Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

54966

Title

Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A comprehensive companion to the Mennonite Hymnary, this handbook explains the origins, translations, and musical settings of church songs. It fosters understanding and love for hymns, serving as an aid for private study, worship planning, and congregational singing across diverse Christian traditions.

Summary up to 500 words

Written by Lester Hostetler, *Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary* serves as a scholarly yet accessible companion to the Mennonite Hymnary, aiming to foster a deeper understanding and love for the church's hymnic heritage. Hostetler defines a hymn not merely as sung praise, but as a lyric poem reverently conceived to express the worshiper's attitude toward God. The volume traces the rich history of Christian song from the early Jewish Psalms and Eastern Greek and Syriac chants to Western Latin hymns, German chorales, and American gospel songs. By avoiding apocryphal tales, Hostetler focuses on authentic historical data to illustrate the development of hymn meters and the critical role of musical composition in worship. A central theme of the book is church unity in song. Hostetler demonstrates that despite denominational barriers, the hymnbook reaches across ages and traditions to gather treasures from diverse sources. The text categorizes hymns by denomination—including Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and others—listing representative writers and their works to show how Christians unite in song. The handbook provides explanatory notes on specific hymns, detailing their authors, theological themes ranging from praise and adoration to comfort and mission, and the origins of their tunes. The work is structured to aid in private study, family devotions, and the selection of suitable hymns for public worship. It includes an introduction to hymnology, covering the beginnings of Christian song, the influence of the Eastern and Western churches, and the contributions of women hymn writers. Detailed sections explain hymn meters, such as Common Meter and Long Meter, and the importance of matching poetic accentuation with musical beats. Furthermore, the book lists composers of tunes from various eras and regions, highlighting figures from Ambrose to Bach and American composers like Mason and Hastings. Ultimately, the handbook seeks to inspire greater devotion, encouraging congregations to sing with both spirit and understanding, thereby sustaining the time-honored practice of congregational singing.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Religion
• History