Liturgical Music

Introductions to resources on hymns, psalms and other liturgical music.

Hymn

The Wikipedia entry for Hymn is a useful introduction, organised:

1. Origins;
2. Christian Hymnody
   • 2.1 Music and accompaniment
     • 2.1.1 Western church
     • 2.1.2 Eastern church;
   • 2.2 The development of Christian hymnody;
   • 2.3 Hymn meters;
3. References;
4. See also;
5. External links.

Hymn Resources on the Internet

Hymnody is a well-laid out personal interest collection of Links organised:

• Hymn Texts;
• Hymns in MIDI;
• Library Resources;
• Hymn History;
• Projects and Publications;
• Blogs;
• Miscellanea.

HymnQuest

" HymnQuest is a unique software program developed by "The Pratt Green Trust", a charity devoted to the advancement of hymnody and music in worship. It is the most comprehensive ever published in its field, containing over 33,800 first lines and choruses, the full text of 21,200 hymns and songs from some 381 hymn books and publications. The opening bars of over 17,590 melodies can be both viewed and heard, and the indexes list tune names and metres; biblical, lectionary, thematic, liturgical and seasonal references, as well as information and pictures of authors, composers and translators. It is even possible to search for tunes by playing the opening notes on a Virtual Keyboard - we understand HymnQuest was the world's first software to offer such a facility!"

Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie

"The International Fellowship for Research in Hymnology , currently with over 320 single and some 15 corporate members. German language Site gives access to details and content lists of their publications, as well as to a PDF 150 page IAH-sponsored inventory of hymn-related 'Archives'" Links to Hymn Societies of Great Britain and Ireland, and United States and Canada.

Metrical Psalter

"A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a paraphrase of all or part of the Book of Psalms in vernacular poetry, meant to be sung as hymns in a church. The composition of metrical psalters was a large enterprise of the Protestant Reformation, especially in its Calvinist manifestation ..."

The Gregorian Association

Good overview and collection of Links: " The Gregorian Association was founded in 1870 (as The London Gregorian Choral Association) to promote the singing of Gregorian Chant to English texts, and to overcome the prejudice which existed against doing so. This purpose is still part of the work of the Association, but more recently its policy has increased in scope, so that the it is now fully oecumenical, and promotes and uses the chant in Latin as well as Modern English and that of the Book of Common Prayer. The Association is now 130 years old; during this time it has sung and taught the chant as a living witness to the enduring value and beauty of the "true music of the church"."

Worship and Church Music

Worship and Church Music is a US-based Site. "The goal of this website is to primarily serve the music ministry needs of the Christian church musicians who wish to expand their knowledge and breadth of worship to include some of the historical authentic expressions of Christian worship in their churches.  Please click on the links to find information about Christian church history, liturgical information, church music history and resources, and more." Extensive set of Links.

Latin Liturgy

www.latin-liturgy.org    is an association founded in 1969 to promote understanding of the theological, pastoral and spritual qualities of the liturgy in latin and to secure, for present and future generations, the Church's unique inheritance of liturgical music.