What Are Hymns?

Submitted by: Calvin Graham

Hymns are just, Songs of Praise. Just what does this mean though? Are hymns unique from other types of songs of praise? Who are they truly being sung to? Did hymns always sound just like they do presently? Those are brilliant thoughts, and I’m ready to better help you to figure out what hymns simply are. Though there are actually a few different types of hymns, I’d like to focus on the most widely played kind of hymn; a Christian hymn.

Most of the time, if someone asks that you sing a song of praise, a definite impression arises in your head. Personally, it’s a group of folks at a large house of worship, eyes closed, singing songs together in unison while some sort of music group on stage leads them. DISCLAIMER: The image in my mind is generally influenced by having grown up in a largely white, Evangelical, English-Speaking, American church. This isn’t to convey that everybody uses the exact same imagery, but nonetheless, it’s where I’m coming from. I’m sure that more than a few of you will be able to relate. If you’re not able to relate, that’s okay too, but I’m sure even the image above can conceive some sort of distinctive imagery in your mind.

Any time somebody asks me to sing any kind of hymn, however, a totally different imagery comes to your thoughts. Exactly why is that?

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It’s due to the fact that most people equate hymns to something older. Something sacred. Something exceptionally and inherently significant. It has always been this way for as long as hymns have been in existence. There are many instances of the disciples in Jesus’ time singing hymns. They weren’t just for the disciples either! According to the Bible, a lot of people sung hymns.Hymns seem to have been woven out of distinctive and genuine meaning. The words used might be a little unfamiliar to many, but yet have the feel associated with something ancient, deep and vital. They are usually straightforward, evoking active symbolism, emotion together with reflection.

The most important purpose of a hymn is generally to communicate God’s character and His bond with men and women. Hymns are frequently being sung specifically to God and frequently to Jesus. They sing praise to Him as well as exalt Him. This is typical of all hymns, although sometimes a few hymns are a little different.

Hymns weren’t always set to music. Truthfully, up until relatively recently, hymn verses were isolated from the melody, and a side note was made to help indicate which prevalent song melodies would work for that particular rhyme and meter. It’s interesting to note that bar and pub songs were commonly picked as the tune people sung to. Sometimes, people equate singing hymns with monotone and boring sounding melodies, but in fact, the origins of the melodies is completely varied, and rooted in making hymns accessible for everyone.

Hopefully, you now have a decent introduction to precisely what hymns are, and ways in which they can be different from other songs. I truly hope you liked reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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