Do we have any World or International Instruments used in our songs?

[Nemo]

Hey everyone 👋

 

So I’ve been working on a paper for class about world music, and it really got me thinking about our own music culture. Specifically, I’m curious — what songs do we have that incorporate instruments or styles from around the world? I don’t just mean the usual piano, violin, drums, or flute — but songs that feel multicultural or globally inspired. Maybe something with a unique rhythm, harmony, or instrument that reflects the diversity of Jehovah’s people.

 

Have you noticed any Original Songs, Kingdom Melodies, or even Meeting Songs that stand out in that way? I feel like some of the newer compositions especially show how far our music has come — not just in sound, but in representing the unity of our global brotherhood.

 

I’d love to hear your suggestions or anything you’ve noticed! I think this could also spark some good conversations with the friends — talking about how much our music has developed and what it means to us as a people with one voice and one hope. 🎶🌍

 

Thanks in advance! Any thoughts are welcome 🤗

Edited July 10 by Nemo

[Jwanon]

You are asking for a song that contains a blend of several cultural styles within?

[LeolaRootStew]

The "Commit Your Way to Jehovah" soundtrack and particularly the song by the same name mixes African music/instruments with a traditional orchestra. You can hear the orchestra more clearly around 1:50 until it blends back in with the African instruments.

 

https://www.jw.org/en/media-items/#en/mediaitems/AudioCYWSoundtrack/pub-cywst_8_AUDIO

[Qapla]

Song #76 "How Does it Make You Feel" has a Jamaican beat

 

The Original Song "Living Peacefully in a Peaceless World" has a Country Music beat.

 

[jdcarlson]

There are several items to consider when we talk about "world music."

 

One big thing is the origin of the musical mode or scale. 

 

Most western music is built around a 12 tone scale (even though it is called an "octave" indicating 8 from its latin roots - but "octave" just talks about the white notes on a keyboard instrument).

 

Music originating in other cultures will use a different number of tones in thier scale. I remember a Chinese gentlement explaining it that some abroginal notes in their scale are "in the cracks" between the notes of a western scale.

 

I have played western style music (12 tone scale) over 70 years, and am very familiar with that.

 

But I have heard of five tone scales  -  just don't ask me give a better description.

 

On frustating thing is that we have no extant musical notation information from about 800 CE.  There are some "chants" in the Catholic church that may be older, and are still sung, but we have no copies of how the music was notated.

 

We know music existed in very ancient times, because remnants of the instruments have been found. But, how they were tuned, or how the music was notated so others could play it is as present not know.

 

That is one of the things I hope for in the New System when some of those who lived in David's time, or close to that, may come back in the resurrection, and we can ask them about their music.

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

[Nemo]

On 7/10/2025 at 2:32 AM, Jwanon said:

You are asking for a song that contains a blend of several cultural styles within?

Yes or something that shows a blend of styles besides the usual western octaves...I have been going through the older kingdom melodies even to see if I can find some there as some of the wiser and more experienced friends have said that they remember them from a pink and brown song book...but thats like way before my time...I vaguely remember the brown song book, then it was yellow, then silver. I remember the piano at the hall and the records or tapes with king David playing on a harp...this one is kinda a faded memory so I am not so sure about that one.

 

On 7/10/2025 at 7:41 AM, LeolaRootStew said:

The "Commit Your Way to Jehovah" soundtrack and particularly the song by the same name mixes African music/instruments with a traditional orchestra. You can hear the orchestra more clearly around 1:50 until it blends back in with the African instruments.

 

https://www.jw.org/en/media-items/#en/mediaitems/AudioCYWSoundtrack/pub-cywst_8_AUDIO

This is one I noticed including the original song with the brothers from the African Bethel singing together vocally.

 

On 7/10/2025 at 10:21 AM, Qapla said:

Song #76 "How Does it Make You Feel" has a Jamaican beat

 

The Original Song "Living Peacefully in a Peaceless World" has a Country Music beat.

