Dictionary of Hymnology
Learn hymn terms, meters, forms, and the history behind Christian worship music — curated for hymn lovers, worship leaders, and students.
As some tall rock amidst the waves
Hymnology
An entry on John Newton's hymn on the martyrdom of St. Stephen.
As the sun's enlivening eye
Hymnology
An entry on John Newton's parting hymn composed after surgical recovery.
Ask, and ye shall receive
Hymnology
An entry on James Montgomery's hymn on prayer based on Matthew 7:7–8.
Asomen pantes laoi
Hymnology
An entry on St. John of Damascus's Canon for Low Sunday and its English translations.
Aspice, infami Deus ipse ligno
Hymnology
An entry on the Passiontide Breviary hymn and its English translations by Edward Caswall and W. J. Blew.
At every motion of our breath
Hymnology
An entry on James Montgomery's hymn on the value of time and mortal brevity.
Attend, my ear, my heart rejoice
Hymnology
An entry on Philip Doddridge's hymn on the final sentence and happiness of the righteous.
Attend, while God's exalted Son
Hymnology
An entry on Isaac Watts's hymn on the new creation and its centos.
Attend, ye tribes that dwell remote
Hymnology
An entry on John Morison's paraphrase of Isaiah 33:13–18 and its revisions.
Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir
History
Martin Luther's celebrated 1523 hymn based on Psalm 130 (De Profundis).
Ave Maria, blessed Maid
History
A hymn for the Annunciation by John Keble, adapted from a poem in The Christian Year (1827).
Aveling, Thomas William Baxter
Biography
Biographical sketch of Thomas William Baxter Aveling (1815-1884), Congregational minister, author, and hymn w…
Awake, again the Gospel trump is blown
History
An Advent hymn by John Keble, written in 1823 and published in The Christian Year (1827).
Awake, and sing the song
History
A celebrated 1745 hymn of praise by William Hammond, heavily revised through centos by Whitefield, Madan, Top…
Awake, Jerusalem, awake
History
A multi-part paraphrase of Isaiah 52 by Charles Wesley, first published in 1741.
Awake, my love, awake, my joy
History
A morning cento adapted from John Mason's 1683 Songs of Praise.
Awake, my zeal, awake, my love
History
Isaac Watts's metrical paraphrase based on 1 Corinthians 3:22, appended to his Sermons in 1721-1724.
Awake, sweet gratitude, and sing
History
Augustus Toplady's 1771 hymn on Christ's heavenly intercession, popularized by Rippon's Selection.
Awake, sweet harp of Judah, wake
History
Henry Kirke White's poem on heaven, written on the River Trent and published by Southey in 1807.
Awake, ye saints, to praise your King
History
Isaac Watts's Common Meter version of Psalm 135 from 1719, borrowing imagery from Jeremiah.