by Huntington's Disease (HDBlues.org, MakeLifeHD.org).