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Dust on the Hymnal: Pondering the Decline of Hymn Singing in American Denominations
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 6/1/2014 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 06/02/2014 1:42:10 AM PDT by markomalley

One of the more prominent features of Protestant denominations over the decades was hymn singing. Get in your time machine go back 50 years, to any Protestant denomination, and you would find every member of the congregation on their feet, hymnal in hand, singing quite loudly, even harmonizing the old familiar hymns: Onward Christian Soldiers….Amazing Grace….When the Roll is called up Yonder….More About Jesus….Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow!

Catholics congregations were rather different. Low Masses in Latin were common where there was little or no singing. High mass featured complex music that a trained choir largely handled. And the few hymns the Catholics did know quite well, were generally not sung with the gusto anywhere near that of the Protestants.

I’ll admit, I’m a big fan of the metrical hymns of the Protestant tradition. One of the regrets I have is that, in the years just after the Second Vatican Council when vernacular songs were permitted, was that we did not borrow more heavily from the English and German traditions of hymns.

Hymns are stately, easy to learn, and have memorable melodies. They were also metrical, which meant that they were sung to a steady beat and almost never had the complicated rhythms of many modern church songs. Congregations have a hard time singing syncopated rhythm (a variety of rhythms which are in some way unexpected which make part or all of a tune or piece of music off-beat).

Many of the old Protestant hymns, especially those from the English tradition, are actually magnificent translations of the Latin hymns of the ancient Catholic Church. Many of them also beautifully paraphrase the Psalms. As such, their themes were biblical, and richly theological.

A beautiful example of this is the English translation of a verse from the beautiful Hymn by St. Ambrose (Veni Redemptor Gentium):

Thy cradle here shall glitter bright,
and darkness breathe a newer light;
An endless light that shines serene,
Where twilight never intervenes.

And there is this line from the well-known English him For all the Saints:

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long;
Steels on the ear a distant triumph song
and hearts are brave again and arms are strong
Alleluia!

One final example is from the grand hymn O Worship the King:

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

I love to sing and listen to these old hymns, I love to play them at the organ.

But lo and behold, it seems the old hymns are dying out, even in many of the Protestant denominations, especially those of the Evangelical sort. Paradoxically, many of the old mainline Protestant denominations which are theologically and morally very liberal are one of the few places where the old hymns are still sung. Many of the Evangelical denominations which adhere more closely to biblical teachings and morality are now using Christian contemporary music which seems to have largely replaced the old hymns.

But most Christian contemporary music, is really music to listen to more, than to sing, and certainly is not designed to be sung by a large group of people.

Here are some excerpts from a recent article article at the Holy Soup Blog by Thom Schulz: (I add a few remarks of my own in plain red text)

Looking around the church last Sunday I noticed that the majority weren’t singing….That’s been the case for years now–in churches large and small. What used to be congregational singing has become congregational staring…. (Looks and sounds like a average Catholic Congregation)

What happened to the bygone sounds of sanctuaries overflowing with fervent, harmonizing voices from the pews, singing out with a passion that could be heard down the street? I suspect it’s a number of unfortunate factors.

Increasingly, the church has constructed the worship service as a spectator event….It seems it’s paramount for church music to be more professional than participatory. The people in the pews know they pale in comparison to the loud voices at the microphones. (Yes this is certainly the case in most megachurches which are even built like theaters and many of the services  look more like a production than a worship service. 

[Further] The musicians’ volume is cranked up so high that congregants can’t hear their own voices, or the voices of those around them, even if they would sing. So they don’t sing. What would it add? The overwhelming, amplified sound blares from big speakers, obliterating any chance for the sound of robust congregational singing. Yes, I learned this as an organist, that if I played too loud, people stopped singing. The singing of the faithful needs to be supported and accompanied, not drowned out and overwhelmed. In some Catholic parishes volume from musicians and even lectors and preachers is a problem too where even smaller church structures have massive PA systems that overload the listeners rather than enhance their listening). 

Sometimes people refrain from singing because the songs are unfamiliar, hard to sing, or just cheesy…I long for an environment that evokes my real heartfelt vocal participation. As stated above it is really rather difficult to get a larger congregation to sing syncopated music. Clear metrical music is better if congregational participation is desired. Just because some song by a soloist sounds nice doesn’t mean its easy to sing. I get the impression that a lot of Catholic contemporary music is really written for soloists and then forced on the congregation who vote with their mouth which stays shut during the song. All the wild flaying of a cantor’s arms doesn’t really change the situation either. If something is singable for a congregation, the wild gesticulation of the lady cantor is not needed. 

