Traditional church music within Western Christianity is based on Gregorian chants, or plainchants, which provided a starting point for music within worship. Early forms of the chants lacked both formal notation and instrumental accompaniment. Often referred to as "sung Bible," the chants contained written indications of notes and pitches by symbols called nuemes. Major collections of these chants are often credited to Pope Gregory the Great (540--604), who is said to have compiled books of scattered hymns that dated back before the birth of Christ. In the 6th century, these collections were made accessible to Christian churches and quickly became an integral part of services.
Traditional church music was passed on both orally and aurally. Some of the most popular hymns sang in churches today were influenced by 18th century composers such as Bach and Beethoven. For example, the popular hymn "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" formed its melody around Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9." Contemporary Christian music is less dependent on this type of folk process and displays more of a modern cultural influence.
A longstanding debate has ensued over what constitutes popular music as being spiritual or religious. Although contemporary Christian music may lack the substantive religious content of Gregorian Chants, its influence on youth is irrefutable. The Grammy-awarding winning rock band DC Talk became famous for anthemic songs like "Jesus Freak," which rejected the idea of hiding religious beliefs in social circles. Church-based Christian rock doesn't typically exist for commercial gain, but rather to build community. And the rise of evangelical Protestant churches, or megachurches, in the 21st century has given Americans one of the major ways to hear live music.
Pope Benedict XVI called to contemporary church musicians in a letter for the 100th anniversary of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, stating that the Gregorian chants are still "the supreme model of sacred music." The ever-evolving Christian music scene has helped attract the young back to the pews, and while contemporary Christian music becomes less dependent on traditions such as Gregorian chants, its vital relationship to worship and prayer remains the same.