When discussing worship music and congregational singing, it’s crucial to remember that we’re not just praising our heavenly Father but also singing to and with one another. If the music is too complex in rhythm, melodic range, or text use, it becomes less accessible and, consequently, less singable. Regular readers of Musically Speaking, might recall the Erik Routley quote I posted a while back, “Hymns are the folk-song of the church militant.”1 This not only implies that hymns are the songs of the people in theme but also in their ability and accessibility.
During the development of the Let Joy Resound hymnal project, I made a conscious effort to include accessible tunes and text pairings that are rhythmic and singable, even if there is only modest accompaniment or ability. I understand that my enthusiasm for this topic might come across as “nerdery,” so I’ve prepared a video example for you. The video showcases two versions of “Now Thank We All Our God.” Both are beautiful, but one version lends itself more to rhythmic and unaccompanied singing in a school or home setting, making it more practical and accessible. If you want to see more of these kinds of rhythmic hymns in church history that are right under our noses, then order your copy/copies of the Let Joy Resound Hymnal at LetJoyResound.com.
If you want to read more about “rhythmic hymnody,” check out a piece I wrote a while back.
Routley, Erik. Hymns and Human Life. United Kingdom: John Murray, 1959, 3.
A Singability Example