Sacred Music Terms, Texts, Tunes, and Topics
The UIUC Music Library contains a number of resources that can be useful to
church musicians by:
- defining and explaining liturgical terms and
concepts
- locating and translating liturgical texts
- locating and providing background information on
hymn texts and tunes
- guiding musicians towards appropriate resources
for particular times of the year and particular Scripture references
Helpful General References
Many books dealing with these topics can be found by looking in Music
Reference and Research Materials, 5th ed., by Vincent
Duckles and Ida Reed (ML 113 D83M8
1997).(1) Look especially in the
categories "Dictionaries and Encyclopedias: Sacred Music"
(entries 1.595-1.616), "Bibliographies of Music Literature: Sacred
Music" (4.389-4.397), and "Bibliographies of Music: Sacred
Music" (5.622-5.652). Many of the entries in Duckles are intended
for scholars, but some are helpful on a practical level as well. You may
also want to look in D. W. Krummel's Bibliographical Handbook of
American Music (ML 120 U5 K78), chapter 12.
A collection focused specifically on sacred music topics is
Church Music: An International Bibliography by Richard Chaffety
von Ende (ML 128.C54 V66). Especially helpful are the sections on
"Church Year," "Hymnal Companions," "Hymns and
Hymn Tunes," "Liturgy and Ritual," "Mass,"
"Psalter," and "Worship, Music In." Also, you may
want to look at Bibliography of Theses and Dissertations in Sacred
Music by Kenneth R. Hartley (1967 edition; ML 128.S2 H27). The
topical index will guide you to scholarly works on hymnology, liturgy,
and related topics. For a brief general outline of the place of music in
the worship of various denominations, including examples of orders of
service, consult Appendix B (pp. 196-223) of A Musician's Guide to
Church Music by Joy Lawrence and John Ferguson (MUX stacks 783.026
L437m)
When searching in the online catalog, try the following subject
headings:
Church Music
-Anglican Communion
-Catholic Church
-Liturgy and Ritual
-Terminology
-Dictionaries
-Indexes
-Lutheran Church (or Methodist Episcopal Church, Baptist Church, and
other denominations)
-Protestant Churches
Hymns
-Dictionaries
Hymns, English (or Hymns, United States)
-Concordances
-Indexes
The following call number ranges are useful for browsing, both in
Reference and in the stacks:
In the Dewey collection: 245-264.2, 783
In the Library of Congress collection: ML128.C54 Sacred choral music, .H8
Hymns
Definitions of liturgical terms and explanations of liturgical
concepts
The following resources are helpful when searching out definitions
for a liturgical term, whether or not it is directly connected with
music, or trying to find out background information on a part of the
liturgy.
A Small Liturgical Dictionary by Giacomo Lercaro, ed. J. B.
O'Connell (located in CLX, 264.02 l56p:E)
Includes an explanation and outline of the structure of the Mass (pp.
9-30)
Liturgical Literacy: From Anamnesis to Worship, by Dennis C.
Smolarski, S.J. (Available through Illinet Online)
Compendium of Liturgical Musical Terms by J. Robert Carroll (ML
108.C27)
The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the 10th to
the 18th Century, by John Harper (MUX stacks 264.02009
H232F)
A scholarly historical book. Includes a helpful glossary (pp.
286-313).
The New Catholic Encyclopedia (In REX and Undergraduate Reference,
282 N449)
The New Harvard Dictionary of Music, ed. Don Randall (MUR ML 100
A63H27 1986, also in ENX and REX)
Many liturgical terms which relate to music are defined here. Emphasis is
more on the musical aspects than some of the above-mentioned resources.
Many terms can also be located in The New Grove Dictionary of Music
and Musicians (ML 100 G76 N 38, copies in the Music Library
Ready-Reference collection and at the Index Table) but be prepared in
Grove for long, scholarly articles. The most helpful general
article in Grove is probably that on "Liturgy and liturgical
books;" also look at "Mass."
A Dictionary of Protestant Church Music, by James Robert Davidson
(ML 102.C5 D28)
Sources for liturgical texts and translations
Several sources mentioned elsewhere on this handout provide
translations of common Latin texts encountered (usually) in Catholic
contexts. The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy has an excellent
appendix with commonly used choral texts in Latin and English, including
the texts of the Mass and of many well-known canticles such as the Te
Deum, Benedictus, Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis, and
Salve Regina. The New Harvard Dictionary also gives English
translations for any texts which it defines, although this is often
limited to the first phrase of the text. Finally, Julian's Dictionary
of Hymnology (see below) gives a guide to translations which appear
in various hymnals (see "Latin, Translations From The," pp.
655-662).
Sources for hymn information, texts and tunes
Indexes to hymn texts and tunes often provide information about the
authors and composers of hymns as well. Hymn tunes are often indexed by
their tune name (tunes acquired names as a way to identify the tune
readily in order that it could be used with numerous different texts).
Some indexes also make an effort to identify tunes musically by trying to
represent the melody through the use of some kind of code. Duckles
includes denominational resources relating to hymns (indexes, hymnal
companions, and concordances) as entries 1.618-1.643. All of these are
helpful resources for their particular denomination and should probably
be consulted first.
