Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! These opening lines are sure to bring John Newton’s familiar hymn to many people’s minds. Arguably, they are to the Christian music genre as the first eight notes of Beethoven’s 5th are to the classical music genre. Hymns have prevailed for centuries, and it does not seem they will be forgotten anytime soon. But what defines a hymn in the first place?
The focus of hymns lies in the words, not in the melody. In fact, many hymns were not written or published in the form of a song; often, a tune would be added afterwards. For example, it wasn’t until Henry Francis Lyte’s memorial service that his hymn, “Abide with Me,” was sung, and when Carl Boberg, writer of “How Great Thou Art,” first heard his poem put to a Swedish folk melody, it even took him by surprise. Thus, hymnals published before the 1870s could be better described as a collection of poems rather than a compilation of stanzaic songs.
Another major feature of hymnody that further differentiates it from contemporary worship music is this: hymns are to be sung as a congregation rather than led by a singer. Simple and easy to follow, many hymns’ tunes derive from traditional melodies that people would likely be familiar with. Their repetitive nature drives even more attention towards the rich lyrics as well as allowing those new to the hymn to learn it quickly. Additionally, instrumental accompaniment to hymnody is meant to be scarce. Upon opening a hymnal, one finds music written for the congregation to follow—one line for sopranos, one for altos, one for tenors, and one for basses. If a pianist were to play along, he would blend in smoothly with the harmony of vocals. And with this lack of prominent instrumentals, hymns can stand alone in their lyrical glory.
A group of unified people raising their voices to worship the Lord inspires something inherently wonderful. Although traditional hymns are becoming less popular as the new styles of Christian music blend with the trends of pop culture, current artists uphold their relevance by way of revision. For instance, Indelible Grace’s rendition of “I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow” features a new, more elaborate melody. Despite this, the text, written by John Newton in 1779, remains the center of the song’s focus. Similarly, Chris Tomlin’s version of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” renamed “The Wonderful Cross,” includes much instrumental accompaniment. In addition, while the verses keep to Isaac Watts’ original lyrics, Tomlin adds a chorus, creating an excellent blend of hymn text and modern music styles.
Not only are hymns being reinvented, but new ones are also being written. Keith and Kristyn Getty are some of the leading artists in a hymnody revival. When describing his calling to hymn writing, Keith shared, “I wanted to write something that was a little bit more, a little bit deeper, have a little bit of a different voice.” Along with Stuart Townend, the Gettys have authored hymns such as “In Christ Alone,” “Facing A Task Unfinished,” and “Speak, O Lord.” The first has become well-loved work worldwide. In an interview with Kevin Antlitz, he explains why the hymns sung today have lasted centuries, stating that “God’s people articulated what they understood about God in all of its breadth and depth and they tended to pass down songs from generation to generation, thus prioritizing only the highest works of art.” And indeed, hymns, both old and new, remain beautiful proclamations of God and his perfect attributes—it is no wonder these masterpieces dwell beloved in the hearts of many.
In 1873, Fanny Crosby penned the words of “Blessed Assurance.” The chorus repeats these words twice: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. And what better way to praise our Savior than through the timeless tradition of hymnody?
Works Cited
Antlitz, Kevin. “The Modern Hymnal: An Interview With Keith Getty.” Transpositions, 12 August 2014, www.transpositions.co.uk/the-modern-hymnal-an-interview-with-keith-getty/.
“Chris Tomlin – The Wonderful Cross (Audio) ft. Matt Redman.” Youtube, uploaded by christomlinmusic, 14 January 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-UsGd7fec.
Duke, Alex. “Why the Gettys Are Re-Introducing the ‘Greatest Missions Hymn Ever Written’.” The Gospel Coalition, 15 Febuary 2016, www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-the-gettys-are-reintroducing-the-greatest-missions-hymn-ever-written/.
“I Asked the Lord (Live feat. Emily Deloach)” Youtube, uploaded by indeliblegrace, 24 Febuary 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXGJXkWrZEk.
Long, Daniel. “What is a Hymn And Why Are Hymns Important In Worship?” Authentic Worship, 15 January 2021, www.authenticworship.org/what-is-a-hymn-and-why-are-hymns-important-in-worship/.
Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories. Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2003.
Ryken, Leland. “Read Hymns Like Poems—Because They Are.” The Gospel Coalition, 24 August 2018, www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/hymnal-reading-history/.
Smith, Tracey. “In praise of hymns.” CBS News, 5 April 2015, www.cbsnews.com/news/in-praise-of-hymns/.
Photo Credit: Zoe Leung