Week 14: William and Nikhita.
On Hymns
Posted on April 7, 2013 by nikhitasagar 12 Comments According to the Oxford dictionary a hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. Most critics proclaim that Watts and Wesleys hymns were originally created as a source of propaganda to promote their religious beliefs and encourage conversion. Supporters believe that conversion for Wesley was not an intellectual commitment, but rather an emotional response to his declarations. [1] He evoked all devices to precipitate passionate reactions through hymns. Thou hidden love of God, whose height, Whose depth unfathomd no man knows, I see from far thy beauteous light, Inly I sigh for thy repose; My heart is paind, nor can it be At rest, till it finds rest in thee. -Wesley In this Hymn (Thou Hidden Love of God) Like mentioned above Wesley tries to convey his feelings towards god, thus trying to evoke a strong emotional response from the reader. In 1761 Wesley prophetically defined several guidelines for the singing of hymns. These were: 1. Learn these tunes before any others 2. Sing them exactly as printed 3. Sing lustily 4. Sing modestly 5. Sing in tune 6. Sing spiritually These guidelines became the norm for church hymn singing. An example of one of Wesleys hymns being sung is shown below For a thousand tongues to sing Wesley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O9kw3cILpg
He believed that hymns involved the listener in the religious experience more than the singer. According to a few American Methodists, Hymns were to integrate religious dogma and serve a cohesive function by creating a we feeling among a community of believers. [2] Hymnals have been dated back to the middle ages where they existed more so as chants than as songs, but nevertheless, hymns have survived centuries as a means of connection and praise within the church. This expansive time line shows a hymns ability to be timeless, and the analysis of the connections made by hymns gives reason to all hymnals timelessness. Hymns allow for a connection with God that other sources (such as the Bible, religious leaders, etc.) can provide. Music creates a connection between all of us that strengthens our spiritual beliefs and brings us closer to God.
John Wesley Many different connections can be observed in the church environment which directly relate to hymns. First, the audience member listening to a choir singing a hymnal, and most likely singing along with the choir, experiences personal emotional responses that he/she has associated with God or religion. These feelings and emotional responses can be seen in John Slobodas work, http://www.brainmusic.org/MBB91%20Webpage/Sloboda_1991.pdf, where Sloboda created an experiment with 83 British adults with whom he exposed certain sounds and musical effects. He then measured their emotional and physical responses according to the style of music he played for each subject. The results show a connection between physical and emotional responses (such as goose bumps, shivers, spine tingling, etc.) with different styles of music. Another connection found within the church is the connection between choir
members. Having participated in multiple choir performances and studies, William has personally felt the power and emotional connection created when performing with a large group. According to him the connection between choir members is by far the greatest connection brought forth by hymnal singing, and the connection provides a medium through which each member can fully understand what is being sung and relate to it personally. Preaching to the choir has been derived from the idea that the choir is made up of those individuals who find themselves closest to God, which makes since when comparing that idea to spiritual connectivity. Lastly, the connection between the individual and a higher power or deity serves as the main purpose for hymnal recitation. By singing songs that praise and worship this high power in unison, a feeling of purpose and desire grows within the member of the congregation. Just as Anne Carson has thoroughly explained, desire does not exist unless what is desired is unattainable, so not being able to physically see God or completely ensure that all factors of a religion are true, Hymns play the part of keeping a religious follower desiring the ultimate reward while the facts of uncertainty keep them at bay.
Bibliography 1. [1] Chase, 223 2. [2] Josh Dunson, Freedom in the Air (New York, 1965), 47. 3. [3]http://books.google.com/books?id=p9gUknYfpjYC&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=false 4. [4]http://www.brainmusic.org/MBB91%20Webpage/Sloboda_1991.pdf 5. [5]Price, Carl Fowler. The Music and Hymnody of the Methodist Hymnal. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. 6. [6]R. Serge Denisoff, The Religious Roots of the American Song of Persuasion:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1498356
Discussion Questions 1. Do you think Watts and Wesleys hymns were only written as a source of propaganda? 2. Does the singing of hymns by following Wesleys guidelines create an emotional response for the listener and singer? 3. What do you think makes hymns timeless? 4. How does music make a difference in the experience of listening to hymns?
