Kingdom songs
Encyclopedia
Kingdom songs are the hymn
s sung by Jehovah's Witnesses
at their religious meetings. Since 1879, the Watch Tower Society
has published hymnal lyrics; by the 1920s they had published hundreds of adapted and original songs, and by the 1930s they referred to these as "Kingdom songs" in reference to God's Kingdom
.
With the 1966 release of Singing and Accompanying Yourselves with Music in Your Hearts, a policy was introduced to use only songs written by Witnesses. Subsequent collections were released in 1984 and in 2009, each retaining, retiring, or revising previous songs and introducing new songs. By 2010, an edition of their current hymnal Sing to Jehovah was available in 44 languages, including several sign language
s.
In addition to songbooks containing sheet music
and lyrics, releases in various audio formats have included vocals in several languages, piano instrumentals, and orchestral arrangements. The orchestral arrangements, referred to as Kingdom Melodies, are drawn from the three most-recent collections. Jehovah's Witnesses use Kingdom songs in their worship at their congregations meetings and larger events.
and Joseph Haydn
. Lyrics were often also adapted from works of famous hymnal writers including Philip P. Bliss, Horatius Bonar
, Fanny Crosby
, Philip Doddridge
, Thomas Hastings
, John Newton
, Isaac Watts
and Charles Wesley
. Since 1966, efforts have been made to use only songs composed and written by members of their religion rather than adapting music or lyrics from other religious groups, to ensure they are characteristic of and unique to Jehovah's Witnesses.
In 1877, Charles Taze Russell
and Nelson H. Barbour
announced Songs of the Morning in their book Three Worlds. Songs of the Bride, a collection of 144 songs, was published in 1879. In 1890, Poems and Hymns of the Millennial Dawn—with 151 poems and 333 songs, most of which were well-known compositions—was released and became the group's official hymnal until 1928. This was followed by lyrics for 11 songs appearing in the February 1, 1896 issue of The Watchtower
, under the title Zion's Glad Songs of the Morning, written by members of the denomination. A supplement of 81 songs was released in 1900, many written by a single individual, under the title Zion's Glad Songs. Two revised editions of this hymnal were released between 1902 and 1908 with almost identical titles. In 1905, the 333 songs published in 1890 along with musical notation
were released under the title, Hymns of the Millennial Dawn. This book was released in a number of other languages, mainly in a shortened version. In 1925, Kingdom Hymns was published, with 80 songs intended for children and youths. In 1928 Songs of Praise to Jehovah was released, which included 337 songs.
Following the adoption of the name Jehovah's witnesses in 1931, the Kingdom Service Song Book was released in 1944 (and revised in 1948), which included 62 songs. This was followed by the release of Songs to Jehovah's Praise in 1950, with 91 songs. Some of the music was from hymn tunes of other churches or based on themes from classical music (for example, Beethoven's Piano Sonata no. 23
in F minor, op. 57 ("Appassionata")). Others used relatively new music, which has been used in later songbooks, including the current one.)
Installments of Kingdom Melodies were issued in cassette and phonograph formats annually during the 1980s. From 1996 to 2000, the series was re-issued as nine volumes on CD
. In 2006, the series was released on CD in MP3 format. Since September 2008, the songs have also been made available for download at the Watch Tower Society's media site, jw.org.
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...
s sung by Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
at their religious meetings. Since 1879, the Watch Tower Society
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization headquartered in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, United States. It is the main legal entity used worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses to direct, administer and develop doctrines for the religion...
has published hymnal lyrics; by the 1920s they had published hundreds of adapted and original songs, and by the 1930s they referred to these as "Kingdom songs" in reference to God's Kingdom
Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
.
With the 1966 release of Singing and Accompanying Yourselves with Music in Your Hearts, a policy was introduced to use only songs written by Witnesses. Subsequent collections were released in 1984 and in 2009, each retaining, retiring, or revising previous songs and introducing new songs. By 2010, an edition of their current hymnal Sing to Jehovah was available in 44 languages, including several sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
s.
