Singing Appalachian Style (Primitive Baptists)

[JM]

Singing Appalachian Style (Primitive Baptists)

 

[Southernscotty]

All I know is I love the sound of the human voice without music when it is giving praise to God. There is just something about it that makes sense :] Not opposed to instruments at all but I believe actually expressing the words through praise is an awesome thing. Not just sitting and moving lips :]

 

[st831]

Some of the most vain worship I have ever heard was in the most "conservative" churches. Worship became a "we're the only ones doing it right" display. The other thing I have witnessed over the years is that churches change their minds on styles of music through the years. Musical styles change from generation to generation; because that is how they communicate emotion. Worship is about three things: Praising God (heart of thankfulness), Encouraging other believers, and Making God known among the nations. Percussion help us sing in the same tempo. Music helps us sing in the same pitch. The lyrics help us meditate on God.

 

[bbbbbbb]

"Appalachian" style is actually Scottish style. In the seventeenth century in Scotland in the church the Psalms would be sung, without any instrumental accompaniment. Nor was there any musical notation. A gentleman, chosen because of his ability to sing and to lead singing, would "line out" the Psalm by singing a small portion. The congregation would respond by repeating it after him. It went back and forth until the Psalm, or portion of a Psalm, was completed.

During the eighteenth century there was a massive diaspora from Scotland as England rooted out all elements of rebellion. They transported the poor Scottish folks to Ireland primarily, but also to their other colonies, not the least of which were the southern American colonies. These Scottish folks quickly migrated to the mountains of Appalachia as they could not afford the rich farmland of the coast region. There they remained, isolated for the most part, from the broader American culture until they were discovered in the twentieth century and their customs and traditions were studied and praised.

 

[Sovereign Grace]

I was raised up in the Old Regular Baptists. Years ago, late-1800's----->early 1900's, these Baptists had splits in them, some going to the free will side of soteriology, others remaining hard shells. Both of these ORB's lined their songs. I grew up in the free will side of the ORB's and was a member of Salem ORB church in Goody, KY that was in the Sardis Association. I then left there and went to Little Jewel at Westwood, KY and went in an arm to form Little Martha ORB at Pilgrim, KY. The Little Jewel and Little Martha are in the Indian Bottom association. All of these churches(this is why I mentioned these churches and their associations) line their songs. If you can get a few ppl together who know how to do it, its the prettiest sound one could ever hear, imo.

 

[twin1954]

We used to have "signings" at my house every week or so. They were all done without instruments but we're not lined. I was raised in the Primitive Baptist tradition which had no instruments in the church. The singing was beautiful. The songs were usually started by someone and then the whole group joined in. It was some of the most wonderful things I remember about being a young man.



I departed with the Primitives many years ago over their hyper-Calvinism but still love those songs sung with the human voice only.