Sticks, stones, bones, leaves, animal skins, nuts…all have one thing in common. Each has been used as an instrument to make music. The list of instruments used to make music is only limited by the imagination of the musicians. There are horns, stringed instruments, and reed instruments. Yet, there is one common and basic parameter for all cultures, percussion. Not every culture possesses a horn or stringed instrument but every culture has some form of percussion instrument. What is simpler and meaningful than creating a beat and instigating a rhythm? Percussion is the most primal of musical instruments. Everyone does it!
Recently, I have been playing congas, bongos, and timbales, to enrich my musical approach, improvisations, and compositions beyond my guitar playing. Thinking purely from a rhythmic standpoint has invigorated my growth as a musician. As I play, I feel a connection that transcends my music. I am connecting with the entire human civilization, with every culture that has ever created a rhythm with the instrument of their choosing.
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Psalms 150:3-6 (ESV)
God gave music to His creation as a means of expressing their love and worship to Him. Percussion, horns, strings, voice. All of these connect me with the entire world because God has given everyone the ability to praise Him.
Everyone can do it and everyone should do it!
Amen!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 