Constance M. Cherry - The Music Architect: Blueprints for Engaging Worshipers in Song

The twenty-first century is the postworship war era. It is an era where an unsettling divide shaped by the desire for tradition or the pressing need for relevance reveals itself through Christian worship expressions. Oftentimes, this tension manifests itself in the choice of music used for corporate worship. Without a doubt, music making has a significant role in realizing Christian worship, a role comparable to ritual actions and the art of rhetoric in earlier eras. To that end, Constance Cherry in The Music Architect has strategically and helpfully unpacked the purpose, functions, and implications of music making in the context of worship in our day. Shaped by Cherrys overarching concern for leadership formation in enabling congregational singing, this book offers much guidance to those who are preparing to serve or are already serving in the fields of worship and sacred music. It is a timely gift for all of us who are in the forefront of nurturing Gods people in song.

Lim Swee Hong ( ) , Deer Park Assistant Professor of Sacred Music and Director, Master of Sacred Music Program, Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto

Constance Cherry has given the church and its leaders a gift: a book that the church needs. She has successfully repositioned discussions of the churchs music to be theologically grounded, liturgically functional, spiritually formative, and congregationally conceived. Along the way she provides practical insights for choosing songs, engaging congregants, establishing flow, and creating vision. Cherrys contribution to congregational song provides the church a foundational source that it has been missing. Her work has resituated the discussion of congregational music by offering music leaders, worship leaders, pastors, congregants, and scholars a new place to restart this much-needed conversation. This book is a must-read for all who are involved in music and worship ministry. It will shape the thoughts and practices of the next generation.

Randall Bradley , Ben H. Williams Professor of Church Music, director of the Church Music Program, and director of the Center for Christian Music Studies, Baylor School of Music

I cant think of anyone more qualified to teach and write about the connection between worship and music than Constance Cherry. The Music Architect is a must-read for anyone wanting to think and minister on a deeper level. Her thoughts on being a pastoral musician as well as her insights on spiritual formation in worship are truly trailblazing.

Rory Noland , director, Heart of the Artist Ministries