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American MAINLINE hymnody is that hymnody which has been most influenced
musically by the tradition of European classical music and has been
transmitted and preserved in the standard hymnals of large American
Protestant denominations such as Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal,
Lutheran; Baptist, and others. Generally speaking, MAINLINE hymns are
not GOSPEL hymns and are not greatly influenced musically by popular
musical styles. Another term for MAINLINE hymnody might be "denominational
hymnody."
See What is Mainline Hymnody?
See American Mainline Hymnody
Here are some broad (and overly simplistic) statements that characterize
periods of American hymnody to around 1965:
American hymnody 1620 - 1700
- Chorales are used among Lutherans and Anabaptists.
- Metrical psalmody is the norm for most non-Lutheran/non-Roman Catholic
congregations.
- Roman Catholics have a specialized (Latin) tradition.
American hymnody 1701 - 1800:
- Chorales continue to be used among Lutherans and Anabaptists.
- Metrical psalmody continues as the norm for many congregations.
- New England pastors introduce the singing school after 1720.
- Methodist hymnody is introduced after about 1737.
- Roman Catholics continue in their specialized (Latin) tradition.
American hymnody 1801 - 1870:
- Metrical psalmody begins to die out and is replace by traditional
hymnody.
- The Complete Watts is the hymnal of choice among many congregations
before 1850.
- Shaped-note singing schools proliferate throughout the South while
their New England counterparts die out.
- Sunday School songs become popular and evolve into gospel hymnody.
- Americans begin writing their own hymns.
- Denominations begin publishing their own hymnals.
- Roman Catholics continue in their specialized (Latin) tradition.
American hymnody 1871 - 1900:
- Denominational hymnals are appearing as the norm.
- Gospel hymn collections begin appearing in proliferation.
- Hymns Ancient and Modern begins to influence American hymnals.
- Roman Catholics continue in their specialized tradition, however,
the "Cecelia Movement" begins to make some inroads toward
reform. Hymns are introduced into the Mass. Hymnals are published.
American hymnody 1900 - 1965:
- Gospel songs and gospel hymn collections appear in abundance.
- Few American MAINLINE hymns appear.
- The Azzuza St. revial takes place in Los Angeles (1907).
- 1945 sees the 1st hymnal used by the majority of Southern Baptists
(Broadman).
- The first hymns by Afro-Americans begin appearing in print.
- American popular music explodes and begins influencing gospel hymnody.
- The gospel music industry takes off.
- The Roman Catholic Church experiences Vatican II and Catholic hymnody
will never be the same. Folk masses become the norm..
American hymnody 1966 - Present:
-There is an EXPLOSION of hymn writing in the MAINLINE tradition.
- Hymnal supplements become the norm.
- Contemporary Christian music takes off.
- Praise and Worship music becomes the norm for many Evangelical congregations.
- Some predict the "death" of traditional hymnody at the
same time it is experiencing a RENAISSANCE.
- Many Mainline churches begin experimenting with new forms of worship;
ancient traditions are rediscovered.
- Many Evangelical churches reject hymns altogether for praise and
worship choruses.
- The Roman Catholic Church continues in its specialized tradition.
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