Music History is Human History

I got a book about the history of Christian music.  I was thinking, wouldn't it be nice to hear what sounds our ancestors thought were beautiful and divine.  

It turns out that human history is one of telling each other what music NOT to listen to.  At one point, it was unspiritual to use stringed instruments and later it was wind instruments.  A reformer called the organ, the devil's bagpipe.  This study was disappointing, but not exactly surprising.  

I suppose it is all for the good that we have only inherited the lyrics of ancient songs.  If we could hear the melodies, harmonies and rhythms, we would be frozen into only using those "divine" forms.

Sing a new song unto the Lord.  But not like that.