In ancient times, stories were recited or sung. Storytellers would memorize long poems like The Odyssey, The Iliad, or Beowulf and perform them for the entertainment of others. People in certain cultures knew these musical storytellers and poets as bards. Their job was a serious one because orally sharing poems and stories was a significant part of many cultures.
As time progressed and more people wrote down works, storytelling through recitation and song greatly influenced literature. For
instance, poetry largely consists of the sound of words and was originally created for recitation. Likewise, African American literature has roots in a rich
tradition of oral storytelling.
Some cultures around the world continue to use oral
storytelling and are working to pass on the tradition to the younger generation.
However, the skill of memorizing long sections of stories or poems has dwindled
in the modern age because of access to physical and online copies of books and
poetry. Similarly, poetry is still best read aloud, but reading verse is now a generally private activity. Despite these losses, we have the modern roles of singers,
musicians, and songwriters. Though they do not usually sing long epics or
histories, these artists give us stories through music and poetic lyrics.
The next few posts will be part of a blog series called
Music and Story. The series will highlight ways that music conveys stories,
such as narratives that take us on an emotional journey in a similar way that a
novel does, or how a song can reveal personal perspectives and experiences like
memoir-style works. Not only will I examine songs that tell stories, including
the Greatest Story, but I will also explore how music can inspire literature,
and vice versa. The series will end with a discussion of the modern state of
Christian music which I believe is relevant to issues surrounding contemporary
Christian fiction. Are there examples of modern books and songs that are beautiful,
true, and good? Or are critics correct that modern forms of Christian art are
shallow and inauthentic? This blog series will explore these questions and
more.
Before we begin, though, I want to acknowledge that I am
still a student in the craft of storytelling. I do not claim to be an expert in
writing or music. However, as someone who enjoys music and has been inspired by
songs, I have thoughts about the connection between music and story. So often,
songs point me to the best Storyteller and Musician I know – The Lord God. In
Scripture, we read about the great story of God’s love and grace, the One who
sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17).
So, whether
you are a writer, music enthusiast, literature lover, or someone interested in
the combined discussion of faith, music, and story, come along on the journey
as we study the “bards” of our time.
