Faith & Reason Nexus

Richard Wagner, Gietman
Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 10
“There is no doubt that those qualities absolutely necessary to church music, namely modesty, dignity, and soulfulness, are most inherent in the vocal style rather than in any other. Reserve and humble restraint befit the house of God… That vocal music is in general more expressive than the mechanically produced tones of instruments is undeniable. Religious feeling finds its most natural expression in vocal utterance, for the human heart is the source of both devotion and song.”

Lyman Coleman, The Primitive Church, pp. 370-371
“Both the Jews in their temple service and the Greeks in their idol worship were accustomed to singing with the accompaniment of instrumental music. The converts to Christianity must have been familiar with this mode of singing, but it is generally admitted that the primitive Christians employed no instrumental music in their religious worship. Neither Ambrose or Basil, nor Chrysostom in their noble encomiums, make any mention of instrumental music. Basil condemns it as ministering only to the depraved passions of men.”