Are we on the cusp of a Christian Music Revolution?

[davejonescue]

I was just thinking about this listening to some AI generated tracks, and it hit me. Within the next 10 years, the technology will exist, to produce a musical rendering of every archived (converted to text) hymn, ever written pre-1930. Does anybody think this may lead to some sort of Christian Music Revolution, where contemporary Christian music, which is many times judged badly for shallow lyrics; will be set-up against so many examples of older hymns which many judge as much more theologically deep? While places like SUNO exist now, it is still not at the place that you can create tracks without being present to filter the "bad" from the "good." But I can see within 5-10 years, that tech, if the courts allow it to exist (since of course it is being sued by the music industry) getting to a point where it can be automated, and long lists of high-quality songs can be made for relatively low price. I don't know, seems kind of exciting to think about. One of the things I like about the idea, is many times good human renderings of older hymns are behind pay-walls (which they should be since a worker is worth their wages) but, that puts them out of reach for some. Alternatively, AI cost on average, $0.10-$0.20 a song to make. I also like the idea, that though some of the older hymns are still in regular rotation, there are probably millions of them that have been forgotten about. What are any of yalls thoughts on this?

 

[Ploutos]

Give me just a dozen theologically robust and lyrically memorable hymns and psalm settings that I can sing experientially from the heart in chorus with those around me. That's the sort of Christian music revolution I'm hoping for.

 

[davejonescue]

Give me just a dozen theologically robust and lyrically memorable hymns and psalm settings that I can sing experientially from the heart in chorus with those around me. That's the sort of Christian music revolution I'm hoping for.

I would hope you already find that in your local church.

 

[Ploutos]

I would hope you already find that in your local church.

What I'm talking about goes beyond merely opening up a hymnal on Sunday mornings and mindlessly reciting the words on the prescribed page.

 

[davejonescue]

What I'm talking about goes beyond merely opening up a hymnal on Sunday mornings and mindlessly reciting the words on the prescribed page.

Is that what you find in your local church?

 

[Ploutos]

Let me elaborate more on what I'm talking about. The type of Christian music revolution I hope for is that people would know, love, and sing just a dozen good hymns or psalms such that they carry them around in their heads and hearts day to day, sing them in the evenings together, hum them while sweeping floors and doing dishes, etc.

It doesn't need to be a dozen and it doesn't need to stop there. A dozen seems like a number well within the mental capacity of most; but the point is that the same songs would be loved, cherished, and woven into the fabric of life, not just for individuals but across a community. I would settle for a dozen such songs as a vast improvement for most Christians today; and I would settle for a dozen such songs as thousands of times more valuable than any number of hymns one can collate via technological means.

 

[davejonescue]

Let me elaborate more on what I'm talking about. The type of Christian music revolution I hope for is that people would know, love, and sing just a dozen good hymns or psalms such that they carry them around in their heads and hearts day to day, sing them in the evenings together, hum them while sweeping floors and doing dishes, etc.

It doesn't need to be a dozen and it doesn't need to stop there. A dozen seems like a number well within the mental capacity of most; but the point is that the same songs would be loved, cherished, and woven into the fabric of life, not just for individuals but across a community. I would settle for a dozen such songs as a vast improvement for most Christians today; and I would settle for a dozen such songs as thousands of times more valuable than any number of hymns one can collate via technological means.

How are you basing your diagnosis for it being an improvement for most Christians today? Have you ever surveyed the music listening habits, of say even 100 Christians? The reason I ask, is because I pretty much do the thing you mentioned, with songs sung at my church; and I don't think there is anything particularly special about me or my church as far as setting them apart from other churches who are seeking to worship God. That is why I was wondering if it was something you felt were lacking at your local church; and you are kind of using that as a spring board to determine what the rest of the church needs?

 

[Solparvus]

If I understand your idea, you are talking about using AI to gather a compilation of the best hymns written in church history (at least pre-1930), and then use AI to quickly make high-quality musical renderings of these hymns?

 

[davejonescue]

If I understand your idea, you are talking about using AI to gather a compilation of the best hymns written in church history (at least pre-1930), and then use AI to quickly make high-quality musical renderings of these hymns?

Yes.

 

[John Nyberg]

I was just thinking about this listening to some AI generated tracks, and it hit me. Within the next 10 years, the technology will exist, to produce a musical rendering of every archived (converted to text) hymn, ever written pre-1930. Does anybody think this may lead to some sort of Christian Music Revolution, where contemporary Christian music, which is many times judged badly for shallow lyrics; will be set-up against so many examples of older hymns which many judge as much more theologically deep? While places like SUNO exist now, it is still not at the place that you can create tracks without being present to filter the "bad" from the "good." But I can see within 5-10 years, that tech, if the courts allow it to exist (since of course it is being sued by the music industry) getting to a point where it can be automated, and long lists of high-quality songs can be made for relatively low price. I don't know, seems kind of exciting to think about. One of the things I like about the idea, is many times good human renderings of older hymns are behind pay-walls (which they should be since a worker is worth their wages) but, that puts them out of reach for some. Alternatively, AI cost on average, $0.10-$0.20 a song to make. I also like the idea, that though some of the older hymns are still in regular rotation, there are probably millions of them that have been forgotten about. What are any of yalls thoughts on this?

This song is fantastic, thanks for sharing!

 

[Ploutos]

How are you basing your diagnosis for it being an improvement for most Christians today? Have you ever surveyed the music listening habits, of say even 100 Christians? The reason I ask, is because I pretty much do the thing you mentioned, with songs sung at my church; and I don't think there is anything particularly special about me or my church as far as setting them apart from other churches who are seeking to worship God. That is why I was wondering if it was something you felt were lacking at your local church; and you are kind of using that as a spring board to determine what the rest of the church needs?

To borrow from some internet figure somewhere whose name eludes me, I don't feel a particularly pressing need to answer those questions for some random dude who I barely know from an internet forum. (meant in the most tongue-in-cheek way possible)

 

[davejonescue]

To borrow from some internet figure somewhere whose name eludes me , I don't feel a particularly pressing need to answer those questions for some random dude who I barely know from an internet forum. (meant in the most tongue-in-cheek way possible)

No offense taken at all. I was just trying to get a grasp on how you come to the conclusion that this perceived lack was a wide-spread enough epidemic to warrant a revolution? Of course you are free not to divulge any information you don't wish. Doesn't bother me a bit. G.B.

 

[therussellhome]

I too am excited for the potential AI brings to Christian music (1). But I will also caution to avoid the Golden Age Fallacy. The hymns we love are so theologically deep because they are the cream that has survived while the lower quality hymns have faded away. I expect there are plenty of gems to rediscover but they will be mixed in with plenty of worthless chaff.

(1) for example, my family has benefited from @McMahon's works already

 

[davejonescue]

I too am excited for the potential AI brings to Christian music (1). But I will also caution to avoid the Golden Age Fallacy. The hymns we love are so theologically deep because they are the cream that has survived while the lower quality hymns have faded away. I expect there are plenty of gems to rediscover but they will be mixed in with plenty of worthless chaff.

(1) for example, my family has benefited from @McMahon's works already

I see your point, but for some reason I think it is a little more practical than that. Which is, there have been tons of beautiful hymns written, but single hymnals can only hold so many hymns. So it could not be so much that only the cream of the crop is preserved, and there is a plethora of chaff; as much as it is anything over 500pgs is a publishing nightmare. This seems like it becomes more apparent considering there have been 1,000's of hymnals published, and each contain different lists of hymns. This is why I am so excited about the future possibilities. Because this tech will make it so that there is potentially room for them all; not just to be published, but made back into actual music.