At any rate, I’ll just conclude again by saying that I favor metrical hymns for congressional singing and there is a noble history of some five hundred year on which to draw. There are some nice Gregorian Hymns too. I know the combos is bound to find more than a few comments about ditching hymns too and sining the Introit, gradual, etc. But honestly the number of parishes that can accomplish that reasonably are few. Further, even if a trained schola exists in your parish, the topic here is conjugational singing. Sadly, that reality seems to be disappearing even in the denominations which once resounded with hymns and enthusiastic singing by most of the congregation. Its too bad really.

I’m interested in your experience of congregational singing. I find in most parishes that less than 20% even make a pretense of singing. My own congregation is a bit of an exception since we use a lot of Gospel hymns and music that are very easy for the congregation to sing; lots of refrains and memorable melodies. What of your parish?


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: catholic; christianmusic; hymnology; hymns; msgrcharlespope; trends; worship
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To: Organic Panic

When we’ve had to relocate for work and have had looked for a new church (Baptist), I gone online and called the pastors. My list of questions is:

What version of the Bible do you use? If not KJV, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.

What hymnal do you use? If they say they don’t use hymnals and/or they put the words of the songs on a screen, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.

When I walk into your church, will I see drums? If “yes”, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.

What contemporary/pop Christian do you have? The correct response would be “none”.

When we moved to Tennessee, we incorrectly assumed it would be easy to find a “good” fundamental Baptist church. We were wrong. Finally, we did find one but it was a chore. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting 5 or 6 churches; they’re everywhere. Sadly, most have gone contemporary, especially with music, and are into the razzle-dazzle.


41 posted on 06/02/2014 7:25:30 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: mom4melody

One of the things I have noticed over the years is that people will sing with a choir but not so much with a praise team. The bigger the choir the better.

We lead the congregation in Worship rather than just presenting the Gospel. It is very different.


42 posted on 06/02/2014 7:27:12 AM PDT by buffaloguy
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To: Fiji Hill

I love, love, love the traditional Protestant music - and I speak as a Catholic. The hymns are so beautiful and so emblematic of the best of Americana.

I have a cd of the film score of “How the West Was Won,” and it features gorgeous hymns - as well as traditional folk. That film introduced me to those hymns.


43 posted on 06/02/2014 7:30:24 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: Gumdrop

I grew up in an old-fashioned Irish Catholic community in NYC. We had Tin Pan Alley Catholic songs like “Bring Flowers of the Fairest.” Years ago, there was a wonderful and very funny book about American Catholic music of the mid-20th century. I have since lost it and forgotten it’s name.


44 posted on 06/02/2014 7:33:24 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: MayflowerMadam

Oy vey! I remember my mother dragging me out of a Catholic church if she saw a guitar!


45 posted on 06/02/2014 7:34:23 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: mdmathis6
I'm 50 + and grew up singing from the old Broadman hymnal. I love those old songs but I like some if the new too. I'd much rather sing the new version of One Day than plod through ALL there verses of the old hymn like we use too.

What I don't understand is the dogmatic hatred by some (mostly older) members for the new stuff.

Ironically, the old hymns they love were once “new” music and much was rejected by the church establishment of the day. Silent Night was rejected at 1st for not being sung in Latin and guitar accompaniment.

Style of song worship not being directly addressed in scripture leaves a matter of opinion and taste.

Unless you are Jimmy Swagger, you preach a TV sermon on the evils of modern music before your commercial for your new Southern Gospel album.

46 posted on 06/02/2014 7:39:13 AM PDT by fungoking (Tis a pleasure to live in the Ozarks)
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To: fungoking

Church music does change and we are seeing it happen now. Many people respond to CCM and others respond to the old hymns.

Jesus provides what each person needs to bring them to him.


47 posted on 06/02/2014 7:42:53 AM PDT by buffaloguy
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To: mom4melody
I grew up with the Hymnal.....boring. And not always relevant...who knows what a sheave is anyway?

