From Deseret News archives:
Mormon Pop: What is 'Mormon music'?
This debate has been going on for years and it�s not likely to end anytime soon, so I thought I�d throw out a few thoughts.
Last year, The Faith Centered Music Association added five new song categories to its annual Pearl Awards in a nod to the growing diversity of LDS music or maybe it was just so I would have a chance of actually winning one. Even among LDS music makers there is always a lot of debate about styles and appropriateness. For example, some artists/producers don�t feel comfortable having full drums in a song with lyrics that are overtly religious. Others don�t have a problem with it.
Whenever this happens our guitarist likes to jokingly reveal an apparently well-kept secret: "See that piano over there?" he asks. "If you open it up and look inside, you�ll find 'em: strings! It just uses little hammers, we use our fingers."
While the FCMA�s official definitions of styles are useful for voting, they don�t hold a lot meaning for the average saint who simply wants to hear a good song one that�s just right for the time of day and day of week. And the appropriateness of the style is going to vary from person to person.
I had a group of Average Joe listeners in a BYU journalism class a year or so ago that produced an E-zine about LDS music. As part of the planning process, the students wanted to define LDS music so they would know what their boundaries were, so to speak. After some spirited debate about styles and formats, it really came down to just two basic categories as far as they were concerned: 1) Music made by Mormons for Mormons, and 2) Music made for everyone that just happens to be made by Mormons.
Beyond that it starts to get real fuzzy due to differing tastes and opinions. But both are equally legitimate and relevant. Both can be good, both can be tacky; both can be inspiring, both can be offensive.
Recent comments
hey i'm LDS to so i'm glad to see that david is LDS TO
chelsie | Oct. 29, 2009 at 10:17 a.m.
I will have to say that this is pretty much right. Why we say that it...
Anonymous | Jan. 20, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.
I enjoyed reading this news piece. The 13th Article of faith IS our...
Mormon Soprano | Aug. 19, 2008 at 1:47 a.m.
- Phoenix vote on temple Wednesday 11:02 a.m.
- Iran whistleblower poisoned 10:58 a.m.
- Stocks waver after jobs report 10:57 a.m.
- Robotic hand controlled by thoughts 10:51 a.m.
- Tribune Co. names new CEO 10:49 a.m.
- West High evacuated by bomb threat 10:43 a.m.
- FBI: Mitchell's answers calculated 10:42 a.m.
- Woods says he let family down 10:12 a.m.
- Recount in Atlanta mayoral race 9:54 a.m.
- Jurors defend verdict in Texas 9:52 a.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- Find joy in life, Bishop Burton says
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- Orem pair getting a rep for crime
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
909 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
404 - Max Hall issues apology
388 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
354 - Utes won't respond to Hall
276 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
241 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
166 - Religion in politics is tiresome
146 - BYU is champion of the state
144
It sounds from the description, and well written,by the way, this young girl...
President Obama is mostly a fictional character. This is due because...
Interesting comments. My observation as a LDS convert from outside of Utah...
You are right, that person did nothing to refute the claims. And I'd be more...
they should all get together and have a beer at the white house with the...
Even though I hated that Utah lost Saturday, it was kind of nice to see that...
I always tell people to stay away from Utah. Based on the actions of...
Let him deal with it. Meanwhile, its time for the rest of us, especially...
Why can Utah fans get away with crude and offensive behavior directed towards...
We were BORN into this world with a National Debt, we'll all die with one, no...

