Same song; different sound

The familiar tune of "The Old Rugged Cross" resonates from Tim York's Dobro steel guitar with its unique style of the old Christian hymn.

Plucked chords from finger picks and a slider bar amplify through the electric lap guitar in preparation for Sunday's performance, echoing melodious vibrations unlike any other.

And that's exactly what York loves about the stringed instrument - it's different.

"I heard a steel guitar once as a child, and I fell in love with it," he said. "They're not too common, and they're very difficult to master - I've been fumbling with it all my life."

York's Dobro may not mesh with the celestial sound of a pipe organ or the pomp of a church orchestra, but the 65-year-old Odessa man said he's right at home at Christ Lutheran Church, 2002 N. Lincoln Ave.

Even though he can't read a note of music, York said he worked up the nerve to start playing in church services a few years ago, accompanying the church's small choir and music leader Gail Williams who plays acoustic guitar.

"I saw a need and asked Gail if they thought they could use a Dobro," York said. "I'm trying to use my talent, and I enjoy it."

Practice at home is a breeze, York said, and he really shines on the instrument in solitude - but playing in front of the Lutheran congregation is another story. One of the reasons he started bringing the Dobro to church is to conquer his stage fright and nervousness.

"I'm slowly getting over it, but it's been a long battle," he said. "I wish we had a couple more instruments like a bass and some drums - that would be great."

Many churches incorporate a band of guitars and drums into their worship music while others remain fixed on the traditional sound of piano and organ or just a cappella singing.

For Lowell Hohstadt, music minister of Odessa Christian Faith Center, technology and instrumental ingenuity is a toss up when it comes to worship music in the church.

His musical background stems from classical training at Julliard - Hohstadt said he won several competitions for orchestra writing there - but the Odessa minister said church music has transitioned into a more modern setting of acoustic/electric environment.

"Basically over the course of time, the stage has changed," he said. "I think there's a lot of beauty in the classical tradition that shouldn't be left in history but re-birthed into a new history."

A rock band normally leads the music at Odessa Christian Faith Center, but Hohstadt and his family occasionally add to the mix with their classical stringed instruments - revised with an electronic twist.

"I play the electric violin and my daughter plays the electric cello, and my wife plays the electric viola," he said.

It's definitely not the norm for most church music, but Hohstadt said he even uses computer audio and pre-recorded MIDI tracks for songs in their service that are more rap or hip-hop based - or on big pieces where he may be missing some faces on stage.

"I use the computer with various loops and things we throw into the mix," Hohstadt said. "I use the MAC pro to generate symphonic scores and kind of shore up some of the professionalism in case I have any kind of situation where I'm expecting people to be there, and they can't."

Whether the sounds are digital, acoustic accompaniment or trained voices, Hohstadt said the important thing is that people use whatever ability or musical talent they have - no matter how unusual it may seem.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord," he said.