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Be True to the Text

By Philip Hendrickson

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching…Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.” 1 Tim. 4:13,15 ESV

I will always remember when the head pastor of my congregation got excited by a bit I played on the drums during worship. As usual, the organist rehearsed the hymns in advance with the musicians, including me on the drum set. One hymn began with verses about Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and death. Then came a verse in which Jesus burst from the tomb to triumphant new life. I had heard organists talk about “text painting”—adapting a musical part to highlight the meaning of the lyrics—and I decided to try it.

At the start of the verse when Jesus was still in the tomb, I reduced to only playing light time on the hi-hat. Then I stopped playing time and started a cymbal roll that swelled up to a crash right on the words “burst from the tomb”. A simple tom fill brought me back into the groove of the song with joyful energy. It was probably the loudest I ever played in that church, but no one complained. The music minister loved it, and the pastor said after service how it lifted his spirit to heaven.

Even though drums are not a melodic instrument we still contribute to the musical impact of a song. In fact, the drums set dynamic boundaries for the rest of the musicians. If the drummer is playing loudly, there is no way for other musicians to use soft, subtle nuances to enhance the music. Their playing must be bold just to be heard. Likewise, if the drummer is playing soft, soothing rhythms and textural colors, it won’t work for the other musicians to play lively marching hymns or jump-and-shout choruses. The impact won’t be there; the music will sound unsettled.

For music to reach full impact—whether the emotion is high, low, or anywhere in between—the drummer must be prepared to set the tone. This means knowing in advance the “dynamic map” of the song and understanding the emotional arc of the song’s message. Everyone has to be ready to follow if the music leader changes course, but advance preparation and communication are critical.

Also be aware of the larger context of the music. Is this a worship service or a concert? Is a specific theme or season of the church year being emphasized? Is the song being used during prayer, to reinforce the pastor’s message, or to inspire contemplation during the offering? The moment tells us what emotions to support with our playing.

When we match a song’s emotional tone with our playing, the drums are truly contributing their full potential to the music. Appropriate dynamics are the key to making drums not just rhythmic, but musical

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