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by Skip Hellewell
The pendulum of fashion is always swinging , ever changing . Consider music . My parents danced to Big Band music . The Beautiful Wife and I swung to rock and roll . The grandchildren tell of heavy metal moshing . By contrast , these generations sang and still sing the same hymns in church . There ’ s a reassuring permanence to hymns . Some were written three millennia ago — the Psalms attributed to King David .
David is a legendary figure , the shepherd boy who killed a lion and bear in defense of his flock , and then
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Goliath , becoming a favorite of King Saul . He was a musician , both lyrist and psalmist , then the warrior king who conquered Jerusalem and united Israel . No wonder the Psalms became the foundation for church music .
Music is essential to worship . As I write , I ’ m listening to a Gregorian chant of the rosary . As religious music grew more complex , performance was limited to the trained and talented . The Reformation laid the foundation for the rise of democracy by reversing this evolution . The printing press made Bibles available , and each person became a theologian . Printed hymnals of simple tunes gave the humblest a voice . Congregational singing became a hallmark of the Reformation , with Martin Luther ’ s “ A Mighty Fortress is Our God ” its battle hymn . John Calvin agreed with Luther on the power of congregational singing and translated the Psalm hymns into the vernacular . For millennia , the repeated singing of timeless hymns arguably taught doctrine better than any sermon .
The great organs of the 15th century complemented skilled choirs , but simpler organs in common churches , notably among the early Lutherans , proved the perfect support for
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congregational singing . We saw this recently at church when the organist faltered for a moment , and the congregation ’ s singing , in turn , faltered . Though there was a conductor , it was the organ that led .
The English Reformation brought a Golden Age of hymn writing . Isaac Watts , a Congregational minister and writer of some 750 hymns , transformed Psalm-based songs by incorporating New Testament language and ideas . We know him best for the timeless “ O God , Our Help in Ages Past ” and the Yule carol , “ Joy to the World .”
John Newton , a repentant slave ship captain turned minister , wrote the favorite , “ Amazing Grace .”
The Methodist movement was powered by the energetic singing of a plethora of hymns created by John Wesley and especially his brother Charles . Charles ’ hymn , “ Christ the Lord Is Ris ’ n Today ,” is often sung at Easter , and his “ Hark , the Herald Angels Sing ” at Christmas . A New York woman , Fanny Crosby , though born blind , was even more prolific , writing over 8000 hymns . Her “ To God Be the Glory ” was popularized by Billy Graham . Singers can be known for their hymns — think of
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Maria Callas ’ “ Ave Maria ,” Mahalia Jackson ’ s “ He ’ s Got the Whole World in His Hands ,” or even Elvis Presley with “ How Great Thou Art .” But the real power of hymns is in congregational singing .
Studies show that singing together brings a physiological unity — breathing , heartbeat , and even brains synchronize as the song progresses . These experiences release the feelgood endorphins that can unify a congregation as one so that singing together becomes ministering . More important , it can also invite the Holy Spirit . There has been a trend towards contemporary music worship with trained musicians . Praise bands with their talented singers are enjoyable , but the power of the faithful is found in the strength of their congregational singing . In my experience visiting Laguna ’ s churches , the strength of the church is reflected in the power of their congregational singing , though I may have it backward . There ’ s meaning in that .
Skip fell in love with Laguna on a ‘ 50s surfing trip . He ’ s a student of Laguna history and the author of “ Loving Laguna : A Local ’ s Guide to Laguna Beach .” Email : skip @ lovinglaguna . com
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