WORSHIP MUSIC AS AN ARTISTIC AND SOCIOLAGICAL PHENOMENON

Abstract

The article explores the phenomenon of contemporary worship music, which is gaining significance in modern religious practices and plays a pivotal role in the development of musical art. Worship music is examined as a sociocultural and artistic phenomenon that transcends traditional religious forms, offering new opportunities for both collective and individual expressions of religious experience. The study highlights how contemporary worship music shapes the experiences of believers by incorporating a range of instrumental and audiovisual elements, adding emotional intensity and aesthetic depth to worship services. A significant part of the article is dedicated to the evolution of musical accompaniment in worship, transitioning from simple vocal forms to multimedia performances with complex sound and visual effects. It is emphasized that worship has shifted from being purely auditory to a fully audiovisual experience. Visual projections, such as lyrics and natural landscapes, have become integral to worship, influencing the sacred perception and deepening community engagement. The study shows that multimedia worship impacts both the aesthetic experience and the social dynamics of religious communities, creating new expectations for the role of music in religious life. This music often fosters active engagement, emotional expression, and a sense of shared purpose among believers. However, the high level of professional performance may sometimes reduce congregational participation in singing and worship, challenging traditional forms of church worship. The article calls for a critical reassessment of contemporary worship music, focusing on its influence on religious values and spiritual experience. It raises questions about maintaining a balance between technological aesthetics and the sacred essence of religious practices, as multimedia and high-quality music can shape new forms of religious socialization that differ from traditional ones.