Hymnology - MUR 4420
Class Schedule, Spring 2007

Class will start promptly at 6:00 p.m. and will end at 8:30. There will be a 10 minute break around 7:15.

Black Text means TOPICS to be covered.
Blue Text means READ something or DO something.
Red Text means graded assignments: Study Questions. Exams, etc.
Brown Text means Hymn Tune Quizzes.
Green Text means Hymn Analyses.

See Schedules of Due Dates at the bottom of this page. Topics for Sessions 3 - 14 will be added as soon as possible. If you notice any inconsistencies regarding assignment dates, please notify the professor: landesdan AT aol DOT com

Sessions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14


Session 1 Thurs., January 11: Welcome to class

Short discussion: What is your favorite hymn?

Syllabus and course expectations

What is HYMNOLOGY?
What is HYMNODY?
What is a "hymn" and why do Christians sing them?

Singing and hymn singing in the Bible
General Statements about the History of Hymnody
10 Books on Hymnody


Assignments:

  • Fill out the ONLINE Student Information Form
  • Read the PREFACE, CHAPTER ONE, and CHAPTER TWO of Praying Twice
  • Read the PREFACE and DIRECTIONS FOR SINGING (vii) in The United Methodist Hymnal
  • Peruse the following Internet Sites:

Hymnology: What is it?
Hymnody: What is it?
Outlines of Hymn History
Historical Periods of Hymnody
10 Books on Hymnody
The Electronic Encyclopedia of Hymnology
Hymnody Links on the Internet
Internet Resources for Hymnology


Session 2 Thurs., January 18: Hymn Mechanics

Short discussion

The Electronic Encyclopedia of Hymnology (EEOH)
100 Hymn Tunes

A short walk through hymn history

Hymn Mechanics Part I: Literary aspects of a hymn (the TEXT)

Form
Rhyme Scheme
Meter
Metrical Pattern
Poetic Devices
Literary Patterns

They Hymn as Poetry

How to do a Hymn Analysis:

Hymn Analysis requirement
Hymn Analysis form


Assignments:


Session 3 Thurs., January 25: Musical Aspects of a Hymn; Early Hymnody

Hymn Mechanics Part II: Musical aspects of a hymn (the TUNE)

Melody
Melodic Range
Interval Relationships
Pitch/Text Relationships
Rhythm
Form
Text/Tune Relationships

Part IV: A Quick Survey of Hymn Tunes

Hymn terminology

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Ancient and Medieval Hymnody

Ancient Judiasm
Jewish Instrumental Music
Jewish Vocal Music
Jewish Cantillation
The Synagogue
The Early Christians
Early Christian Worship
Early Christian Hymnody
New Testament Hymns
Greek Hymnody to ca. 900 CE
Early and Medieval Latin Hymnody
Piae Cantiones

Assignments:

Explore these LINKS which have to do with ancient Jewish and Early Chrisian Hymnody (detailed info):


Session 4 Thurs., February 1: The Theology of Hymns; Greek and Latin Hymnody

How do hymns funciton?
What is "Theology?"

The Hymnal as a compendium of theology.

The Ancient Worldview
The Ancient Jewish Worldview
The Greek Worldview
The Medieval Christian Worldview

The basic tennets of Christianity: Creeds and Statements of Faith

Heresy

Gnosticism
Arianism
Pelagianism
Pantheism - not to be confused with Panentheism

Hymns of the Early Church

I Timothy 3:16
II Timothy 2:11-13
Rom. 6:17
Luke 1:46-55 (Magnificat)
Luke 1:68-79 (Benedictus dominus)
Luke 2:29-32 (Nunc dimittis)

Luke 2:14 (Lesser Gloria)
Gloria (Greater Gloria)
Te Deum

Greek hymnody to ca. 900 CE

Medieval Latin hymnody

Augustine
Hilary
Ambrose
St. Francis

Assignments:

