The New Hymns - I love them too!

now...if everything is circular...

we might be CHANTING amazing grace.

 

Traditionally, hymns were written for congregational singing. They were meant to be easily managed by unsophisticated singers, meaning they had simple rythms and melodies (one note per syllable—mostly—and small intervals between them, and a narrow range). When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is a good example.

And Can it Be?, though a good song, is not a good example of a hymn. It has large intervals between the notes, and embellished, or ornamented, sustained vowells, and a large range—a very difficult piece for an unsophisticated congregant.

They were also unaccompanied. If you're ever in a situation where there are no accomplished musicians at church, then you will see quickly which songs in your hymnal better lend themselves to congregational singing, and which ones do not.

Lofty subject matter is also a defining element. Hymns were songs of praise to deities that were praiseworthy. The Greeks (Hymn is a Greek word) sang hymns to Apollo, the God of music, light and truth, but they sang dithyrambs in honor of Dionysus (or Baccus) the god of wine. Dionysian festivals were simply drunken orgies, characterized by riot and excess. Our term "baccanalian" refers to this kind of revelry. It's interesting to note that Paul contrasted psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to that sin in Eph. 5.

 

AMEN Joshua!! There are some awesome new hymns--I have one that you mentioned -- "In Christ Alone"--done by an Irish group using bagpipes. The words are powerful. Stuart Townend wrote "How Deep the Father's Love", which is a beautiful hymn!

 

AMEN Joshua!! There are some awesome new hymns--I have one that you mentioned -- "In Christ Alone"--done by an Irish group using bagpipes. The words are powerful. Stuart Townend wrote "How Deep the Father's Love", which is a beautiful hymn! </font>[/QUOTE]"How Deep the Father's Love" is one of our favorites here. We did it a few weeks ago with a trio, acoustic guitar, piano, and violin. The words are as deep and powerful as anything out there.