1. Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: A Brief History
Steve Wolfgang
28 June 2006
Truth Lectures
Bowling Green, KY

2. Overview Introduction of Panel YOUR feedback – Website
Criteria for a Hymnal
History: The Scope of the Situation
Importance of Phrasing in “Singing With the Understanding”
Acquisitions: What’s In, What’s Not

3. David Maravilla Preaches in Republic, MO
Son of Levy Maravilla, St. Louis MD & longtime friend of Cecil Willis & others associated with Truth Magazine
Board member of Sumphonia
Teaches at Hymn-writers school
Outstanding Bluegrass musician

9. Jason Hardin Born in Louisville
Son of Donna & Steve Hardin, Plainfield / Indianapolis
IUPUI, training program at Plainfield
North Ridgeville, OH
Thayer Street, Akron 2002—present
Has written hymns in the Sumphonia collection

12. Hymnal Criteria Scriptural Singable “Original” versions
“Original” new songs
Reverse 150-year trend: wrap music around lyrics, not vv
Let the words, not the music, “drive” the hymns

13. “Senior Editors” Charlotte Couchman Mark Coulson David Maravilla
Craig Roberts
Sumphonia board
Hymnwriters track
RJ Stevens’ Singing School
Steve Wolfgang

14. Review Board Don Alexander Matt Bassford Mark Bingham Jonathan Ellis
Bill Hall
Matt Harber
Jason Hardin
Frank Himmel

15. Review Board Carl Main Steve Smith Bob Waldron Wayne Walker
Howard Whittlesey
Nathan Whittlesey
Charles Willis

16. What Do We Know About New Testament Music?
Vocal
Many texts testify
New Testament Christians
“Sang”

17. What Do We Know About New Testament Music?
Vocal
Non-Instrumental
What texts say or show:
Jesus or apostles using instruments?
Jesus or apostles instructing any Christians to do so?
Churches worshipping with instruments?
???

18. Music in the New Testament
SING
Matthew 26:30
Mark 14:26
Acts 16:25
Romans 15:9
1 Corinthians 14:15
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 2:12, 13:15
James 5:13
PLAY
?????

19. What Do We Know About New Testament Music?
Vocal
Non-Instrumental
Music “style” ?
Harmony? Unison? Chant?
God gave detailed instructions for much
But nothing for music style

20. What Do We Know About New Testament Music?
Vocal
Non-Instrumental
Emphasis on Lyrics – Words
Examples:
1 Timothy 3:16
Philippians 2
Other texts

21. 1 Timothy 3:16 A He who was revealed in the flesh,
B Was vindicated in the Spirit,
C Beheld by angels,
D Proclaimed among the nations,
E Believed on in the world,
F Taken up in glory NASV

22. Lyric Poetry Stacked up in 6 neat stanzas But does not rhyme
Looks like poetry
Stacked up in 6 neat stanzas
But does not rhyme
(unlike modern poetry)
Thought parallels are not immediately obvious
But try another arrangement
Then “connect the dots”

23. 1 Timothy 3:16 A He who was revealed in the flesh,
B Was vindicated in the Spirit,
C Beheld by angels,
D Proclaimed among the nations,
E Believed on in the world,
F Taken up in glory NASV

24. 1 Timothy 3:16 Earth & Heaven - Flesh & Spirit
A He who was revealed in the flesh, B Was vindicated in the Spirit
C Beheld by angels, D Proclaimed among the nations
E Believed on in the world, F Taken up in glory NASV
Earth & Heaven - Flesh & Spirit

25. 1 Timothy 3:16 A He who was revealed in the flesh,
D Proclaimed among the nations,
E Believed on in the world,
B Was vindicated in the Spirit,
C Beheld by angels,
F Taken up in glory.
Earth & Heaven - Flesh & Spirit

26. Developments New Testament Worship Early Christianity
Reformation Efforts
Martin Luther, John Calvin
Psalm Books
Isaac Watts
The Wesleys
William Billings

27. “American” Hymnology Isaac Watts John Wesley William Billings
Hymns and Spiritual Songs – 1707
Psalms of David Imitated – 1719
John Wesley
Collection of Psalms & Hymns–1737
William Billings
New England Psalm Singer – 1770

28. “Democratic” Hymns Elias Smith Alexander Campbell Lorenzo Dow
John Leland
“Democratic” = grass-roots participatory efforts challenging hymnological elitism
Nathan Hatch, Democratization of American Christianity, Yale University Press, 1989

29. Shape Notes Fa-So-La Singing
William Billings, Boston
William Walker
Southern Harmony
Kentucky Harmony
Leonard Myers
Zion’s Songsters
Sacred Harp

30. Hymns in American Musical History

31. Hymnody in the “Restoration Movement”
Abner Jones, Elias Smith – 1804
Barton Stone
Alexander Campbell
Words Only – Scottish psalters
Collaboration among compilers
A.S. Hayden – shape notes
Sacred Harp, Southern Harmony, Kentucky Harmony, etc.

32. Sources: Hymnal Collections
Library of Congress – 16,500
Emory University, Atlanta – 15,000
Incorporates Hartford Seminary collection of 8700 hymnals
Princeton Theological Seminary – 12,000
University of Kentucky – 10,000
Wilcox & Lair Collections
5,000+ uncatalogued
Source: Tina Schneider, Hymnal Collections in the United States, 2003

33. Sources: Hymnal Collections
Southern Baptist Seminary
Louisville - 4,500
Lexington Theological Seminary
Disciples – 2,000
Asbury Theological Seminary
Wilmore, KY – Methodist – 2,000
Centre College, Danville, KY
Presbyterian – 1,000

34. Enos E. Dowling Hymnal Collection Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln, IL

35. Enos E. Dowling Hymnal Collection Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln, IL

36. Timeline Dowling Collection, Lincoln Christian College

38. Timeline Dowling Collection, Lincoln Christian College

39. Christian Hymn Book Alexander Campbell

42. Timeline Dowling Collection, Lincoln Christian College

43. 1860’s - Campbell dies - ACMS holds. copyright - Fillmore
1860’s - Campbell dies - ACMS holds copyright - Fillmore Publishing - Rival hymnals

45. Henry Ward Beecher

46. Plymouth Hymnal Henry Ward Beecher

51. Christian Standard 11 January 1868

52. CS

58. Denomination-specific Hymnals
Baptist 48
Methodist 43
Holiness-Pentecostal 28
Restorationist 16
Presbyterian 12
Congregational 12
American Protestant Hymns Database
100,000+ Hymns ID by Title, 1st Line, & page number

64. Elmer Leon Jorgenson Louisville & Parksville, KY

65. Great Songs of the Church E.L. Jorgenson
Used Alexander & Excell collections
Published by Rand McNally
Sold 250,000 copies of 1st editions
“Standard” edition (1937) used by 3 million Christians in 10,000 churches by 1960
Plates & copyright left to ACU in 1968, before ELJ’s death
Supplement, ca. 1970
ACU revision, 1986, by committee