Abstract

Music is considered an indispensable feature for almost all religions. Christianity emerges as one of the most important religious traditions in which music is involved in rituals and social life. Among the Christian sects, there are different practices in terms of using music. American Christianity was the scene of religious awakening in the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the most important reflections of this process took place in the field of music. American Christianity has given particular importance to music in the experience of religious awakening since the 18th and 19th centuries. At the end of the 19th century, traditional Christian hymns have largely been altered or abandoned. Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran and Pentecostal churches have played a role in the transformation and spread of Christian music. This process has emerged as new genre hymns and later as Gospel music. There are some similar and seperated points among the new music genres. The musical instruments which they use, melody structures, the places they are performed, their improvisation or rules and their poetic features are among these points. With the introduction of these two genres and some local cultural factors, music genres have emerged as secular in style but which may have religious content. Regardless of whether it is secular or religious music, these genres have used religious terminology in their lyrics. At the same time, there are some similarities at the point of the musicians who perform these music. Blouse and Jazz are considered as the two most prominent and international examples.