Sacraments & Rites - Christianity, Christian Music - Hymns/Psalms

An Annotated Anthology of Hymns

Name: An Annotated Anthology of Hymns
Author: J. R. Watson
ISBN: 9780199265831

by J. R. Watson

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Overview

An Annotated Anthology of Hymns treats the hymn as a literary form deserving of respect. 250 hymns from the English-speaking world are printed, covering the range from the earliest years of the Christian church to the present day, with notes on the words and the tunes. The anthology takes the hymn seriously, in an an age in which hymn-singing is less common than it was. It should appeal to hymn-lovers, but also to those who want to find out more about hymns.

Synopsis

This is a selection of 250 of the best-known hymns in the English language, including texts translated from Greek, Latin, and German. An introduction discusses the hymn as a historical and literary artifact and each hymn is printed with notes that set it in context, identify significant sources, and provide explanatory and critical material.

About the Author, J. R. Watson

J.R. Watson is Emeritus Professor of English and Emeritus Public Orator of the University of Durham. Twenty years ago he chose for the subject of his Inaugural Lecture, 'The Victorian Hymn'. He was serving at the time on the committee of the Methodist (and Ecumenical) Hymns and Psalms (1983), and later edited, with Kenneth Trickett, the ompanion to Hymns and Psalms (1988). He was a member of the Archbishops' Commission on Church music, and more recently of the editorial committee responsible for the latest revision of Hymns Ancient and Modern, Common Praise (2000). His critical and historical study, The English Hymn, was published by Oxford University Press in 1997 (paperback 1999).