Welcome, friends! We are so glad to have you join us!
To our guests from all over the world, we hope and pray that you will find visiting our blog helpful, meaningful, inspirational, and joyful!
OUR MISSION
Travis reflects the joy of praise as he directs the Adult Choir and Orchestra at our church.
The Worship Sounds Music Blog is about the blessings of Life, Music, and Worship Ministry as well as the incredible joy of knowing our Creator God through salvation in Jesus Christ.
We are humbled by the privilege of sharing with you that which the Lord has placed on our hearts as we endeavor to uplift, encourage, and inspire all those who seek to worship Him. Our mission is to share words of hope, songs of worship, a heart of praise, and a life of joy with all who visit our blog. Join us here for some encouragement, inspiration, and helpful worship resources.
ABOUT US
As a Minister of Music and Worship for 41 years, Travis has served at 9 churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia.
Travis has been writing music as part of his faith journey since his salvation in 1978. His music has been sung and recorded by choirs large and small all over the world. He has published choral anthems, orchestrations, and songs with Shawnee Press (now a Division of Hal Leonard Music), Lorenz Music, Lifeway, Broadman, and Chorister’s Guild.
Travis and his wife, Cynthia, have been married for 45 years and have 7 children – one daughter and six sons.
With 41 years of active worship ministry and with Travis continuing to serve in a full time capacity at our current church, we’ve experienced a lot and are glad to share what we have learned and all that the Lord has done and is doing in our lives. What a journey life continues to be!
It is our desire to continue walking with the Lord and serving Him together. Both of us long to continually grow in faith and knowledge and to share the message of God’s love and mercy through music, through the written and spoken word, through our daily lives, and through every means that God allows. We dedicate our hearts and lives to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Blessings to you on your faith journey. Our God is infinitely worthy of praise.
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CHORAL ANTHEMS , ORCHESTRATIONS, SONGS, AND CONGREGATIONAL PRAISE
By TRAVIS L. BOYD
Written for soloists, ensembles, orchestras, congregational praise, and choirs, the music of Travis L. Boyd has been shared for many years in a wide variety of settings by choral groups large and small, individuals, orchestras, praise bands, soloists, and ensembles across the United States and around the world.
* OUR PUBLISHED MUSIC can be found on the websites of publishers Shawnee Press (Hal Leonard), Lorenz, Choristers Guild, and Lifeway. See the links to my published music, offered through our Publishers and through various Music Distributors, in this blog’s sidebar. Each publisher or distributor’s logo is a clickable link to a page offering the pieces of my music which are currently sold through that publisher or distributor. To hear a playlist of my Choral Anthem demos, plus some custom recordings and my Vocal Solo demos, go to http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/listen-to-my-music/
WORSHIP SOUNDS MUSIC
Information about many of Travis’ Choral Anthems, Orchestrations, Vocal Solos, and Worship Songs can be found on both our “Worship Sounds Music & Ministry” facebook page and our “Worship Sounds Choral Music Facebook” page. We are seeking to be good stewards of the music that the Lord has given through Travis so that it may be used in worship ministry to bring glory to the Lord and to encourage God’s people.
Note: We are in the process of updating these Facebook pages and all online platforms to reflect the recent change of offering our self published music through Sheet Music Plus.
NEW ONLINE LOCATION FOR WORSHIP SOUNDS MUSIC!
Worship Sounds Music is now available online through Sheet Music Plus (instead of our former Worship Sounds Music website). Visit Sheet Music Plus and search Travis L Boyd to view our available Christmas Choral Anthems and Solos. Additional Choral Anthems and Solos are being added as time permits.
We invite you to view and listen to our Choral Anthems and Solo Music. You will find that it is written and arranged to be meaningful, memorable, and accessible. If you have any questions, e-mail Travis
worshipsoundsemail@gmail.com
* Choral Anthem voicings available include SATB, SSATB, SAB, 2-Part, TTBB, and SSAA. We invite you to visit our Travis L. Boyd / Worship Sounds YouTube channel to view our video demos for available choral anthems and songs, many of which will be added soon to Sheet Music Plus.
