After the organist at a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, in Florida shared some inspiring thoughts about Psalm 150 at a Wednesday testimony meeting, the music chairman invited him to write them down. The organist is not a member of their church. Here are excerpts of his comments.
Psalm 150 is the musicians' psalm. It has served as an inspiration for such works as Cesar Franck's "Praise Ye the Lord," Igor Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms," Howard Hanson's "The One Hundred Fiftieth Psalm," and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," his ninth symphony, from which Hymn 58 from the Christian Science Hymnal is adapted. This psalm holds special significance for church musicians because it is about music and praise. Its placement in the book of Psalms is also significant, being the final work, and the ending of a series of psalms involving praise.
The content of Psalm 150 implies that music, praise, and worship are related, if not synonymous. It seems to me, then, that music in church services should be praiseworthy, as suggested in the narrative of Psalm 150. All should be light and joy, as expressed by musical instruments such as trumpets, organs, and cymbals.
