A Study and Composition of Pentecostal Christian Worship Songs

Abstract

This research article studies the composition of Pentecostal Christian worship songs, using a qualitative research methodology with the following purposes: (1) to study the context of Pentecostal cultures and principles in terms of composing worship songs; and (2) to create and publish new Pentecostal Christian worship songs. The results of the research show that the Pentecostal Christian traditions played two roles in the church: (1) the role of the soul; and (2) the role of the symbol. Additionally, the worship songs play three roles in the church: (1) Communication with god; (2) communication with yourself; and (3) communication among members of the church. In terms of musical composition, the results show that the composers tended to focus on the movement of melodies in the songs, which usually moves in conjunct intervals consisting of Unision, Major 2^nd and minor 2^nd, and the application of melodic sequences on the major, minor and pentatonic scales. In terms of the lyric composition, it was found that there were five methods: (1) composing from self-experience; (2) drawing from the Bible; (3) writing in rhetoric; (4) repeating stanzas; and (5) employing metaphors. In addition, three new worship songs for Sunday services at the Whizdom fellowship were composed: (1) “Breath of Praise”; (2) “Let me Touch”; (3) “One Name”.