AOH (The Anatomy of Hymnody)

by Austin C. Lovelace

Some books are written before their time. This is the case of The Anatomy of Hymnody, which grew out of an inquiry into the problems raised by certain texts which needed new tunes when I was Chairman of the Tunes Committee for the revision of The Methodist Hymnal in 1964. It became obvious that there is a relation between meter, matter, and music. There also seemed to be a relationship between the choice of various poetic devices and the subject of the text. But there was not available a thorough discussion of these matters -- only a smattering of comments in various handbooks to hymnals.

As a result, the book was written and published by Abingdon Press in 1965. At that time there was little interest in new hymns, and the book was dropped from publication. Since then there has been a literal explosion of new hymns and hymnals, and it is the author's hope that this book will be of value to new hymn writers, poets, hymnal editors, hymn lovers, and composers.

G.I.A. Publications, Inc., has gracious offered to make the volume available again, and I have requested that ll royalties be paid to the Hymn Society of America (now the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada)... so that the work of this Society... may be furthered.

[From the Introduction]

Publisher: G.I.A. Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL. 1965

ISBN: 0-941050-02-5

Subject Heading: Hymnody

Chapter Headings:

I. Prose and Rhyme

II. Iambic Hymns

III. Trochaic Hymns

IV. Dactylic and Anapaestic

V. Mixed Meters

VI. Modulations and Poetic Devices

VII. Conclusion

Index

Visit Austin Lovelace's bio page: Austin C. Lovelace