Long posts

I.

In theater and film, it's common to avoid copying other performances, or the director "acting" the part out for an actor; the director tries to pull an actor's own interpretation out. They want to avoid trite or stereotyped interpretation.

II.

Praise music is modern folk music--intended to be performed by numerous people the same way. But I suspect most folks approach it like pop radio, largely because of changed perceptions of "music", but also because the ubiquity of inexpensive recording and youtube technology make consuming pop hits and praise music equivalent.

You can pull up the writer's recording and play it for your worship band to reproduce. It takes a strong will and a reason, to not attempt reproducing the undulations in the author's voice, e.g..

Of course, praise music can be viewed less as an interpreted performance and more as a utilitarian folk song. No pressure to have all the production. I don't have to be engaged to that level in Be Thou My Vision's lyrics that I should be crying because of its reality. Or if I am, maybe I don't have to "perform" that visibly.

I think if going the less intense, more practical road, trying to reproduce emotional songs ends you up with that trite, stereotyped interpretation to be avoided.

But modern praise songs are often written in an emotional way. "Sad" or "happy". You can't perform them stolidly like a prude pharisee.

III.

I've been playing Zelda: Wind Waker HD for my daughters. Often when I visit Link's grandma's house, a nostalgic and warm song plays. My 6-year-old often points out how sad the music is to her. She feels the same with hymns I sing, too.