* You’ll find that the lyrics of our music are Biblically sound and written to glorify the Lord and encourage the people of God.
* Our music is written to be practical in local church music ministry.
We’re also on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/WorshipSoundsMusic and at https://www.facebook.com/WorshipSoundsMusic#!/WorshipSoundsMusicMinistry
Our Sound Cloud link, with playlists of Demos and Custom Recordings of some of our music https://soundcloud.com/#travis-l-boyd
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The number of countries of origin for viewers of our blog was 189 on November 7th, 2014.
How many countries are in the world? Here’s a link to an answer page: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0932875.html
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Do you know Jesus?
The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make! The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation. Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus. http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/
Worship Sounds Music 
Comments on: "About our Blog" (10)
Hello Travis. Would love to see if you would do a review and post about Proclaim. http://www.ProclaimONline.com. Drop me a note and let me know.
Thanks,
Matt
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I looked at your site, Matt, and the program sounds great. Churches that are looking to update should check it out.
Blessings to you,
Travis
worshipsounds.com
Worship Sounds Music Blog
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Hi Travis, looking at the New Testament scriptures about worship and music, I see a number of scriptures about SINGING, but virtually no scriptures that that support contemporary Christian Music, such as the music of Hilllsong, Don Moen, Paul Baloche etc etc. What are your views on this?
Blessings
J.
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Dear J.
We have edited your name and are using only initials in this reply and your approved comment. Your honest question deserves a thoughtful answer, and we will do our best to reply with the highest respect for your careful study of God’s word and with prayerful consideration of your comment.
We are told in the New Testament to speak to one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We believe that most of the contemporary Chrisitian music to which you refer falls into the category of ‘spiritual songs,’ although many of today’s Christian artists (musical messengers) are writing powerful modern hymns (one example of this is the work of Keith and Kristyn Getty). There are many verses in the Bible that speak of singing a new song. We believe that God continues to give musical abilities to people who then use those gifts to bring glory to the Lord through the writing of new songs and hymns.
Remember that the older hymns of the church were once contemporary or new songs. We certainly are not singing the same music that Paul and Silas sang in jail (although we may be singing some of the same words -translated into English- since many songs lyrics are based on the words of the Psalms). We are no longer singing Hebrew or Gregorian chants in worship, so at some point “new” or “contemporary” music was accepted as music that was appropriate for worship and brought honor and glory to God and to Jesus, our Savior.
We believe that there are certainly many styles of Christian music, but the message of the lyrics and the heart of the songwriter or singer are far more important than the date when a song was born or the style in which it is written. We still love and sing the old hymns and gospel songs, but we also love most of the new music that we hear. We believe that if the message of a song can be clearly understood and if it brings glory to God, then there is a place of appropriateness within the lives of God’s people for that song to speak to hearts. Some songs are used in congregational worship, and some are not. Some may be recorded on a CD but not really be appropriate for corporate worship. For example, there several songs on various Christian CDs which have the subject matter of being thankful that God brought the writer’s spouse into their life. A song like that may be played on Christian radio and bless a lot of lives, or it may be played in peoples’ homes. However, unless the song is sung at a wedding or at a marriage retreat, such songs are generally not sung during congregational worship. There is nothing wrong with being thankful for your spouse and speaking of that blessing in an honorable way. We believe that doing so would bring honor to God, who created the institution of marriage. In corporate worship, however, we generally choose to sing messages of praise and worship that will bring glory to God and encourage all of God’s people to walk more closely with him (whether married, single, or widowed).
