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![]() It is my contention that use of these songs has declined and they are now used more often in festival settings than in routine weekly worship. The Army grew rapidly, often in spite of fierce opposition from established churches, pub owners, and other leaders in society. ![]() These militant songs were used to great effect, inspiring new converts to join in the battle. Songs were filled with references to fighting in a war, conquering the world, serving faithfully alongside comrades, obedience to the commander, etc. When the organization adopted a military form of organization and its current name they also began to use military musical styles. From the earliest days Booth adapted music which was familiar to the people to communicate his evangelistic message. As he gained new converts they were shunned by the established churches and he found it necessary to provide places where they could worship and express their new-found freedom from old habits and vices which had enslaved them. Booth was especially concerned with working among the poorest classes of society and did not set out to establish a separate organization. The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by a Methodist minister, William Booth, in London England. ![]() It is my purpose to examine some of the changes which are taking place within The Salvation Army as evidenced by changes in the music which is in common usage in Salvation Army meetings.Ī brief review of Salvation Army history will be helpful. The Salvation Army has established a subculture with distinctive musical styles and practices. You may wonder what this is doing in a class on "Music of World Cultures". I am not concerned with the use of martial music by Songster Brigades (the Army's term for choirs) or used in special gatherings (camp meetings, Congress, etc.), nor with brass band music except as an accompaniment to congregational singing. I am concerned here with vocal music for congregational singing in regular weekly meetings. This will be a brief examination of the role of martial music (music with a military style or theme) in The Salvation Army's public meetings. I settled instead for a related topic with which I have more familiarity and readily available resources. This subject did not lend itself well to meaningful exploration within the time available for this project. My initial thought was to explore whether The Salvation Army's work among various cultures around the world had resulted in incorporation of various cultural music styles into the Army's mainstream English-language songs.
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