 

You are right I didn't think song 76 had that beat to it great catch...the country one is more us style tho...still a great song. I know there is a video somewhere of brothers in farcical singing grand us boldness but in a very specific language and I cant remember where it was its been in the broadcasts and convention videos  
Song 76 for reference https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/sing-out-joyfully/76-how-does-it-make-you-feel/?media=sjjc
With Jehovah, We are one: https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/original-songs/with-jehovah-we-are-one/

 

On 7/10/2025 at 2:19 PM, jdcarlson said:

That is one of the things I hope for in the New System when some of those who lived in David's time, or close to that, may come back in the resurrection, and we can ask them about their music.

I agree whole heartily, there are some songs recorded in psalms and in various locations in the Bible that I would love to know what it sounded like, one that I think would be interesting would be the music played at the festivals and in the tabernacle / temple.

I guess, what I am looking for is instruments that have a global flair, think the Oud an Arabian stringed instrument, Panpipes from Bolivia, Guqin from China, the sitar from India  

Technically speaking Song 48 is using bagpipes: https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/sing-out-joyfully/48-daily-walking-with-jehovah/?media=sjjc  
Other Examples would be All I can give: https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/original-songs/all-i-can-give/
 

[Qapla]

It would be nice to have some "didgeridoo" in a song or two ...

 

26 minutes ago, Nemo said:

the country one is more us style tho

 

While that may be true - it does have a pseudo slide steel guitar sound ... if it had a true pedal steel it would be very distinctly country/blues or even Hawaiian.

 

That particular country twang beat in this Original Sing is unique to American Country Music ... and you did ask about "something with a unique rhythm, harmony, or instrument that reflects the diversity of Jehovah’s people" American Country Music is part of that diversity in music just like New Orleans Jazz is a distinctive sound and would be interesting if it were ever included in a Kingdom Song.

 

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Sitar, but I do enjoy the Pan flute

Edited Saturday at 05:21 PM by Qapla

[Nemo]

16 minutes ago, Qapla said:

It would be nice to have some "didgeridoo" in a song or two ...

 

 

While that may be true - it does have a pseudo slide steel guitar sound ... if it had a true pedal steel it would be very distinctly country/blues or even Hawaiian.

 

That particular country twang beat in this Original Sing is unique to American Country Music ... and you did ask about "something with a unique rhythm, harmony, or instrument that reflects the diversity of Jehovah’s people" American Country Music is part of that diversity in music just like New Orleans Jazz is a distinctive sound and would be interesting if it were ever included in a Kingdom Song.

You’re absolutely right! I just have to look at more world music versus typical American or Western styles. So instruments like piano and violin are kind of off-limits for this project since they’re not usually considered “world instruments.” Thankfully, some of our original songs—and especially the red songbook choir recordings—have more of the cultural flair I’m looking for.

 

If I get the chance to give a witness through our music in class, that would be incredible. Most of my classmates are amazed when they hear that Witnesses from English-speaking countries can travel to places like Japan, Morocco, Peru, or Korea for an international convention—and still sing along with the congregation, even when the song is in another language. Because we already know the melody and lyrics by heart in English, we can join in seamlessly. It’s such a powerful example of unity—different languages, one song, one voice.

 

One song I plan to keep no matter what is Song 61 – “Forward, You Witnesses!” since it was written during the concentration camp era and has such deep meaning:

Forward you wittneses

 

Here are some songs I’ve found so far that have the kind of global and cultural richness I’m looking for:

These are songs I have found that are sorta what I am looking for below...

African Influence: With Jehovah, We Are One | JW.ORG Original Song
African Influence: Song 57—Preaching to All Sorts of People 

 

Ireland Feel : Song 48—Daily Walking With Jehovah
Jamaican Feel : Song 76—How Does It Make You Feel?

Indian Feel : All I Can Give | JW.ORG Original Song

Tropical Feel : Song 64—Sharing Joyfully in the Harvest

Trying to Identify: Song 111—Our Reasons for Joy

 

If anyone knows of any songs I’m missing—whether from the Kingdom Melodies, Original Songs, or even something tucked away somewhere on the JW Library app or website—please feel free to share! I still have some time left to finish this project. Honestly, even beyond the assignment, I think this topic is so encouraging for all of us. It highlights just how far we’ve come as a united people, using the power of music and song to praise Jehovah together across the globe. 

