Congregational singing in Martin Luther’s time
Early 19th-century hymnody
The music and the notes are precious
Ken Myers encourages an understanding of the Church as a particular culture that should be nourished and sustained, and then describes the history of an Advent hymn written by St. Ambrose. (27 minutes)
How hymnody produced an important English poet
Christopher N. Phillips on William Cowper’s suffering and (artistic) triumphs
From cities humming with a restless crowd
In a much-sung hymn and a little-known poem, William Cowper seeks retirement from worldliness
The poetic power of hymnody
Leland Ryken argues for reading hymns as devotional poetry, that we might have constant access to their spiritual insights and that they might help nurture and shape us into disciples. (12 minutes)