“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…” (Newton) What comes to mind when you read these words? One may recall a specific Sunday morning singing this song in church, while others may have memories of their grandparents humming the tune while grocery shopping. Hymns such as Amazing Grace are sung daily by millions of people across the world. These special songs have the power to bring people together, no matter their differences. In the Christian faith, hymns enhance the religious experience by creating a vessel through which active participants are able to communicate their adoration, longing, or praise to God. Hymns are defined as “any religious song intended for the express purpose of praising God” (Chiego 42).
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During that period of time, hymns were written as poetry and were accompanied by “hymn tunes” (Van Camp). Until the 18th century, hymnals, or books of worship songs for church services, contained only lyrics to the song (Van Camp). Consequently, worshipers were required to memorize certain hymn tunes that went along with specific texts. As a result, a portion of the hymns sung in churches today have similar melodies, but different lyrics (Van Camp). Also during the 18th century, John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, wrote over 100 hymns to be sung in Methodist church services (Christansen). These include Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, and Oh for a Thousand Tongues to Sing. These hymns have become prominent in not only Methodist churches, but also in other denominations as well. Christmas carols also became staple hymns in church services during this period (Chiego 43). Today, there are various interpretations of Christmas carols sung during the holiday season (Chiego …show more content…
Contemporary hymns usually do not employ strophic form; instead, they are written using a verse followed by a chorus, and then the addition of a bridge before the chorus is sung a final time before the completion of the song (Van Camp). In addition to newly composed worship songs, some groups of musicians have come together to modernize old hymns for contemporary church services (Revolution Methodist Church). These musicians of Revolution Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, seek to maintain the meaning of the hymns, but change the musical approach through a process they call “Hymnmorphosis” (Revolution Methodist
During that period of time, hymns were written as poetry and were accompanied by “hymn tunes” (Van Camp). Until the 18th century, hymnals, or books of worship songs for church services, contained only lyrics to the song (Van Camp). Consequently, worshipers were required to memorize certain hymn tunes that went along with specific texts. As a result, a portion of the hymns sung in churches today have similar melodies, but different lyrics (Van Camp). Also during the 18th century, John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, wrote over 100 hymns to be sung in Methodist church services (Christansen). These include Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, and Oh for a Thousand Tongues to Sing. These hymns have become prominent in not only Methodist churches, but also in other denominations as well. Christmas carols also became staple hymns in church services during this period (Chiego 43). Today, there are various interpretations of Christmas carols sung during the holiday season (Chiego …show more content…
Contemporary hymns usually do not employ strophic form; instead, they are written using a verse followed by a chorus, and then the addition of a bridge before the chorus is sung a final time before the completion of the song (Van Camp). In addition to newly composed worship songs, some groups of musicians have come together to modernize old hymns for contemporary church services (Revolution Methodist Church). These musicians of Revolution Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, seek to maintain the meaning of the hymns, but change the musical approach through a process they call “Hymnmorphosis” (Revolution Methodist