Hymns and the music the church sings are tangible means of expressing worship. As worship is one of the central functions of the church and it occupies a prime focus, a renewed sense of awareness to our theological presuppositions and cultural cues must be maintained to ensure a proper focus in worship. Hymns and Hymnody is an introductory textbook in three volumes describing the most influential hymnists, liturgists, and musical movements of the church. This academically grounded resource evaluates both the historical and theological perspectives of the major hymnists and composers that have impacted the church over the course of twenty centuries. Volume 1 explores the early church and concludes with the Renaissance era hymnists. Each chapter contains five elements: historical background, theological perspectives communicated in their hymns/compositions, contribution to liturgy and worship, notable hymns, and bibliography. The missions of Hymns and Hymnody are to provide biographical data on influential hymn writers for students and interested laypeople, and to provide a theological analysis of what the cited composers have communicated in the theology of their hymns. It is vital for those involved in leading the worship of the church to recognize that what they communicate is in fact theology. This latter aspect is missing in accessible formats for the current literature.

Hymns and the music the church sings are tangible means of expressing worship. As worship is one of the central functions of the church and it occupies a prime focus, a renewed sense of awareness to our theological presuppositions and cultural cues must be maintained to ensure a proper focus in worship. Hymns and Hymnody is an introductory textbook in three volumes describing the most influential hymnists, liturgists, and musical movements of the church. This academically grounded resource evaluates both the historical and theological perspectives of the major hymnists and composers that have impacted the church over the course of twenty centuries. Volume 1 explores the early church and concludes with the Renaissance era hymnists. Each chapter contains five elements: historical background, theological perspectives communicated in their hymns/compositions, contribution to liturgy and worship, notable hymns, and bibliography. The missions of Hymns and Hymnody are to provide biographical data on influential hymn writers for students and interested laypeople, and to provide a theological analysis of what the cited composers have communicated in the theology of their hymns. It is vital for those involved in leading the worship of the church to recognize that what they communicate is in fact theology. This latter aspect is missing in accessible formats for the current literature.

List of Tables Preface About the Editors, Introduction Contributor, and Editorial Advisory Board Introduction to Volume 1: From Asia Minor to Western Europe / Paul Westermeyer Part 1: First to Ninth Centuries 1. Hymns and Creedal Worship in the New Testament / Jim Samra 2. Psalms in the Early Church / Mel R. Wilhoit 3. Liturgical Patterns and Calendars / Paul Westermeyer 4. Syriac Song in the Early Centuries / Tala Jarjour 5. Latin Song in the Early Centuries / R. Scott Connell 6. Byzantine Song in the Early Centuries: From Kantakion to the Canon / Dimitrios Skrekas 7. Gregorian Chant through the Centuries / Anthony Ruff 8. Trinitarian Hymns in the East and West / Kimberly Hope Belcher 9. Insular and Carolingian Hymns / Pete Gavin Ferriby Part 2: Tenth to Thirteen Centuries 10. Hymns, Sequences, and Tropes in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries / Susan Boynton 11. Hymns and Sequences in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries / Margot E. Fassler 12. Hymnody of the Western Religious Orders / Heather Josselyn-Cranson 13. Music and Hymnody in the Late Byzantine Period / Spiro Antonopoulos 14. Marian Hymnology in the East and West / Stephanie A. Budwey Part 3: Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries 15. Western European Vernacular Song through the Early Renaissance / Christopher Ruth 16. Pre-Reformation German Vernacular Hymnody / Anthony Ruff 17. Guillaume Du Fay / Rachel A. McNellis 18. Josquin des Prez / Christopher Ruth 19. English Liturgical Composers in the Fifteenth Century / Alexandra Buckle 20. Orthodox Song in post-Byzantine Times / Richard Barrett Timeline for Volume 1 / Mel R. Wilhoit For Further Reading / Mel R. Wilhoit Contributor Biographies for Volume 1: Alphabetical Listing Index of Scripture Index of Names and Subjects Index of Hymns