For many centuries, the church has been one of the main sources and means of spreading new music around the world. Sacred and secular music have always influenced each other a great deal, and many forms of music, such as gospels and spirituals, originally made their way into houses of prayer from the secular world, and in the 20th century, so has pop music.
The first rock & pop superstars like Elvis Presley and The Beatles caused an uproar among devout Christians with their swinging hips, banging heads, screaming fans, and all the other ‘obscenities’ that came with them. John Lennon of the Beatles even dreamed of a better world without religion in Imagine, and he offended the Vatican with his statement that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus”. After several failed attempts to condemn pop music, the church had no choice but to come to terms with it, and to begin to integrate this new form of music.
It was partly through the work of Elvis Presley, a very devout man, that the two musical forces began to reconcile, when he published his spiritual songs and gospel albums (a compilation of which can be found in the issue Songs of Inspiration). In recent years, pop music has inspired the youth movements within the church, and many pop stars have also expressed their faith with songs inspired by religion.
The secular song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen is one of the most popular songs in modern pop music, and in the church today, and due to its many religious allusions, it is often played at weddings, funerals and many other religious ceremonies and celebrations.
Klaus Heizmann established “Christian Pop Music” in Germany. This new religious music, which is so close to pop music, is categorised as Modern Sacred Song, and all around the English speaking world, pop singers like Sir Cliff Richard and Josh Groban sang songs of a similar style, and inspired people both in arenas, and in the church alike.
Am
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1045408
Bb
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1035735
C
for: Ukulele
Ukulele Chord Songbook
Item no.: 1029383
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756004
for: Mixed choir (SATB), rhythm section [piano]
Choir score, audio file (pdf/mp3 download)
Item no.: 8047
Am
for: Piano
Easy Piano
Item no.: 1047431
C
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1553510
C
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1027221
Bm
for: Piano
Easy Piano
Item no.: 1049340
A
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1036123
Am
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1044105
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726113
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat)
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1050783
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756007
from "Nutcracker"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726122
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726112
(Swingende Weihnachten für Klarinettenquartett, Teil 4)
for: 3 clarinets (B-flat), bass clarinet (B-flat) (quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3708
A
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1045646
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1045608
F
for: Piano
Easy Piano
Item no.: 1554888
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726118
Eb
for: Clarinet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1554996
A
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1045634
Eb
for: Trumpet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1543725
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756002
(Swingende Weihnachten fürBlockflötenquartett)
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3710
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1384237
Dm
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1554256
Eb
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1553319
from "The Seasons", Op. 8/4
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726117
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 741228
Theme and 1st Variation
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 736651
F
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1543691
C
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1666212
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 734181
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756006
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756005
F
for: Cello, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1050781
from "Christmas Symphony"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726116
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726108
G
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1045604
Eb
for: Piano
Piano Duet (1 Piano, 4 Hands)
Item no.: 1478801
(Swingende Weihnachten für Saxophonquartett, Teil 4)
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar/AATBar)
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 3704
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 726114
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756003
Bb
for: Flute, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1543733
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1382725
G
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1045641