The Hymn Tune Index: A Census of English-Language Hymn Tunes in
Printed Sources from 1535 to 1820, by Nicholas Temperley, 4 volumes
(ML 128.H8 T45, another copy in MUX stacks)
This is a monumental scholarly work, probably chiefly valuable to the
average church musician for its introductions in Volume I, which discuss
the historical background of the practice of hymn-singing, including the
attitudes of various denominations towards hymn singing. (Pages 57-58 of
Volume I give an introduction to the idea of tune names). It also has an
excellent bibliography of sources (I:65-70).
Also available online at
http://hymntune.music.uiuc.edu/ .
Dictionary of Hymnology by John Julian (BV 305 J8 1957)
Gives information on authors, composers, translators, sources, specific
hymns (listed by title and first line), and hymn-related topics such as
Latin hymnody and liturgical terms. Its chief drawback is that it was
published in 1892.
Hymns and Tunes: An Index by Katherine Smith Diehl (ML128.H8
D43H9)
Indexes hymns in over sixty hymnals by a variety of methods, and includes
helpful appendixes and a glossary (pp. 1149-1153). Published in 1966, so
does not include newer hymnals.
Guides to resources for particular times, seasons, and Scripture
passages
Resources for the Roman Catholic rite
This topic deserves a separate guide. However, for non-Catholics
seeking to understand the different kinds and uses of Catholic service
books, a good starting point is the entry on "Liturgical books"
in The New Harvard Dictionary. (Many types of service books also
have their own entries in TNHD which are cross-referenced in the
"Liturgical books" entry). The online "Catholic Liturgical
Library"
(http://www.catholicliturgy.com
) is also very helpful. Copies of missals, breviaries and similar
resources can be found by searching in the online catalog under
"Catholic Church-Liturgy-Texts" and "Service Books
(Music)-Catholic Church." One unique resource is the Carmina
Scriptaturm ed. Carolus Marbach (264.02 C28CA 1963) which contains
appropriate versicles and responses for various times of the year and
parts of the service and the Divine Office, arranged by Scripture
reference. Unfortunately, the introduction and instructions are all in
German.
Hymns
Most denominational hymnals provide topical and Scripture indexes
for the hymns contained in that hymnal. Some hymnals are arranged by the
seasons of the liturgical year, and for those which are not, the topical
index will usually guide you to appropriate seasonal resources. In
addition, look at:
Hymn and Scripture Selection Guide complied by Donald Spencer
(264.2 SP33H)
Indexes hymns by Scripture references. Written from an Evangelical
perspective, so includes many gospel hymns.
Musical Resources for the Revised Common Lectionary by Arthur Wenk
(128.P7 W46)
Lists hymns, choral music, and organ music appropriate for each Sunday of
the three-year lectionary cycle. In addition, provides Scriptural indices
of hymn tunes and of anthems. Keyed to the Anglican Church of Canada, so
some hymns may not be in other hymnals.
Choral Music
Musical Resources for the Revised Common Lectionary is a good
beginning source for this. In addition, do not fail to consult:
Catalogue of Choral Music Arranged in Biblical Order, by James
Laster (ML128.C54 L271996)
This monumental book contains listings of anthems (with voicing and
accompaniment information) from a number of major choral octavo
publishers arranged by Scripture reference, including both
"classic" and more modern anthems. Publisher's octavo numbers
are included to facilitate ordering of in-print items. If you contemplate
a career as a church choral music director, especially in a tradition
which follows the lectionary, consider purchasing this book. Laster has
also compiled the Catalogue of Vocal Solos and Duets Arranged in
Biblical Order (ML 128.53 L38).
Helpful Web Resources
Catholic Liturgical Library
http://www.catholicliturgy.com
Research Guide to Catholic Liturgy (St. Michael's College John M. Kelley Library)
http://www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/library/research_guides/rgliturgy.htm
Multicultural and
International Choral Music: SACRED & CHURCH MUSIC RESOURCES
"Liturgy Links" (St. Mary's College, Ipswich, Australia)
http://www.snc.qld.edu.au/liturgy.htm
AlaPopStop Index
http://alapadre.net/popindex.html
Links to sites dealing with Catholic terms and topics. Look at "Liturgy" and "Music." Author describes himself as being "slightly right of center."
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's Working Group on Worship homepage
http://www.worship.ca/index.html
Includes a downloadable annotated bibliography, "Catalogue of Resources for Worship and Spirituality" (in the section on "Helps for Leaders"), and many, many other downloadable and online resources as well as links to other sites. Bookmark this site!
The Cyber Hymnal (contains over 1900 hymns plus biographies of authors and composers)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org
If you still can't find what you want, try using the search terms
Liturgical Terms
Hymns
Hymn Texts
Music AND Liturgy
1. All of these books are located in the Music Library's Reference collection unless otherwise indicated.
Compiled by Jennifer Woodruff, 2000
updated by Esther Gillie 2002