Whether a Christian song has the type of message that can be sung by all people in praise and thanksgiving to God or whether it applies more to people in specific circumstances (married, called to ministry, parenting young children, dealing with loss, or whatever the life circumstance discussed in the song may be), if a song brings glory to God by lifting up His good gifts and having a Christian message of belief and trust in God in every circumstance, then we believe that this “new” or “contemporary” song will be used by God to encourage the hearts of God’s people, draw them closer to Him, and to bring honor and glory to God. You will find this subject addressed in our most recent post, “Singing a New Song”, which was written and posted before your comment. People who write Christian songs are just like every other Christian. We have struggles, we hold on to faith, we seek to live lives that honor God but fall short. That’s why we need a Savior. We encourage you to read the lyrics of contemporary Christian songs and see how God continues to speak through His people and through the gift of new songs.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
– Colossians 3:16 & 17
“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain; and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
– Revelation 5:9
“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.”
– Psalm 40:3
Blessings to you,
Travis and Cindy Boyd
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Thanks for the comprehensive response. Maybe I should have expressed myself a little better. The question was not so much about the “new song”. I was trying to find scriptural justification in the New Testament for the contemporary music styles and contemporary musical instruments. As I see it, the New Testament puts an emphasis on “SINGING” and then especially singing by the congregation. Whilst I fully believe and support the singing of “new songs”, it is also worth noting that the Greek word translated “new” is kainos, which means new in quality and not in time. The latter meaning is expressed by the Greek word neos. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament clearly explains the difference between the two Greek words neos and kainos. “Neos is what is new in time or origin, . . . kainos is what is new in nature, different from the usual, impressive, better than the old.” An interesting perspective that I came accross on the difference between “psalms, “hymns” and “spiritual songs” is that a “new song” would start off as a “hymn” and once it is established as a song (e.g. recorded or written down) it would become a “psalm”. A spiritual song, (Ode pneumatikos) in my understanding, is something different: The phrase in the Greek means songs of the breath of God, literally, “of the Spirit”. Spiritual songs are songs sung in or by the Holy Spirit. These songs are inspired by the Holy Spirit and are spontaneous and prophetic in nature. Sometimes spiritual songs are sung by the worshiper to God, and sometimes the song is sung by God through the worshiper.
Blessings!
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Johan,
Thank you for your response. You’ve giving us a lot to think about and some clarification as well. The word study regarding the term translated as “new” is interesting. Since quality is a subjective judgement regarding music in general or regarding a “new” song (more clearly labeled as “better than the old”), I prefer to think of the quality of songs in terms of the depth of spiritual understanding that has been gained during one’s spiritual journey, which would certainly allow for more profound expression of spiritual truths. Christian songwriters long for a way to somehow capture the profound truths of mercy and grace and salvation in clearer and more effective ways. We all hope that any spiritual growth in our lives is reflected in the lyrics of the songs we write. However, if, in fact, a “better than old” song exists, wouldn’t it, by definition, be new? If something is an improvement upon the old, isn’t it new? Again, who is to say what song is of better quality? Certainly, a song that makes a spiritual impact and speaks to hearts, and one that, above all else, brings glory to the Lord, would be the quality that we long to hear. I can think of many old songs (my grandparents sang them, or maybe even my great great grandparents) and many new songs (just written!) that do all of the above (at least in my own judgement). So, for me, whether a song is a “breath of God” song of individual worship or whether it is a new song not even put on paper (or into a computer file), or an established song of the faith that has been recorded in some way as such, the heart, intent, and effectiveness of the song (in communicating spiritual truth, touching hearts, and bringing glory to God) is still far more important than the age of the song and whether it is a new expression entirely or a “impressive” re-make of an old song idea (“Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone” comes to mind). It is my belief that people who close their minds to old songs are missing just as much as those who close their minds to new ones. I have heard a lot of wonderful, newer songs, for example, that speak of the faithfulness of God. However, I have never heard one with the same breadth of expression of that spiritual truth as the lyrics to the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” I would hope that people who love the Lord will eventually be open to both new and old(er) expressions of worship. I think there is much that we can agree upon. If we agree as to the central ideas of the intent of any song used in worship that I’ve already mentioned, that’s a great start for dialogue.