In addition to songbooks containing sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
and lyrics, releases in various audio formats have included vocals in several languages, piano instrumentals, and orchestral arrangements. The orchestral arrangements, referred to as Kingdom Melodies, are drawn from the three most-recent collections. Jehovah's Witnesses use Kingdom songs in their worship at their congregations meetings and larger events.
Collections
In the late 19th century, the Bible Students (from which Jehovah's Witnesses arose) used many well-known songs and melodies. They also used well-known melodies set to their own texts. The prefaces of Songs of the Bride and Poems and Hymns of Dawn indicate that these hymnals include hymns adapted from other protestant hymnals such as Hymns of the Morning, Gospel Hymns, Jubilee Harp, Winnowed Hymns, Epworth Hymnal and Songs of Pilgrimage. These melodies were often works of famous composers, including Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
and Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
. Lyrics were often also adapted from works of famous hymnal writers including Philip P. Bliss, Horatius Bonar
Horatius Bonar
Horatius Bonar was a Scottish churchman and poet.-Life:The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland...
, Fanny Crosby
Fanny Crosby
Frances Jane Crosby , usually known as Fanny Crosby in the United States and by her married name, Frances van Alstyne, in the United Kingdom, was an American Methodist rescue mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. During her lifetime, she was well-known throughout the United States...
, Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge DD was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.-Early life:...
, Thomas Hastings
Thomas Hastings (composer)
Thomas Hastings was an American composer, primarily an author of hymn tunes of which the best known is Toplady for the hymn Rock of Ages. He was born to Dr. Seth and Eunice Hastings in Washington, Connecticut...
, John Newton
John Newton
John Henry Newton was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career on the sea at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of...
, Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
and Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
. Since 1966, efforts have been made to use only songs composed and written by members of their religion rather than adapting music or lyrics from other religious groups, to ensure they are characteristic of and unique to Jehovah's Witnesses.
In 1877, Charles Taze Russell
Charles Taze Russell
Charles Taze Russell , or Pastor Russell, was a prominent early 20th century Christian restorationist minister from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and founder of what is now known as the Bible Student movement, from which Jehovah's Witnesses and numerous independent Bible Student groups emerged...
and Nelson H. Barbour
Nelson H. Barbour
Nelson Horatio Barbour was born in Throopsville, New York, August 21, 1824, and died in Tacoma, Washington, August 30, 1905. Barbour was an influential Adventist writer and publisher, best known for his association with and later opposition to Charles Taze Russell.- Life :Barbour was the son of...
announced Songs of the Morning in their book Three Worlds. Songs of the Bride, a collection of 144 songs, was published in 1879. In 1890, Poems and Hymns of the Millennial Dawn—with 151 poems and 333 songs, most of which were well-known compositions—was released and became the group's official hymnal until 1928. This was followed by lyrics for 11 songs appearing in the February 1, 1896 issue of The Watchtower
The Watchtower
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom is an illustrated religious magazine, published semi-monthly in 194 languages by Jehovah's Witnesses via the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and printed in various branch offices around the world...
, under the title Zion's Glad Songs of the Morning, written by members of the denomination. A supplement of 81 songs was released in 1900, many written by a single individual, under the title Zion's Glad Songs. Two revised editions of this hymnal were released between 1902 and 1908 with almost identical titles. In 1905, the 333 songs published in 1890 along with musical notation
Musical notation
Music notation or musical notation is any system that represents aurally perceived music, through the use of written symbols.-History:...
were released under the title, Hymns of the Millennial Dawn. This book was released in a number of other languages, mainly in a shortened version. In 1925, Kingdom Hymns was published, with 80 songs intended for children and youths. In 1928 Songs of Praise to Jehovah was released, which included 337 songs.
