Friday, July 06, 2007
Teaching Hymnology ‘07
Reports from Bethany (Meyer) Vrieland on the Teaching Hymnology seminar held last week at Calvin College:
Monday, June 25, 2007
Today we began the second seminar on teaching hymnology in school and church settings, led by Dr. Bert Polman. Twelve new and diverse participants were chosen among applicants and they arrived at Calvin College to take part in a week-long seminar during the last week of June. The morning kicked off with the first of the daily devotions that the group would experience and participate in throughout the week; its focus was God’s creation of the world.
Following devotions, the group headed to the Calvin Alumni Board Room, where daily classes were held. Once introductions had occurred around the table, the first topic of discussion was on course syllabi, and how to most effectively create a coherent and encompassing document of material and procedures. Looking at some of the participants’ sample syllabi, as well as some from previous seminar participants and others, the group evaluated the contents based on Dr. Polman’s suggested criteria, and discussed the importance of clarity and accuracy.
After lunch, the group reconvened to discuss the theology of hymn texts, looking at specific examples, as well as generic ideas. The participants first examined and discussed texts as narratives, as theological, and as inspirational, though it was quickly determined that these three categories were not sufficient to group all hymn texts. Later on, there was examination and discussion on the theology of the church sacraments and of providence, as were found in several hymn text examples. The participants of this seminar ended their first day well, and they were ready to encounter what else they would learn in the days to follow.
A resource mentioned in today’s discussion, that speaks on the theology of hymn texts, is Paul Schilling’s book, The Faith We Sing.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Tuesday morning began again with devotions, today based on the fall of humankind; the message and songs were humbling and a good reminder that we as humans are sinful and in need of a Savior. This devotional time was followed by an appropriately fitting discussion of Psalm (particularly lament) texts in both sung and spoken worship and hymnody. This study was led by guest Carl Bosma, a professor of Old Testament studies at Calvin Seminary. It was a very healthy and thought-provoking topic for many of the participants, as lament Psalmody is a diminishing idea in the worship life of many Christians today. The participants were encouraged to consider laments more often either in their teaching of hymnody itself, or in their various church practices in worship planning.
After lunch, the group talked about and examined a smattering of hymnology textbooks and possible teaching tools for teaching hymn history; it was also pointed out that a generally useful teaching tool is your own denomination’s hymnal and whatever handbook accompanies it. As a further illustration of how to instruct the history of hymns, Dr. Polman joined the group after break dressed as Charles Wesley. After a brief lecture given by “Wesley,” he explained how he has used costumes to memorably illustrate and teach the history of hymns. To conclude the day, the participants looked at several different topics of hymnody and devised different ways that would effectively teach the material to their students.
Overall, Tuesday was a very profitable day, as it prodded the participants to consider some new material and methods that they might not have thought for awhile. Everyone went away ready for what was next, but also ready for a break!
A few more resources mentioned today:
William Jensen Reynolds, Milburn Price, David Music A Survey of Christian Hymnody
Harry Eskew, Hugh T. McElrath Sing With Understanding
Samuel Rogal A General Introduction to Hymnody
Erik Routley, Paul A. Richardson A Panorama of Christian Hymnody
Paul Westermeyer Let the People Sing: Hymn Tunes in Perspective
Erik Routley, Peter Cutts An English-Speaking Hymnal Guide
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Wednesday morning’s devotions were structured around the topic of redemption that we as Christians celebrate through Jesus Christ. In the singing, Scripture, and prayer, the participants were reminded of the great redeeming love that offers forgiveness and healing. Following this was a discussion on Psalms, psalmody, and psalms in hymnody. Dr. Polman talked about and encouraged discussion regarding the liturgical forms and purposes of the Psalms, including their historical structure and the divisions within the book of Psalms.
Following the morning break, Dr. Polman introduced the idea of a core list of ecumenically-consensus hymnody, a project that is part of a larger movement towards a new hymnal for the Christian Reformed Church. The group was given an assignment to work in pairs, in which they were given a list of hymns comprised primarily using work done by Michael Hawn and Erik Routley, and asked to edit it based on their own opinions. The participants were to take a day and a half to work through the list, hopefully to break it down to about 200 selections, as well as listing hymn tunes and any additions they wished to see in such a list. This assignment was intended to help out an existing project, but it also worked to help the participants think about the idea of comprising such a challenging list that selects a small number of hymns from thousands.
The middle day of the week went well, and the participants enjoyed a small break and an engaging assignment.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Today’s devotional time was spent a little differently, as the group gathered in the Calvin College Chapel to worship with participants from other seminars currently on campus, as well as some Calvin faculty. The topic was the last judgment day, and it focused our attention on the second coming of Christ. Following devotions, the group spent the morning in the library computer lab, discovering or reacquainting themselves with several hymnological databases that can be accessed through library subscriptions, as well as a couple locations that are available on the web. The group discussed the valuable resources that can be found and used in teaching hymnology, as well as in personal research and learning. Dr. Polman helped the participants learn some of the databases by simple searching and browsing, using examples of fundamental hymnological knowledge.
During the afternoon session, Dr. Polman went through a handful of hymns that exemplify different techniques that can be taught. Some of them include singing in a round, chanting the rhythm, having perpetual energy, unison and parts, and small or large ranges and tessitura. After a break, the participants were asked, in groups of two, to devise a strategy and teach a hymn to the rest of the group; some critique and helpful hints were offered, and the group benefited from putting some techniques into practice.
The databases and resources mentioned today:
Early English Books Online
Eighteenth Century Collections Online
Early American Imprints, Series I
Early American Imprints, Series II
cyberhymnal.org
hymnsite.com
hymnology.ca
www.ccel.org/index/hymn.html
www.ccel.org/cceh
www.yale.edu/adhoc/research_resources/hymn4.htm
www.smithcreekmusic.com/Hymnology
hti.music.uiuc.edu
www.dnah.org
Friday, June 29, 2007
The final day of the seminar began with devotions based on “teaching as our vocation,” appropriate for the group gathered; the time spent was very meaningful. Following devotions, the last morning began by discussing evaluation methods and techniques, including research projects, presentations, papers, and exams. The group looked at several sample tests, as well as evaluation sheets that people have used to examine students, including hymn/hymnal analysis, church visits, book/ recording reports, and constructing a hymn festival. The participants reviewed the importance and value of some of these techniques, and then evaluated a few practice situations, including hymn texts written by former students, and currently used tests.
Following lunch, the group reviewed some of the fundamentals of teaching hymnology, including the knowledge, skills, and virtues that help criticism, as well as an application of critical thinking
when experiencing hymnology in every day life. The participants examined what it takes to be a great hymn text, a great hymn tune, and what makes a great marriage between text and tune. As the seminar wrapped up, a few of the participants offered some of their own hymn texts and tunes that they have written, and the group presented short hymns that they had written in the week for Dr. Polman, and assistant Bethany Vrieland. The seminar concluded by singing Dr. Polman’s recently written hymn “God, we sing your glorious praises,” and the week drew to a close.
Overall, the group felt that this was a productive and meaningful week to spend meeting and spending time with fellow hymnologists. Though everyone came from very diverse backgrounds and experiences, the participants meshed well together, which served to enhance the experience of the week and produced fruitful conversations and learning.
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