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Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: A Brief History
Steve Wolfgang 28 June 2006 Truth Lectures Bowling Green, KY
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“Senior Editors” Charlotte Couchman Mark Coulson David Maravilla
Craig Roberts Sumphonia board Hymnwriters track RJ Stevens’ Singing School Steve Wolfgang
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Review Board Don Alexander Matt Bassford Mark Bingham Jonathan Ellis
Bill Hall Matt Harber Jason Hardin Frank Himmel
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Review Board Carl Main Steve Smith Bob Waldron Wayne Walker
Howard Whittlesey Nathan Whittlesey Charles Willis
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What Do We Know About New Testament Music?
Vocal Many texts testify New Testament Christians “Sang”
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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? ???
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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 ?????
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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
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What Do We Know About New Testament Music?
Vocal Non-Instrumental Emphasis on Lyrics – Words Examples: 1 Timothy 3:16 Philippians 2 Other texts
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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
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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”
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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
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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
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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
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Developments New Testament Worship Early Christianity
Reformation Efforts Martin Luther, John Calvin Psalm Books Isaac Watts The Wesleys William Billings
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“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
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“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
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Shape Notes Fa-So-La Singing
William Billings, Boston William Walker Southern Harmony Kentucky Harmony Leonard Myers Zion’s Songsters Sacred Harp
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Hymns in American Musical History
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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.
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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
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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
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Enos E. Dowling Hymnal Collection Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln, IL
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Enos E. Dowling Hymnal Collection Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln, IL
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Timeline Dowling Collection, Lincoln Christian College
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Timeline Dowling Collection, Lincoln Christian College
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Christian Hymn Book Alexander Campbell
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Timeline Dowling Collection, Lincoln Christian College
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1860’s - Campbell dies - ACMS holds. copyright - Fillmore
1860’s - Campbell dies - ACMS holds copyright - Fillmore Publishing - Rival hymnals
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Henry Ward Beecher
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Plymouth Hymnal Henry Ward Beecher
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Christian Standard 11 January 1868
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CS
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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
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Elmer Leon Jorgenson Louisville & Parksville, KY
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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
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