Dictionary of Hymnology
Learn hymn terms, meters, forms, and the history behind Christian worship music — curated for hymn lovers, worship leaders, and students.
A beautiful land by faith I see
Hymn
A popular nineteenth-century Sunday School hymn about Heaven, first published anonymously in 1862 and later a…
A children's temple here we build
Hymn
James Montgomery's 1840 hymn written specifically for the opening of the first Sunday School building in Winc…
A glance from heaven, with sweet effect
Hymn
John Newton's 1775 nature hymn reflecting on lightning in the night, published in the Olney Hymns and include…
A thousand oracles divine
Hymnology
An overview of Charles Wesley's intensely dogmatic Trinitarian hymn, tracing its publication history, denomin…
A. L. W.
History
The initials "A. L. W." used in various hymn collections to sign the deeply devotional work of Welsh poet and…
Absent from flesh, O blissful thought
Hymnology
A publication history of Dr. Isaac Watts's funeral hymn on the soul's release from the body, outlining its 17…
Abyssinian Hymnody
History
An overview of the historical introduction of Ethiopian sacred song to Western scholars, highlighting the tra…
Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein (English Translations)
Hymnology
A bibliography of English translations of Martin Luther's Psalm 12 paraphrase, documenting both the common us…
Ach, wie wird das Herz so leer
Hymnology
A publication history of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta's German hymn of celestial longing, examining its foundat…
Acquaint thee, O mortal
Hymnology
A structural account of William Knox's invitation hymn based on Job 22, detailing its initial compilation in …
Ad celebres, Rex coelice, laudes cuncta
Hymnology
A text-critical and manuscript chronicle of a historic Notkerian sequence for the Feast of Saint Michael, doc…
Ad perennis vitae fontem mens sitivit arida
Hymnology
A text-critical history of Cardinal Peter Damiani's celebrated sequence on the Glory of Paradise, examining i…
Adeste, Coelitum chori
History
Historical entry for Nicholas le Tourneaux's Latin Easter hymn "Adeste, Coelitum chori," appointed for Matins…
Adsis superne Spiritus, Pater benigne pauperum
History
Hymnological profile of "Adsis superne Spiritus, Pater benigne pauperum," an anonymous 18th-century Whitsunti…
Aeterna coeli gloria
History
Hymnological profile of the fifth-century Friday Lauds hymn "Aeterna coeli gloria," detailing its manuscript …
Aeterne Rex altissime, Redemptor
History
Comprehensive entry for the Ascension hymn "Aeterne Rex altissime, Redemptor," exploring its complex authorsh…
Aeterni Festi gaudia and Aeterni Patris Unice
History
Hymnological profile of two notable Latin texts: Adam of St. Victor's sequence "Aeterni Festi gaudia" for St.…
Agnoscat omne saeculum
History
Hymnological record of Venantius Fortunatus's sixth-century Christmas hymn "Agnoscat omne saeculum," detailin…
Ah, mournful case, what can afford
Hymnology
Hymnological record of Ralph Erskine's eighteenth-century poem "Ah, mournful case, what can afford," detailin…
Ales diei nuntius
History
An overview of Aurelius Clemens Prudentius's ancient Latin morning hymn "Ales diei nuntius," its liturgical u…
A children's temple here we build
Hymn
James Montgomery's 1840 hymn written specifically for the opening of the first Sunday School building in Winc…
A glance from heaven, with sweet effect
Hymn
John Newton's 1775 nature hymn reflecting on lightning in the night, published in the Olney Hymns and include…
A thousand oracles divine
Hymnology
An overview of Charles Wesley's intensely dogmatic Trinitarian hymn, tracing its publication history, denomin…
A. L. W.
History
The initials "A. L. W." used in various hymn collections to sign the deeply devotional work of Welsh poet and…
Absent from flesh, O blissful thought
Hymnology
A publication history of Dr. Isaac Watts's funeral hymn on the soul's release from the body, outlining its 17…
Abyssinian Hymnody
History
An overview of the historical introduction of Ethiopian sacred song to Western scholars, highlighting the tra…
Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein (English Translations)
Hymnology
A bibliography of English translations of Martin Luther's Psalm 12 paraphrase, documenting both the common us…
Ach, wie wird das Herz so leer
Hymnology
A publication history of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta's German hymn of celestial longing, examining its foundat…
Acquaint thee, O mortal
Hymnology
A structural account of William Knox's invitation hymn based on Job 22, detailing its initial compilation in …
Ad celebres, Rex coelice, laudes cuncta
Hymnology
A text-critical and manuscript chronicle of a historic Notkerian sequence for the Feast of Saint Michael, doc…
Ad perennis vitae fontem mens sitivit arida
Hymnology
A text-critical history of Cardinal Peter Damiani's celebrated sequence on the Glory of Paradise, examining i…
Adeste, Coelitum chori
History
Historical entry for Nicholas le Tourneaux's Latin Easter hymn "Adeste, Coelitum chori," appointed for Matins…
Adsis superne Spiritus, Pater benigne pauperum
History
Hymnological profile of "Adsis superne Spiritus, Pater benigne pauperum," an anonymous 18th-century Whitsunti…
Aeterna coeli gloria
History
Hymnological profile of the fifth-century Friday Lauds hymn "Aeterna coeli gloria," detailing its manuscript …
Aeterne Rex altissime, Redemptor
History
Comprehensive entry for the Ascension hymn "Aeterne Rex altissime, Redemptor," exploring its complex authorsh…
Aeterni Festi gaudia and Aeterni Patris Unice
History
Hymnological profile of two notable Latin texts: Adam of St. Victor's sequence "Aeterni Festi gaudia" for St.…
Agnoscat omne saeculum
History
Hymnological record of Venantius Fortunatus's sixth-century Christmas hymn "Agnoscat omne saeculum," detailin…
Ah, mournful case, what can afford
Hymnology
Hymnological record of Ralph Erskine's eighteenth-century poem "Ah, mournful case, what can afford," detailin…
Ales diei nuntius
History
An overview of Aurelius Clemens Prudentius's ancient Latin morning hymn "Ales diei nuntius," its liturgical u…