Maria Evelyn looks at Christian instrumental music.

Chris Pusey

The standard definition of "Christian music' goes something like, "music that contains lyrics which express something of the Christian life or a Christian world view." That may be okay as far as it goes. But where does that leave instrumental music? Go into any Christian bookshop and you will see and hear plenty of instrumental music. But of course Christian instrumental music extends way beyond musicians recording instrumental versions of hymns and choruses. Acclaimed instrumentalists as diverse as jazz's Dave Brubeck and flamenco's Esteban Antonio are demonstrating that instrumental dexterity can be wedded to Christian faith.

Intriguingly the Bible teaches that some instrumental music can hold a powerful anointing. When in Old Testament times people wished to hear from Jehovah they often called for the skilled temple musician whose anointed playing was linked to the prophetic gifts while the story of King Saul and how his evil spirits were soothed by David's anointed playing is well known.

Chris Pusey, Jim Martinez and Keith Routledge are, in different ways, all modern-day Davids. They all have one desire: to see people set free through the anointing that God has poured out on their music, with the knowledge that it is the Holy Spirit that releases people from the Devil, and not their playing. Chris spoke about an experience when asked to lead the worship at a Baptist church. "When I arrived, the organist was playing, so we sang a couple of hymns and I waited to see if the Lord still wanted to use me. Before the word was given, the Vicar asked me to play a short piece. The visiting minister told me later that when I played the anointing came and someone was healed. This is the work of the Holy Spirit and cannot be attributed to me in any way. We are only clay pots, in the potter's hand."

Chris Pusey
Chris Pusey has been described as a master musician and a virtuoso guitarist. Since his debut album 'Back To Jerusalem' in 1999 (the only album with vocals - not his, we would stress) Chris has been busy teaching music and playing with The City Of London Sinfonia. He's also produced five more excellent albums on which he plays all the instruments. Alongside this, he has produced albums for other people and toured.

Jim Martinez

The thing that strikes any listener to Chris' work is that he plays classical guitar as fluidly as he plays electric rock guitar. In a recent Cross Rhythms Tony Cummings reviewed Chris' 'In Through The Soundhole' - a mix of rock and classical guitar, describing it as "excellent instrumental music". Now we have two albums - one for the rock lover and one for the classical lover. 'Streams From Bethel' is all classical - mellow music to meditate by, with the anointing all over it. And 'On The Rock' is all rock - powerful raucous rock to do battle by and with the proclamation that "Jesus is Lord". But on neither of these albums do we hear Pusey sing.

I spoke to him recently and asked him why he keeps silent. "I have ministered at meetings with the Holy Spirit and the classical guitar and people have been healed. Jesus uses the music to get into the heart of man, and like the guitar is an instrument, so I am only an instrument. If God calls me to open my mouth I will, but for now the music tells the story."

Jim Martinez
Jazz pianist Jim Martinez began his musical career at the age of four. At 36 he has several excellent albums to his credit and has worked with many of the jazz greats. He owns Invisible Touch Music Software which arranges and records MIDI files for all digital and acoustic player-pianos. He also produces and arranges all his albums. It is no surprise, then, that he says, "I'm enjoying using the gifts the Lord has generously given me".

Martinez has 18 years of classical piano training, an impressive background with which to make music for the Lord. He was taught for a short time by his mother and then by Ukrainian teacher, Yuriy Oliynyk. Since becoming a Christian in 1984, he has focused on God for the music on the albums - with some wonderful results. "I started receiving emails and letters from people going through depression, divorce, etc. The common theme seems to be that this music really lifts their spirits."

Keith Routledge

So what is it about instrumental music and what makes it Christian? How do we know if we are playing to the Lord, or just to ourselves, when we have no words? Jim believes, "Instrumental music only becomes Christian when the performer or composer's heart is set to honour and glorify God through the music: because the heart is all he sees." The Lord has shown him that "...our witness is when we allow him to work through us, with what we play and say. As long as we let God do the driving, all things are possible."

Keith Routledge
Keith Routledge has actively involved himself in the Christian music scene since the 70s, being a founder member of the band Meet Jesus Music. Nowadays, you will find Keith at the "harp in a box" - his piano - where he takes worship songs and gives them a classical lilt. The latest of these offerings, 'When The Music Fades', is an instrumental compilation of current worship songs played with skill and devotion.

When Routledge is not in the studio, he can be found playing the church organ, or singing in the local choir, and if he's not there, you might try The English Baroque Choir. So why doesn't this bird sing for us? "I often receive letters from people saying that they have been led to a point of worship and prayer through listening to my CDs. It seems that the music acts as a spiritual aid, it helps them focus on God. I always set about playing the music so that Jesus is lifted up and praised -then I believe things can really happen in the spirit."

It appears that, for Keith, adding a vocal layer to his music would in some way impede on, rather than enhance, the work that the Spirit is doing. He directs the music he plays to God, for he believes that in doing so it brings peace and healing to the listener.