  • Read CHAPTER FOUR & FIVE in Sing with Understanding: The Hymn and Theology; Early Church and Pre-Reformation Traditions.
  • Check out the Church History Project.
  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 4 by Wednesday, February 7 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Tune Listening Quiz 2 by Wednesday, February 7 (one day before the next session). You will not be able to submit it after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Analysis #2 before the beginning of the next session

Session 5 Thurs., February 8: Reformation Hymnody

Transition from Medieval to Renaissance
Characteristics of the Renaissance
Political/Historical Events Leading to the Renaissance

Events leading to the Protestant Reformation

Reformation Hymnody I: Martin Luther

Meistersingers
The Chorale
Rhythmic and Isorythmic Chorale
The Significance of J.S. Bach

What makes a hymn a "Lutheran Hymn?"

Reformation Hymnody II: John Calvin and Metrical Psalmody

Metrical Psalmody - what is it?
Outline of Metrical Psalmody
Metrical Psalmody - A Quick Overview
Metrical Psalms from the Genevan Psalter

See Metrical Psalmody - A Timeline

Reformation Hymnody III: English Metrical Psalmody

English Metrical Psalms

Assignments:


Session 6 Thurs., February 15: English Hymnody thru Isaac Watts

Background to English Hymnody in the 16th century
The Evolution of English Hymnody
Pre-Watts English Hymnody

Separatists and Dissenters

The Established Church

The Significance of Isaac Watts
The Watts School

See Isaac Watts

Assignments:


Session 7 Thurs., February 22: Moravian and Methodist Hymnody.

German Pietism -- what is it?
Pietistic Hymnody
Moravian Hymnody
John and Charles Wesley

The beginnings of British Evangelical Hymnody

Evangelical Hymnody
Agustus Toplady and Calvinist Methodism
Hymns Compared

Welsh Hymnody

Olney Hymns

Assignments:

  • Check out the Church History Project.
  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 7 by Wednesday, February 28 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Tune Listening Quiz 5 by Wednesday, February 28 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit it after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Analysis #3 before the beginning of the next session.

Session 8 Thurs., March 1: American Hymnody to ca. 1870

Early American Hymnody: Metrical Psalmody
Lining Out the Psalms

See: Lining Out

The Singing School

Early American Hymnody
William Billings

American Folk Hymnody
Shaped Note Hymnody
The Camp Meeting

Assignments:

  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 8 by Wednesday, March 14 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Tune Listening Quiz 6 by Wednesday, March 14 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit it after that date.

Spring Break is March 3-11

Individual CONFERENCES to review the progress on your Notebook compilation will begin tomorrow: Friday March 2. Please see Dr. Landes individually to arrange a conference.


Session 9 Thurs., March 15: American Gospel Hymnody to 1940

Happy St. Patrick's Day! St. Patrick's Breastplate

Sunday School Hymnody
Lowell Mason and Thomas Hastings
Roots of American Gospel Hymnody
The Gospel Song

Assignments:

  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 9 by Wednesday, March 21 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Tune Listening Quiz 7 by Wednesday, March 21 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit it after that date.

Session 10 Thurs., April 12: Writing Your Own Hymns; British Liturgical Hymnody

Writing Your Own Hymns
Greeting Card Poetry

See Writing your own hymns

Assignments:

  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 10 by Tuesday, May 1 (last day of classes at Belmont Univ.). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Tune Listening Quiz 8 by Wednesday, March 28 (one day before the next class session). You will not be able to submit it after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Analysis #4 before the beginning of the next session.

Session 11 British and American Mainline Hymnody to ca. 1960 -- we will try to make this session up before the end of the semester.

Evangelical and Mainline Hymnody
British Evangelical Hymnody
The Oxford Movement
British Liturgical Hymnody to ca. 1900
The Yattendon Hymnal
The English Hymnal, 1906

Assignments:

  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 11 by Tuesday, May 1 (last day of classes at Belmont Univ.). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Tune Listening Quiz 9 by Tuesday, May 1 (last day of classes at Belmont Univ.) You will not be able to submit it after that date.
  • Everyone is invited to Dr. Landes' piano concert in the Belmont Mansion on Monday night, April 2, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Break is April 5 - 8


Session 12 The Hymn Explosion; post 1970 British and American Mainline Hymnody -- we will try to make this session up before the end of the semester.

