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Christian music in Australia

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Christian Music in Australia has been played since the first European settlers arrived in the late 19th century, and forms part of the cultural life of religion in Australia and worldwide Christian Music. Australians have contributed to a variety of genres of Christian music including the Liturgical music, classical music, hymns, Christian rock, country gospel, and Christmas music, as well as cross over contemporary music sung by popular artists such as Johnny O'Keefe, Paul Kelly (folk rock), Nick Cave and Slim Dusty. Notable contemporary Christian music milestones in Australia include Sister Janet Mead's rock version of "The Lord's Prayer", which was the first Australian record to sell over a million copies in the United States of America, Jimmy Little's Royal Telephone which made him the first Aboriginal to attain a No. 1 hit on the Australian charts, and Guy Sebastian's Receive the Power which welcomed the Pope to World Youth Day 2008.

Origins

St Pauls Cathedral organ, Melbourne.

Christian music arrived in Australia with the First Fleet of British settlers in 1788 and has grown to include all genres from traditional Hymns of Praise to Christian Rock and country music. St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney is the oldest musical institution in Australia, from origins in 1817.[1] St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney, is the oldest musical institution in Australia, from origins in 1817.[2] Church music today ranges widely across genres, from Melbourne's St Paul's Cathedral Choir who sing choral evensong most weeknights; to the Contemporary music that is a feature of the evangelical Hillsong congregation.[3][4]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Jimmy Little

The Australian Aboriginal singer-songwriter Jimmy Little found success in the genre. His gospel song "Royal Telephone" (1963) was was the first No.1 hit by an Aboriginal artist.[5]

The Ntaria Choir at Hermannsburg, Northern Territory, has a unique musical language which mixes the traditional vocals of the Ntaria Aboriginal women with Lutheran chorales (tunes that were the basis of much of Bach's music). Baba Waiyar, a popular traditional Torres Strait Islander hymn shows the influence of gospel music mixed with traditionally strong Torres Strait Islander vocals and country music.[6]

Liturgical music

Liturgical music originating from religious ceremonies both ancient and modern is practised within a number of Christian traditions in Australia. Historically, Christianity has been by far the predominant religion in Australia, and it remains the majority religion with 52% of the population identifying as Christian in the 2016 census, thus Christian music has been an important component of cultural life in Australia. Post-War immigration has increased the diversity of Christian musical traditions in Australia, through the growth of denominations like the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, though today, the Catholic Church in Australia is the largest denomination (with almost a quarter of the population), followed by the Anglican Church in Australia (13.3%). Historically, the Anglican component was higher, thus Anglican music and Catholic music along with that of smaller protestant denominations like the Uniting Church in Australia has played an important and enduring role in the development of Australian liturgical music traditions.[7]

Church music ranges widely across genres, from Melbourne's St Paul's Cathedral Choir who sing choral evensong most weeknights; to the Contemporary music that is a feature of the evangelical Hillsong congregation.[8][9]

Catholic choirmaster and conductor John Albert Delany (1852–1907)) was an early notable of Australian Christian music composition, and produced two Masses, as well as writing music for the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth in 1901.[10]

Sister Janet Mead's rock version of "The Lord's Prayer" was the first Australian record to sell over a million copies in the United States of America.[11]

New South Wales Supreme Court Judge George Palmer was commissioned to compose the setting of the Mass for Sydney's World Youth Day 2008 Papal Mass. The Mass, Benedictus Qui Venit, for large choir, soloists and orchestra, was performed in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI and an audience of 350,000 with singing led by soprano Amelia Farrugia and tenor Andrew Goodwin.[12]

"Receive the Power", a song written by Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto, was chosen as the official anthem for the XXIII World Youth Day (WYD08) held in Sydney in 2008.[12]

Contemporary worship music

The Planetshakers band.

Contemporary worship music forms an important part of religious ceremony for a variety of denominations. The growing Pentecostal branches of Christianity in Australia contribute strongly to the genre. The Planetshakers have developed a large following in Christian music both within Australia and internationally, with a pop-rock musical style.[13]

Christmas music

Annually, Australians gather in large numbers for traditional open-air Christmas music Carols by Candlelight concerts in December, such as the Carols by Candlelight of Melbourne, and Sydney's Carols in the Domain. Australian Christmas carols like the Three Drovers or Christmas Day by John Wheeler and William G. James place the Christmas story in an Australian context of warm, dry Christmas winds and red dust. As the festival of Christmas falls during the Australian summer, Australians gather in large numbers for traditional open-air evening carol services and concerts in December, such as Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne and Carols in the Domain in Sydney.[14]

Country gospel

Australian country music's most successful artist Slim Dusty recorded a number of country gospel songs, with which he liked to finish his live shows.[15] In 1971, he released the Gospel album Glory Bound Train, featuring the eponymous hit Glory Bound Train, and other songs of a Christian theme. Glory Bound Train was in turn the song selected to conclude the tribute concert held at Tamworth after his death. The "Concert for Slim" was recorded live on January 20th 2004, at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre, and an all star cast of Australian musicians sung out the show with Slim's Glory Bound Train. The Australian Aboriginal singer-songwriter Jimmy Little was also a successful exponent of the genre.[16]

Contemporary music crossover

Paul Kelly

Pop, rock and other contemporary Australian artists from Johnny O'Keefe to Nick Cave and Paul Kelly have recorded Christian spirituals. Paul Kelly's Meet Me in the Middle of the Air is based on Psalm 23.[17]

Catholic nun Sister Janet Mead achieved significant mainstream chart success.

See also

References

  1. ^ "cathedral-choir". Stmaryscathedralchoir.org.au. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  2. ^ Lea-Scarlett, Errol (1979). "A Cathedral reaches out — the impact of St. Mary's music on Sydney life". Musicology Australia. 5: 173–190. doi:10.1080/08145857.1979.10415135. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. ^ June Nixon AM, Director of Music – Music – St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Hillsong's true believers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 November 2004. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  5. ^ Jimmy Little; Encyclopedia Britannica online
  6. ^ Christmas season celebrations in Australia – australia.gov.au Archived April 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ 2016 Census data reveals “no religion” is rising fast; Australian Bureau of Statistics - Media Release, 27 June 2017
  8. ^ June Nixon AM, Director of Music – Music – St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Hillsong's true believers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 November 2004. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  10. ^ Delany, John Albert (1852–1907); Australian Dictionary of Biography
  11. ^ From the Archives: Janet Mead, the million-seller nun; smh.com.au; Apr 2, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Australian Idol Wrote World Youth Day Anthem". Famvin.org. 17 May 2007. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  13. ^ Greg Sheridan; God is Good for You, Allen & Unwin, 2018, p. 246.
  14. ^ "Christmas season celebrations in Australia". About Australia. Australian Government. 16 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  15. ^ Per narration by Slim Dusty, Slim Dusty Live at Wagga Wagga; Track 12, 1972
  16. ^ Jimmy Little; Encyclopedia Britannica online
  17. ^ Austin, Steve; Sennett, Sean (7 October 2005). "Musician Paul Kelly". ABC Queensland. Australia. Archived from the original (streaming audio) on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
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