I apologize for misunderstanding the intent of your original question. I believe that I have already dealt with the issues of style in as much detail as I need to. However, I really did not address instrumentation as a separate issue or instrumentation as it relates to style. We really don’t have a lot of specific instruction about all of this in either the New or Old Testament, and I believe that omission is by Design. We have a great amount of freedom to express our worship to God. That’s a good thing as long as expression is about worship and not about self. In any era, style, or instrumentation option, there is the potential for any of us to focus on self-glorification rather than on bringing glory to God. This can happen even in congregations that sing unaccompanied. Therefore, it is my belief that the heart of the singer or songwriter is, once again, of primary importance.
Pianos aren’t mentioned in scripture. Neither are pews, songbooks, or air-conditioning. I don’t believe that the omission of a specific expression of worship or environmental consideration for a worship center is a directive that means that particular expression or practical element should never be used in worship or in a place of worship. We love singing, and we love a cappella singing, but we read in many scripture passages all over the Old Testament of the use of instruments in praising God. Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why would a worship expression that was appropriate for bringing glory to God at one point (and which was considered important enough to be part of God’s word) now be considered inappropriate? We believe that there is a place for A Cappella singing and that the human voice in itself is a beautiful instrument, but we do not believe that the use of instruments is wrong. The New Testament directive to do everything “decently and in order” can be interpreted in many ways. We believe that it means applying prayer and wisdom to each situation, thereby choosing what is appropriate.
We have not found a valid scriptural reason for forbidding the use of instruments in worship. We believe that going back to God’s word is the best thing to do with any concern. And, if following the intent of scripture is not enough to answer a specific question, prayer for guidance is the best way to proceed. We hope that we have answered your question as far as what we believe. It may be that our opinions differ significantly from yours. In any case, we pray God’s blessing on you, your family, and your congregation as you worship Him.
Travis and Cindy Boyd
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Dear Travis & Cindy. Thanks for taking the time to respond so comprehensively on my comments. I cannot disagree with anything that you have said. As you rightly say, if in doubt, consult the Word and having done that, I came to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with musical instruments in worship and we are indeed called upon to sing a “new song”. Having been made aware of the emphasis of singing in the New Testament Scriptures, that is what I as “worship leader” in our church will try to achieve – more emphasis congregational singing! . Blessings! Johan
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Thank you, brother Johan, for this thoughtful conversation we’ve had. We are so glad that you feel a peace through study of God’s word. The people of your congregation are blessed to have a worship leader who cares so deeply about worship that is authentic and meaningful. Your emphasis on congregational singing is wonderful. The people of God need to participate fully in worship as much as possible. Blessings to your in your ministry,
Travis and Cynthia Boyd
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What an inspiration the article “Why I Love to Sing in the Choir,” posted by Cynthia, is to me. What must I do to get permission to include the article in sections in our church newsletter, to help in recruiting singers for the post-Summer, when we start anew after July and August in the hands of soloists? Thanks so much for all you do in the name of the Lord!
Dick Becker
Minister of Music
West Lawn UMC
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Dick,
We are so glad that the article spoke to you and appreciate your kind words of encouragement so much. We have given permssion for reprinting some of our other posts, such as our Reader’s Theater scripts, and we would be glad for you to reprint the post you mentioned for the stated purpose. Simply include a reference to the authorship of the post and the URL for our blog with your reprint. That will be enough. You might also be blessed by some of the posts in our “Worship… with Wonder” category of posts, and apparently many Ministers of Music and Worship have also found our “Lift Your Voice” page of worship scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments to be quite helpful.
We are seeking to be a resource for Worship Ministry, an inspiration and encouragement to the body of Christ, and a testimony of the grace of God through our blog and through the music on our website. Thank you for letting us know that this post was meaningful to you. God bless you in your life and ministry. Please help spread the word about Worship Sounds Music and Ministry to anyone that you feel would benefit from our blog and/or our music..
Blessings and Melody,
Travis and Cynthia Boyd
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