Following the adoption of the name Jehovah's witnesses in 1931, the Kingdom Service Song Book was released in 1944 (and revised in 1948), which included 62 songs. This was followed by the release of Songs to Jehovah's Praise in 1950, with 91 songs. Some of the music was from hymn tunes of other churches or based on themes from classical music (for example, Beethoven's Piano Sonata no. 23
Piano Sonata No. 23 (Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 is a piano sonata. It is considered one of the three great piano sonatas of his middle period . It was composed during 1804 and 1805, and perhaps 1806, and was dedicated to Count Franz von Brunswick...
in F minor, op. 57 ("Appassionata")). Others used relatively new music, which has been used in later songbooks, including the current one.)
Singing and Accompanying
Singing and Accompanying Yourselves with Music in Your Hearts was released in 1966, with 119 songs. Melodies identified as not having been written by Jehovah's Witnesses were replaced. For the first time, a policy was adopted of including only material written and composed by Jehovah's Witnesses, though some songs composed by non-Witnesses were unintentionally included.Sing Praises to Jehovah
In 1984, Sing Praises to Jehovah, was released, which includes 225 songs. It was subsequently introduced in many other languages. Many songs in Sing Praises to Jehovah were present in the previous two books; some that were found not to have been written by members of Jehovah's Witnesses were excluded, and many new songs were added. Two songs had the melodies changed, and various textual revisions were made.Sing to Jehovah
In 2009, the release of a new hymnal, Sing to Jehovah, was announced; as of January 2010, it is the current hymnal used at religious services of Jehovah's Witnesses. It contains 135 songs, 42 of which are new. Many songs from earlier editions are retained; some melodies and lyrics have been changed, and some songs have had verses removed. Some melodies have completely new lyrics, and some lyrics have been set to new melodies. Reduced editions comprising 55 songs are available in 22 less common languages. Four volumes of orchestral and vocal arrangements based on 72 songs from Sing to Jehovah have also been released.Kingdom Melodies
A series of light orchestral arrangements of Kingdom songs entitled Kingdom Melodies was first released in 1980. They are intended for listening, and are not well suited for accompanying singing. The earlier recordings in the series were from the 1966 hymnal Singing and Accompanying Yourselves With Music in Your Hearts, and the later ones from Sing Praises to Jehovah.Installments of Kingdom Melodies were issued in cassette and phonograph formats annually during the 1980s. From 1996 to 2000, the series was re-issued as nine volumes on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. In 2006, the series was released on CD in MP3 format. Since September 2008, the songs have also been made available for download at the Watch Tower Society's media site, jw.org.
Use in worship
Typically, Jehovah's Witnesses sing three songs at their midweek- and weekend meetings for worship. The entire congregation sings, usually accompanied by a piano recording on compact disc, although some congregations have a piano or a band. Meetings open and close with a song and prayer, along with a song during an interlude between the two sections of the meeting. Songs are selected to match the theme of the meeting program. Songs to introduce the Congregation Bible Study and the Service Meeting are found in the newsletter, Our Kingdom Ministry, and those for the Watchtower study are on the front cover of The Watchtower Study Edition. The song used to introduce the public talk is normally chosen by the speaker. Songs are also used at assemblies and conventions, and sometimes at different events at Watch Tower Society branch offices.See also
- Jehovah's Witnesses practicesJehovah's Witnesses practicesThe practices of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Bible Student movement, and successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford and Nathan Homer Knorr. Since 1976 they have also been based on decisions made at...
- Kingdom HallKingdom HallA Kingdom Hall is a place of worship used by Jehovah's Witnesses. The term was first suggested in 1935 by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, for a building in Hawaii...
- List of Watch Tower Society publications#Songbooks
External links
- Authorized Site of Jehovah's Witnesses Sing to Jehovah and Kingdom Melodies
- Worldwide Association of Jehovah's Witnesses Selected Sing to Jehovah video-songs in ASL