MARCH MUSIC

…he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD…” —2 Chronicles 20:21

When I was in High School, I played drums in the marching band.  We played during half time at all the home football games.  I really grew to love “march music.”

John Philip Sousa was sometimes referred to as “The March King,” because many of his compositions were marching songs. Someone said, “Sousa is to marches what Beethoven is to symphonies.” Sousa recognized the power of music to motivate, encourage, and inspire people.

Did you know that many of the hymns we sing in church services are written in military march tempo, usually in 4/4 time (or “cut time” 2/2).  The tempo of march music is meant to match the pace of soldiers marching in step, typically at the rate of 120 beats per minute.  A distinctive trait of march music is a strong and steady percussive beat.

In the Bible songs of praise motivated and encouraged God’s people to advance in victory (Ex. 15:1-2; 2 Chron. 20:20-22; Eph. 5:19).

The early hymn writers recognized this.  For example, “Marching To Zion,” “Onward Christian Soldiers,” “A Shelter in the Time of Storm,” “All Hail the Power,” “Crown Him With Many Crowns,” “I Am Resolved,” “Revive Us Again,” The Banner of the Cross,” Stand Up For Jesus,” “Sound The Battle Cry,” “Standing on the Promises,” “Victory In Jesus,” and on and on we could go.  These old songs are played in “march tempo,” because the church should be moving “like a mighty army.”

One of the best ways to get out of the doldrums is to listen and sing some hymns that lifts your spirit and moves your feet to march on for Jesus!