How Did Religious Music Changed American Culture

Over time music has developed tremendously, especially religious music. Religious music has transformed and impacted, not just music, but the culture and history of our world. Without this music, the way people worship and live would be altered immensely. Over the course of many years, the religious music we hear has transformed a great amount. The prominent style of American religious music originated in North America when European settlers began to immigrate. As this music began to surface, specific styles formed, mainly along racial and socioeconomic lines. From the definitive types of music like psalm singing, to traditional black gospel, to white gospel, and today’s popular contemporary style, music has evolved greatly over a large period. Although these styles differ greatly, there are many similarities between them as well that developed the religious music we listen to every day.

Some of which included psalm singing, which was singing metered and rhymed versions of the Psalms (Willoughby.) There were two styles of psalm singing that emerged: European formal and folk-like style. The folk style became more prominent because many of the settlers could not read, so it was driven by oral tradition. As music developed, they introduced many other practices such as, lining out, singing schools, and the shape note system, to make their worship more cultured. However, today’s contemporary style music is far more advanced than it was when settlers first moved to the United States’. Today’s religious music includes guitars, drums, and other instruments. Additionally, the songs are more catchy and easier to sing, and messages are televised or can be heard on the radio. Today’s music compared to the roots of American religious music is far more advanced; however, the music we hear today would not be the same without its original roots from America’s European