"Actually instrumental Christian worship is pretty new, as Christianity goes."

Actually, mousethief, the way I read the historical references that you cite, there must have been a widespread tradition of instrumental music in the Christian church immediately prior to the Protestant Reformation; otherwise, Wesley, Luther, et al, would not have had anything against which they could object.

Joe: Intersting that your 16 years of Catholic schooling included 16 years of music education. I had 16 years of Catholic school, too (well, 17 counting kindergarten), and had a fairly thorough education in music theory and vocal music through 8th grade, but that was the end of it ~ no music at all in my prep-school and college years.

At least part of your high school and college years were spent in the seminary, if I'm not mistaken ~ right? Since Catholic priests are expected to sing regularly ~ solo, often unaccompanied, and in public ~ I would imagine that music education has a much higher priority in the seminaries than in Catholic schools intended primarily for the laity.