Hymnology
Encyclopedia
Hymnology is the scholarly study of religious song
, or the hymn
, in its many aspects, with particular focus on choral
and congregational song. It may be more or less clearly distinguished from hymnody
, the creation and practice of such song. Hymnologists, such as Erik Routley
, may study the history and origins of hymns and of traditions of sung worship, the biographies of the women and men who have written hymns that have passed into choral or congregational use, the interrelationships between text and tune, the historical processes, both folk and redactional, that have changed hymn texts and hymn tunes over time, and the sociopolitical, theological and aesthetic arguments concerning various styles of sung worship.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, or the hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, in its many aspects, with particular focus on choral
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and congregational song. It may be more or less clearly distinguished from hymnody
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, the creation and practice of such song. Hymnologists, such as Erik Routley
Erik Routley
Erik Routley was an English Congregational minister, composer and musicologist. He was educated at Lancing College and Magdalen and Mansfield Colleges in Oxford...
, may study the history and origins of hymns and of traditions of sung worship, the biographies of the women and men who have written hymns that have passed into choral or congregational use, the interrelationships between text and tune, the historical processes, both folk and redactional, that have changed hymn texts and hymn tunes over time, and the sociopolitical, theological and aesthetic arguments concerning various styles of sung worship.
See also
- Hymn Society of Great Britain and IrelandHymn Society of Great Britain and IrelandThe Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded in 1936 for the purpose of*encouraging study and research in the field of hymnody;*promoting good standards of hymn-singing;*encouraging the discerning use of hymns in worship;...
- Hymn Society in the United States and CanadaHymn Society in the United States and CanadaThe Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, founded in 1922 as The Hymn Society of America and renamed in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization for those people who:* believe that congregational song is an integral component of worship...