Sing with Understanding

Harry Eskew and Hugh McElrath. Sing with Understanding (Nashville: Church Street Press, 2nd edition), 1995.

The basic purpose of Sing with Understanding is to contribute to more meaningful congregational singing of hymns. It seeks to address the needs of those who lead in corporate worship -- clergy and musicians -- and also attempts to bring others, including lay persons, to a greater appreciation of their hymnals and the fascinating heritage of church song. Its primary use, however, is as a textbook for college and seminary classes in hymnology and related areas

This revised edition has provided the opportunity to update the bibliography. Because of the large number of new publications in hymnology, the bibliography is selective rather than comprehensive. In addition to updating each of the original chapters, this edition concludes with an epilogue that focuses on trends and issues in hymnody in the 1980's and 1990's, especially in Britain and America. Another significant change is the expansion to referencing hymns from five major recent hymnals. This provides a broader coverage of song available to American congregations in the closing decade of this century. Hymnology is a rewarding field of investigation. Along with increased understanding, it is hoped that this book will contribute to helping persons "sing with the spirit: with true inspiration and enthusiasm, whether they may worship and serve.

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Here is a listing of the TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART I: THE HYMN IN PERSPECTIVE

1. The Hymn and Literature
2. The Hymn and Music
3. The Hymn and Scripture
4. The Hymn and Theology

PART II: THE HYMN IN HISTORY AND CULTURE

5. Early Church and Pre-Reformation Traditions
6. Reformation Traditions
7. British Traditions
8. American Traditions
9. Cultural Perspectives

PART III: THE HYMN IN PRACTICE

10. The Hymn in Proclamation
11. The Hymn in Worship
12. The Hymn in Education
13. The Hymn in Ministry

EPILOGUE

14. Trends and Issues in Hymnod

Appendix 1: A Service of Worship in song
Appendix 2: Hymn Analysis Checklist
Selected Bibliography
Indexes