Mainline Hymnody / Gospel Hymnody
American Mainline Hymnody to ca. 1960
Transition of the 1960's
Hymnal Supplements
Trends in Late 20th Century Mainline English Hymnody

Important 20th Century English-language Hymn Writers:

Fred Pratt Green
Brian Wren
Fred Kaan
Thomas Troeger
Ruth Duck
Shirley Erena Murray

Important 20th Century Tune Writers:

C. Hubert Parry
Charles Stanford
Cyril Taylor
R. Vaughan Williams
Carl Schalk
Richard Proulx
David Hurd
Carol Doran

Assignments:

  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 12 by Tuesday, May 1 (last day of classes at Belmont Univ.). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Tune Listening Quiz 10 by Tuesday, May 1 (last day of classes at Belmont Univ.) You will not be able to submit it after that date.
  • Complete Hymn Analysis #5 before the beginning of the next session.

Session 13 Thurs., April 19: Late 20th Century Innovations

Taizé Communitie
Iona Communitie

Scarritt-Bennett Center: Taize

Scarritt-Bennett Center: Labyrinths

Grace Cathedral's Labrynth

Contempletative Prayer

Contemplative/Centering Prayer Overview
Contemplative Prayer for Everyone

World Community for Christian Meditation

Thomas Merton Links
The Thomas Merton Foundation

Assignments:

  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 13 by by Tuesday, May 1 (last day of classes at Belmont Univ.). You will not be able to submit them after that date.
  • Your ORIGINAL HYMN is due for the beginning of the NEXT class session (so we can SING them!).
  • Your Notebook is due by 4:00 p.m., Monday May 7.

Session 14 Thurs., April 26: Our Original Hymns; Using Hymns Effectively

Let's sing our original hymns
Using Hymns Effectively

Assignments:

  • Complete the Study Questions for Session 14 by Monday, May 7. All outstanding work is due by that date and no material of any kind will be accepted after that date for any reason whatsoever.
  • Your Notebook is due by 4:00 p.m., Monday May 7.
  • Any Extra Credit work is due by 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 7. Extra Credit work will not be accepted late.

All outstanding work is due by 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 7. No material of any kind will be accepted after that date for any reason whatsoever.

Schedules of Due Dates:

Study Questions are required for each session. Any individual set of Study Questions will be due the day before the FOLLOWING session. Study Questions CANNOT be submitted late.

Hymn Tune Quiz due dates. Any individual Hymn Tune Quiz will be due by the date listed . Hymn Tune Quiz CANNOT be submitted late.

#1: by Wednesday, January 31
#2: by Wednesday, February 7
#3: by Wednesday, February 14
#4: by Wednesday, February 21
#5: by Wednesday, February 28
#6: by Wednesday, March 14
#7: by Wednesday, March 28
#8: by Wednesday, April 4
#9: by Wednesday, April 18
#10: by Wednesday, May 2

Hymn Analyses due dates. Hymn Analyses CAN be submitted late but the grade will be lowered by ONE LETTER GRADE for each 24 hour period it is late.

#1: before the start of class on Thursday, January 25
#2: before the start of class on Thursday, February 8
#3: before the start of class on Thursday, March 1
#4: before the start of class on Thursday, April 5
#5: before the start of class on Thursday, April 26

Original Hymn is due by the beginning of the last class on Thursday, April 26. Your Original Hymn CAN be submitted late but the grade will be lowered by ONE LETTER GRADE for each 24 hour period it is late.

Notebook is due by 4:00 p.m on Monday, May 7. The Notebook CAN be submitted late but the grade will be lowered by ONE LETTER GRADE for each 24 hour period it is late.

Any Extra Credit work such as a Research Paper is due by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 7. Extra Credit work WILL NOT be accepted late.