Appreciation for New Songs

For family worship this week, my wife and I practiced a few of the new songs, trying to familiarize ourselves especially with #147 and #149 (the two that will be sung for the memorial this year). Our favorite of this new batch is #149. The lyrics, the music, and the composition of the orchestral music is very moving.

We also really like #150. I’m so happy to see that the style of our music has expanded in the last year or so. I especially like the tribal percussion and unique rhythms of both #150 and #142. As a worldwide brotherhood, it only seems fitting to have melodies and compositions that reflect our varied ethnicity!

Actually, besides just the music, it seems we've seen the creativity of our organization really blossom in the past few years (especially since the launch of the updated JW.org site). The photography and design on our magazines, for example, has become cleaner, more modern, and more appealing than ever before. The use of infographics (now a weekly part of the Meeting Workbooks) is wonderful. And now, a constant output of eye-catching, artistic videos paired with professionally composed music. It's just incredible. I can't help but thinking of the scripture at Isaiah 60:17:

“Instead of the copper I shall bring in gold, and instead of the iron I shall bring in silver, and instead of the wood, copper, and instead of the stones, iron; and I will appoint peace as your overseers and righteousness as your task assigners.”

If you haven't yet had a chance to preview the new songs, you can listen here.