Christian Congregational Music explores the role of congregational music in Christian religious experience, examining how musicians and worshippers perform, identify with and experience belief through musical praxis. Contributors from a broad range of fields, including music studies, theology, literature, and cultural anthropology.

Chapter 1 Prelude Performing Theology, Forming Identity and Shaping Experience: Christian Congregational Music in Europe and North America, Monique Ingalls, Carolyn Landau, Tom Wagner; Part I Performing Theology; Chapter 1a On One Accord: Resounding the Past in the Present at One African American Church, Will Boone; Chapter 2 'Praise Is What We Do': The Rise of Praise and Worship Music in the Black Church in the US, Deborah Smith Pollard; Chapter 3 Tune Your Music to Your Heart: Reflections for Church Music Leaders, June Boyce-Tillman; Chapter 4 Jazz and Anglican Spirituality? Some Notes on Connections, Martyn Percy; Part II Interplay of Identities; Chapter 5 Making Borrowed Songs: Mennonite Hymns, Appropriation and Media, Jonathan Dueck; Chapter 6 New Music for New Times?: Debates over Catholic Congregational Music in Hungary, Kinga Povedák; Chapter 7 'I'll Take you There': The Promise of Transformation in the Marketing of Worship Media in US Christian Music Magazines, Anna Nekola; Chapter 8 (Hillsong) United Through Music: Praise and Worship Music and the Evangelical 'Imagined Community', Gesa Hartje-Döll; Part III Experience and Embodiment; Chapter 9 The Sensual Theology of the Eighteenth-Century Moravian Church, Sarah Eyerly; Chapter 10 Worship, Transcendence and Danger: Reflections on Seigfried Kracauer's 'The Hotel Lobby', Martin D. Stringer; Chapter 11 'Really Worshipping', not 'Just Singing', Gordon Adnams; Chapter 12 Moving Between Musical Worlds: Worship Music, Significance and Ethics in the Lives of Contemporary Worshippers, Mark Porter; Chapter 14 Afterword Theology and Music in Conversation, Martyn Percy;

’A fascinating and down-to-earth exploration of congregational music in action, from the relatively new (but much-needed) perspectives of ethnomusicology.’ Jeremy Begbie, Duke University, USA ’Music has become the real distinguishing mark between Churches. If worship shapes Christian communities then what we sing is crucially significant. Christian Congregational Music brings together an exciting range of scholars from musicology, worship studies and theology to explore this important area. This interdisciplinary conversation is essential for the self-understanding of the Church and for ecumenical dialogue.’ Pete Ward, King's College London, UK 'Diversity is a key word in describing the material. In style it ranges from personal apologias for specific genres of congregational song to objective reflection on liturgical and musicological phenomena.' American Book Review ’...theologians and musicologists alike will find much thought-provoking material in this book.’ Church Times ’The content of the book is comprehensive and detailed, and deserves attention as a necessary stimulus to (particularly feminist) theologians who rarely interact with the significant discipline of childhood studies.’ Modern Believing ’...bring[s] a variety of voices, cultures, ways of worshipping, methodologies, and suggestions to the table of Christian congregational song. [...]The book succeeds in part because each essay gives a taste of a deeper study and includes references for further readings. Those interested in the growing edges of the church and its music will want to dip into this engaging and thoughtful book.’ American Organist Review 'This book provides a well-documented picture of Christian congregational music today as well as a basic understanding of how and why it has changed in the past fifty years. It also explains why we should care.' Anglican and Episcopal History ’I recommend Christian Congregational Music to anyone who would like to be inspi