Book IV
, are the versions used in one or more of the following works: _Gesangbuch mit Noten_, (Berne, Ind., 1890); _Gesangbuch der Mennoniten_, (Canadian, 1942); _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_, (Concordia Pub. House, 1942); _Gesangbuch zum gottesdienstlichen und häuslichen Gebrauch in Evangelischen Mennoniten-Gemeinden_, (Konferenz der süddeutschen Mennoniten zu Ludwigshafen a. Rh. 1910); and Knapp, _Evangelischer Liederschatz_. Many variations occur in the texts as found in these versions, the explanation of which would require a much greater knowledge of German hymnody than the author possesses. An effort has been made to bring the spelling into conformity with the modern German practice of omitting the “h” where it was formerly used with the “th”; the use of “ss” instead of “sz”; and printing the initial letter of the pronouns referring to Deity, in lower case rather than with capitals.
AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR HYMNS AND TUNES
With Illustrations From the _Hymnary_
1. Definition of a Hymn. 2. The Beginnings of Christian Song. 3. Hymns of the Eastern Church: Greek and Syriac. 4. Hymns of the Western Church: Latin. 5. Hymns of the Bohemian Brethren. 6. Hymns of the Reformation: The German Chorales. 7. Hymns of the Reformation: The Metrical Psalms. 8. Psalm Versions. 9. English Hymnody. 10. American Hymns. 11. The Gospel Songs. 12. Women Hymn Writers. 13. Mennonite Hymnody. 14. Antecedents of the _Mennonite Hymnary_. 15. The Translation of Hymns. 16. Church Unity in the Hymn Book. 17. Hymn Meters. 18. Hymn Tunes. 19. John Wesley’s Rules for Singing.
1. Definition of a Hymn.
St. Augustine, 354-430, gave a definition of a hymn, which has been widely accepted:
A hymn is the praise of God by singing. A hymn is a song embodying the praise of God. If there is merely praise but not praise of God it is not a hymn. If there be praise, and praise of God, but not sung, it is not a hymn. For it to be a hymn, it is needful, therefore, for it to have three things—praise, praise of God, and these sung.
A recent definition, accepted by the Hymn Society of America, is that of the late Carl F. Price:
A Christian hymn is a lyric poem, reverently and devotionally conceived, which is designed to be sung and which expresses the worshiper’s attitude toward God, or God’s purposes, in human life.
L. F. Benson, America’s foremost hymnologist, defines a hymn in these simple words:
The Christian hymn ... is a form of words appropriate to be sung or chanted in public devotions.
A hymn is to be sung _by a congregation_. Its message must be simple, not subtle. It must read well and sing well. In modern usage, the hymn is not limited to the praise of God but includes other moods of worship such as resignation and consecration.
2. The Beginnings of Christian Song.
Hymn singing has always been associated with Christian worship. Jesus and the Twelve sang a hymn, presumably a portion of the _Hallel_ (Ps. 115-118), after the Supper was ended. Paul and Silas sang hymns, “songs of the night,” during the midnight hours of their imprisonment in Philippi. The great Apostle recognized the value of song when he exhorted the churches thus:
Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Eph. 5:18, 19.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col. 3:16.
I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. I Cor. 14:15.
The Jewish converts who at first composed the church had a rich heritage of song in the Book of Psalms. This was their hymnbook, used in the Temple worship and in the home and probably also in the synagogue services. The use of the Psalms, carried over from the Jewish service, forms to this day an important element in Christian worship.
Besides the Psalms, the early church sang the nativity lyrics that adorn the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. It also made extensive use of _Hallelujah_ as a part of the people’s praise, adding, in the course of time, the _Gloria Patri_, the _Sanctus_, the _Te Deum_, and other canticles.
The nativity hymns in Luke, five in all, are extensively used in Roman Catholic and Anglican services.
_Ave Maria_ (Hail Mary). 1:28-29, 42-45. The salutation of Gabriel and of Elizabeth.
_Magnificat._ “My soul doth magnify the Lord....” 1:46-55. Hymn of the Virgin Mary.
_Benedictus._ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel....” 1:68-79. Song of Zacharias.
_Nunc Dimittis._ “Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace.” 2:29-32. Song of Simeon.
_Gloria in excelsis._ “Glory to God in the highest....” 2:14. Song of the Angels. Used as a part of the Roman mass and often found in Protestant hymns, e.g., “Angels we have heard on high” 82.
Beginnings of Christian Song in the Hymnary
_Psalms._