I don't know of any hymns or gospel songs that contain the word "sheave," which is a grooved wheel used in various types of machinery. However, the word "sheaves," the plural of "sheaf"--as in the gospel song "Bringing in the Sheaves--certainly has relevance:

But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
Micah 4:12

48 posted on 06/02/2014 7:47:39 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: All

I’m perplexed by professing Christians who say they “don’t sing”. There are both commands and examples of singing in the New Testament. What other parts do you throw out?


49 posted on 06/02/2014 7:47:40 AM PDT by Sloth (Rather than a lesser Evil, I voted for Goode.)
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To: Sloth

Yep. Make joyful noise was the instruction, not make an aria.


50 posted on 06/02/2014 7:50:59 AM PDT by buffaloguy
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To: Fiji Hill; mom4melody

Also, sheaves played a role in Joseph’s dream regarding his brothers.


51 posted on 06/02/2014 7:53:55 AM PDT by Sloth (Rather than a lesser Evil, I voted for Goode.)
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To: Gumdrop

**‘Holy God We Praise Thy Name’. When people are familiar with a song and the tune, they usually participate with gusto.**

One we sing at Daily Mass.


52 posted on 06/02/2014 7:54:17 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: buffaloguy

No SG Berserker here, just an appreciation of the Spirit in the singing and the songs. If you found the Lord thru CCM, then all praise to Him for using that tool to bring you into the fold.

Thanks for the additional info on shape notes.


53 posted on 06/02/2014 8:04:41 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
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To: buridan
How can you change The Battle Hymn of the Republic?

It is a historical hymn. What gives some stupid committee the idea that it is their place to be revising a historical hymn that generations of Americans have been singing since the Civil War? The chutzpah is astounding!

54 posted on 06/02/2014 8:05:08 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Health Care Haiku: If You Have a Right / To the Labor I Provide / I Must Be Your Slave)
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To: mom4melody
who knows what a sheave is anyway?

Ummm... Everybody?

55 posted on 06/02/2014 8:11:56 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Health Care Haiku: If You Have a Right / To the Labor I Provide / I Must Be Your Slave)
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To: T-Bird45

Our very conservative congregation sings traditional-style shape-note hymns. We just recently started projecting both the music notation & words on the screen, in addition to having bound hymnals available, because it makes it easier to visually follow the song leader.


56 posted on 06/02/2014 8:14:01 AM PDT by Sloth (Rather than a lesser Evil, I voted for Goode.)
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To: T-Bird45

Shape note music is some of the most beautful and interesting music ever written. Simply stunning particularly when you are inside the choir singing it.

One the odd characteristics is that you can move from part to part and sing that part in your own register. Tenors will sometimes sing the soprano part, for instance.

And it is all in praise of Jesus and His Father. It is simply wonderful.


57 posted on 06/02/2014 8:16:13 AM PDT by buffaloguy
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To: fungoking

I’m not against a lot of contemporary Christian music just the type that has a praise and worship leader singing songs of a type that untrained voices can’t easily follow. These folk wail like they are on American Idol. What is edifying about that sort of music? Good simple scripturally derived praise songs...I love them. Guess who first wrote the first and greatest scripture praise song book and what did he write...? Georg Friedrich Handel who wrote “The Messiah!”(yeah a lot of folks can’t sing that as well but since no one can sing 4 part choral harmony...one just chooses the part they can sing blending in with the melody.) The Hallelujah Chorus is such that even if you can’t sing a note...just croaking along with it makes you feel like you can sing anything God puts in your heart...even a joyful “noise” is better than joyless but correct singing!”

You see, good hymns and contemporary worship music should be written like that...music that draws everyone in...screech owl sopranos to sour note blunderbuss baritones, trilling tenors and awkward voice changing males!


58 posted on 06/02/2014 8:39:50 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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To: markomalley; Tax-chick; GregB; Berlin_Freeper; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; ...

Ping!


59 posted on 06/02/2014 8:41:10 AM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: Haiku Guy; All

A measure of wheat or grain still on their stalks and not yet separated from them; the stalks were bundled together in a diameter or fashion considered easily milled.

Refers to “sheaf” offerings or wave offerings presented to the priests during the Day of First fruits(The first day after Passover or the day of the Resurrection of our Lord)

Hence we are “bringing in the sheaves” by witnesses and winning souls for Christ...the first fruits then the final harvests as so directed by the Holy Spirit!


60 posted on 06/02/2014 8:49:30 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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