The Church Hymn and Its Way into Music

Authors

William Mudde, Utrecht Conservatory of Music, Utrecht

Publication Date

7-1-1968

Document Type

Article

Keywords

church music, reformation, musical, hymns, chorale, bach, lutheran, psalter, faith, luther, catholic, folksong

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

When the thunderstorm of the Reformation appeared on the heaven of the life of the church, it looked as if it would destroy the harvest of European music. With its protest against the Mass as an opus operatum, the Reformation also opposed the artificial music that accompanied the Mass. As formulated in the Motu Proprio of Pius X, the music shrouded the Mass in beautiful garments of sanctity and Roman Catholic universality. What substitute did the Reformation offer? Surely not something that one could actually call "art," but rather sacred folksong. Tolerated only as an evil in the Roman Catholic Church, the folksong possessed a very simple musical form which could be sung by anyone.

Disciplines

Liturgy and Worship

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Mudde, William (1968) "The Church Hymn and Its Way into Music," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 39, Article 45.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol39/iss1/45