Andy Crouch talks Jazz & Classical Theology

The Ooze.tv:

Using a metaphor of music, Andy Crouch and Spencer Burke explore the idea that we need both the classical and jazz “musicians” of theology. Our world needs not only one or the other, but rather the creative energy of both as they build upon and grow from each other.

Andy describes how jazz was built on standards-popular songs from the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Taking the basic timing-the standards from these songs-musicians improvised and explored, creating jazz as a response to the traditional songs. And historically, classical music also had lots of improvisation, but in the past 150 years, became fixated on repetition of a theme that someone had originally created from improvisation. Today, young classical musicians are being taught once again to improvise on the classical traditions. Whether jazz or classical-all musicians improvise in a way, because they don’t just play a series of notes on a page. They interpret those notes with their own expression and feelings to create music.

So what does this have to do with theology? Spencer suggests Andy’s theology could be compared to classical, and Spencer’s to jazz. One might sound dissident, or even ugly, to the other. But both are a response to tradition. Both are creative and an improvisation, an interpretation. Ultimately, says Andy, both are trying to make music. Whatever kind of music you play, it’s in the service of a more remarkable, mysterious, and beautiful thing of which we only get glimpses. And both are enriched and influenced by dialogue.

Music theory is not the same as music. And while theology is partly about sorting out the rules that make up the music of our faith, theology is not faith. We should not get locked into postures against each other. Rather, do we agree on the stories that animate us? Do we agree on the mystery, the beauty and terror of our world? And can we play our music together?

Andy’s book, “Culture Making: Celebrating and informing those who cultivate and create,” explores how Christians have gotten bent out of shape in regards to our culture. We’ve moved through phases of condemning culture, to critiquing, copying and consuming it. What is really needed says Andy, is for Christians to create and cultivate culture. Because there’s something missing in our world. We were intended to be a creative force-not all classical musicians, not all jazz musicians-but creating, improvising, interpreting and making new music.