Music is indispensable to Christian worship services, and pop/rock-influenced contemporary worship music (CWM) serves an important role in modern worship. This thesis explores strategies for arranging CWM for a cappella settings by comparing the originals with two a cappella arrangements: one intended for group performance and the other for congregational worship. This will be accomplished through examining the following five songs: “Hymn of Heaven,” “Raise a Hallelujah,” “Build Your Kingdom Here,” “Psalm 34 (Taste and See),” and “Battle Belongs.” Analysis of elements such as form, texture, harmony, and rhythm reveals many arranging techniques. The songs are categorized by the level to which the arrangements differ from the original. Comparing the arrangements reveals which techniques may produce which type of arrangement. The analyses also highlight techniques employed by performance groups extending beyond what is available for congregational worship. These findings underscore the creative potential and flexibility available for a cappella arrangements.
","abstract_html":"<p>Music is indispensable to Christian worship services, and pop/rock-influenced contemporary worship music (CWM) serves an important role in modern worship. This thesis explores strategies for arranging CWM for a cappella settings by comparing the originals with two a cappella arrangements: one intended for group performance and the other for congregational worship. This will be accomplished through examining the following five songs: “Hymn of Heaven,” “Raise a Hallelujah,” “Build Your Kingdom Here,” “Psalm 34 (Taste and See),” and “Battle Belongs.” Analysis of elements such as form, texture, harmony, and rhythm reveals many arranging techniques. The songs are categorized by the level to which the arrangements differ from the original. Comparing the arrangements reveals which techniques may produce which type of arrangement. The analyses also highlight techniques employed by performance groups extending beyond what is available for congregational worship. These findings underscore the creative potential and flexibility available for a cappella arrangements.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Cox, Ashley S."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Music","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"School of Music","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Samantha Inman","Dr. Stephen Lias","Dr. Scott LaGraff"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:45Z","subjects":["worship","a cappella","arranging","analysis","performance","Christian","Christian Denominations and Sects","Composition","Liturgy and Worship","Music Theory"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/587","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Samantha Inman","Dr. Stephen Lias","Dr. Scott LaGraff"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Cox, Ashley S."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-12-12T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["School of Music"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Music"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["worship","a cappella","arranging","analysis","performance","Christian","Christian Denominations and Sects","Composition","Liturgy and Worship","Music Theory"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/587"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Music is indispensable to Christian worship services, and pop/rock-influenced contemporary worship music (CWM) serves an important role in modern worship. This thesis explores strategies for arranging CWM for a cappella settings by comparing the originals with two a cappella arrangements: one intended for group performance and the other for congregational worship. This will be accomplished through examining the following five songs: “Hymn of Heaven,” “Raise a Hallelujah,” “Build Your Kingdom Here,” “Psalm 34 (Taste and See),” and “Battle Belongs.” Analysis of elements such as form, texture, harmony, and rhythm reveals many arranging techniques. The songs are categorized by the level to which the arrangements differ from the original. Comparing the arrangements reveals which techniques may produce which type of arrangement. The analyses also highlight techniques employed by performance groups extending beyond what is available for congregational worship. These findings underscore the creative potential and flexibility available for a cappella arrangements.
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