Hymns and the music the church sings are tangible means of expressing worship. And while worship is one of, if not the, central functions of the church along with mission, service, education, justice, and compassion, and occupies a prime focus of our churches, 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: Historical and Theological Introductions is a 60-chapter, three-volume introductory textbook 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. Volume 2 begins with the Reformation and extends to the eighteenth-century hymnists and liturgists. Volume 3 engages nineteenth century hymnists to the contemporary movements of the twenty-first century. Each chapter contains these five elements: historical background, theological perspectives communicated in their hymns/compositions, contribution to liturgy and worship, notable hymns, and bibliography. The mission of Hymns and Hymnody is (1) to provide biographical data on influential hymn writers for students and interested laypeople, and (2) to provide a theological analysis of what these composers have communicated in the theology of their hymns. We believe 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, we contend, is missing-yet important-in accessible formats for the current literature.

Hymns and the music the church sings are tangible means of expressing worship. And while worship is one of, if not the, central functions of the church along with mission, service, education, justice, and compassion, and occupies a prime focus of our churches, 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: Historical and Theological Introductions is a 60-chapter, three-volume introductory textbook 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. Volume 2 begins with the Reformation and extends to the eighteenth-century hymnists and liturgists. Volume 3 engages nineteenth century hymnists to the contemporary movements of the twenty-first century. Each chapter contains these five elements: historical background, theological perspectives communicated in their hymns/compositions, contribution to liturgy and worship, notable hymns, and bibliography. The mission of Hymns and Hymnody is (1) to provide biographical data on influential hymn writers for students and interested laypeople, and (2) to provide a theological analysis of what these composers have communicated in the theology of their hymns. We believe 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, we contend, is missing-yet important-in accessible formats for the current literature.

Susan Boynton Chapter 11 Hymns and Sequences in the Twelh and irteenth Centuries u 144 Margot E. Fassler Chapter 12 Hymnody of the Western Religious Orders u 159 Heather Josselyn-Cranson Chapter 13 Music and Hymnody in the Late Byzantine Period u 174 Spiro Antonopoulos Chapter 14 Marian Hymnology in the East and West u 174 Stephanie A. Budwey Part 3: Fourteenth and Fieenth Centuries Chapter 15 Western European Vernacular Song through the Early Renaissance u 207 Christopher Ruth Chapter 16 Pre-Reformation German Vernacular Hymnody u 223 Anthony Ruff Chapter 17 Guillaume Du Fay u 235 Rachel A. MacNellis Chapter 18 Josquin des Prez u 251 Christopher Ruth Chapter 19 English Liturgical Composers in the Fieenth Century u 265 Alexandra Buckle Chapter 20 Orthodox Song in post-Byzantine Times u 281 Richard Barret Timeline for Volume 2u 297 Mel R. Wilhoit For Further Reading u 303 Mel R. Wilhoit Contributor Biographies for Volume 1: Alphabetical Listing u 315 Index of Scripture u 317 Index of Names and Subjects u 321 Index of Hymns u 331