Seminar Description
Hymnology is the study of congregational singing of psalms and hymns which involves a focus on texts, tunes, authors, composers, and historical and contemporary traditions, but also on performance practice and the integration of such singing in Christian worship. This study is done in academic settings such as undergraduate and seminary institutions, but also happens in congregational settings such as Sunday School or children's worship, church music ensembles, shorter-term adult-ed programs, and is modeled in weekly worship life.
What ties all of these situations together is pedagogy: what are good processes for the teaching and learning of, and about, Christian worship songs? The "hymn explosion" and technological developments of the contemporary world bring new challenges to the teaching of hymnody. This workshop will tackle these questions in order to equip educators and practitioners from a range of contexts and traditions.
We're looking for a mix of participants - those who are seasoned academics in hymnology, those who are beginning their academic careers, and those who are leaders in congregational life with responsibilities for church education and church-music education.
About the Director
Bert Polman has taught music and hymnology at the college-level for the past 30 years. He received his BA from Dordt College, and his MA and PhD (in musicology) from the University of Minnesota. He served on the editorial committees of five hymnals: Psalter Hymnal (CRC Publications, 1987); The Worshiping Church, a Hymnal (Hope Publishing, 1990); Songs for LiFE (CRC Publications, 1994); Amazing Grace: Hymn Texts for Devotional Use (Westminster John Knox Press, 1994); and Sing! A New Creation (CRC Publications, 2001). He was the primary author and co-editor with Emily Brink of the Psalter Hymnal Handbook (CRC Publications, 1998), and is currently working on a commentary on popular Praise-Worship songs. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Hymn Society in the United States & Canada, and is a periodic contributor to their annual conferences. Bert is currently Professor & Chair of Music at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.
Seminar Weblog and Resource List
For further information contact:
Seminars in Christian Scholarship
Calvin College
1855 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids MI 49546-4402
616.526.8558
fax 616.526.6682
seminars@calvin.edu
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