Big Thanks of your help  

[Qapla]

I hope that paper goes well, and it sounds like you are really off to a good start.

 

I see you are in California. Keep in mind that, though you are looking "at more world music versus typical American or Western styles" that, from the view of those in some of the other places you mentioned, like Japan, Morocco, Peru, or Korea - American or Western music is "World Music".

 

Are you going to post your final paper here?

 

[Nemo]

 

40 minutes ago, Qapla said:

I hope that paper goes well, and it sounds like you are really off to a good start.

 

I see you are in California. Keep in mind that, though you are looking "at more world music versus typical American or Western styles" that, from the view of those in some of the other places you mentioned, like Japan, Morocco, Peru, or Korea - American or Western music is "World Music".

 

Are you going to post your final paper here?

 

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the encouragement. 😊

 

And you’re absolutely right—what counts as “world music” really does depend on where you’re standing. That shift in perspective has definitely been on my mind as I explore our music-culture for this paper. Even though the style leans Western in terms of harmony and form, what makes it stand out is its global function. The same melodies are sung in over a thousand languages worldwide, creating a powerful sense of unity—whether you’re in California, Korea, or Kenya.

 

I probably won’t post the full paper here since it leans pretty heavily into music theory (lots of texture analysis, form breakdowns, etc.), but I’d love to share a summary and the music example I’m using when it’s ready—would definitely appreciate your thoughts!

 

This paper kind of became a personal spiritual project for me too… So it felt like one of those “feed two birds with one seed” moments—or maybe, light two lamps with one flame. 🌱💡

 

Here are some of the core instructions the assignment gave us:

 

Each student is assigned to write about a music-culture; this can be an adventure into cultures and peoples greatly separated from you by place or time, OR it can be exploring a music-culture from your native background.

 

We’re supposed to select a subject based on our interest, goals, family, religion, or ethnicity, and gather info from books, online sources, recordings, etc.

 

Then cover the type of music (vocal, instrumental, improvisational, etc.), the function of the music in society (spiritual, work, healing, battle, etc.), and explore musical principles (ethnicity, diaspora, gender, region, etc.)—as well as specific elements like melody, rhythm, texture, and instrumentation.

 

So in a way, choosing our songs as the topic just made a lot of sense—to learn more technically, but also reflect on what makes our music so spiritually and culturally meaningful.

 

[way]

Did you know that, although song 57 sounds very African, the instrumental arrangement was made by Brazilian brothers? And speaking of Brazil, here’s an original song in the Brazilian style: The Language of Our Heart Is Love. It was composed for the delegates of the 2019 international convention in that country. 

 

 

[dljbsp]

I’ve really enjoyed following this thread — such thoughtful exploration of the diversity in our music. It’s clear that Jehovah’s praise truly transcends borders.

 

If I may add a reflection: Regardless of the rhythms, scales, or instruments used — whether the pulse of African percussion, the slide of steel strings, or the sway of island beats — the heart of our music belongs in one genre above all: gospel.

 

That might sound surprising at first, especially since we often associate “gospel music” with a particular sound or culture. But if we look beyond style to purpose, gospel simply means good news — music meant to glorify God, to teach, to build faith, and to express hope. By that measure, all our songs — from the earliest Kingdom melodies to the most recent Original Songs — are gospel.

 

Technically speaking, much of it could be categorized as contemporary gospel due to its accessible style and spiritual message. Yet unlike many commercial gospel tracks, ours are uniquely unified by truth, clean worship, and global harmony — sung in hundreds of languages, yet always in the same spirit.

 

So whether a song leans into Irish folk, Caribbean joy, Brazilian rhythm, or American twang — its genre remains anchored by its purpose: pure praise to Jehovah.

[Dolce vita]

- 167, All I can give and 178, just like a child: Indian influence ?
- 164, Be courageous and strong (makes me think of the Carpenters but maybe it's personal, I don't know): pop influence
- 84, Blessings of learning a language and 241, My only one: Bossa Nova?
- 41, If you could see what I see : style

- 250, Jehovah's family : musical comedy style (Michel Legrand?)