Chapter I: Preface

This humble little work is the outcome of personal interest and some lecture work in the field of Hymnology. I trust that this little volume will be of some value, especially to fellow Lutheran organists and choir directors. For further study the student is referred to John Julian’s great “Dictionary of Hymnology” and Benson’s “The English Hymn,” as well as works by Duffield, Breed, Ninde, and others. Every organist and choir director ought to read “The Hymn as Literature” by Jeremiah Bascom Reeves.

MATTHEW N. LUNDQUIST

January, 1926
Wartburg College
Clinton, Iowa

CONTENTS

I. THE HYMNODY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1
Religious Character (Biblical and Congregational) 1
Poetical Quality (Lyrical Beauty) 8
II. THE LUTHERAN HYMN BOOK 15
Arrangements of Hymns in the Hymnal 15
Dogmatic Method of Arrangement 15
Liturgical Method of Arrangement 15
GENERAL SURVEY OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH HYMNS 19
III. EARLY CHRISTIAN HYMNODY 19
Early Greek Hymns 20
Early Latin Hymns 22
IV. MEDIAEVAL CHRISTIAN HYMNODY 27
Mediaeval Latin Hymns 28
Mediaeval German Hymns 32
Mediaeval Scandinavian Hymnody 34
The Sequences 35
St. Gall 36
V. LUTHERAN HYMNOLOGY 39
Martin Luther 41
German Lutheran Hymnody 44
Scandinavian Lutheran Hymnody 50
American Lutheran Hymnody 54
Conclusion 61

ADDENDA
Reformed Church Song 69
A List of Hymnists 71