Music of the Protestant Reformation: A Pedagogical Analysis of Hymns

Hattie H. Bays

Abstract

During the Protestant Reformation (1517-1600), reformers influenced music through the progression of Roman Catholic to Protestant principles. With the intent of improving music pedagogy, the purpose of this research was to investigate the music of the Protestant Reformation (1517-1600). Problems addressed in this research include: 1) to trace the origins of the Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Church, 2) to discuss protestant reform as it relates to music, and 3) to identify reformation hymns included in the Disciples of Christ, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian hymnals.

The Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican church developed during the late Renaissance (sixteenth century) as a revolution began to reform the Roman Catholic Church. During the Protestant Reformation reformers enhanced musical experiences to revolutionize methods of worship in the protestant church. Hymns created during the Protestant reformation remain prevalent in hymnals of the Disciples of Christ, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian church. The principles that developed in the Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Church, still exist in the practices of today’s church. Although the Protestant Reformation occurred five centuries ago, traces of reformation hymns remain in the church of the Twenty- First Century.

 

Music of the Protestant Reformation: A Pedagogical Analysis of Hymns

During the Protestant Reformation (1517-1600), reformers influenced music through the progression of Roman Catholic to Protestant principles. With the intent of improving music pedagogy, the purpose of this research was to investigate the music of the Protestant Reformation (1517-1600). Problems addressed in this research include: 1) to trace the origins of the Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Church, 2) to discuss protestant reform as it relates to music, and 3) to identify reformation hymns included in the Disciples of Christ, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian hymnals.

The Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican church developed during the late Renaissance (sixteenth century) as a revolution began to reform the Roman Catholic Church. During the Protestant Reformation reformers enhanced musical experiences to revolutionize methods of worship in the protestant church. Hymns created during the Protestant reformation remain prevalent in hymnals of the Disciples of Christ, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian church. The principles that developed in the Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Church, still exist in the practices of today’s church. Although the Protestant Reformation occurred five centuries ago, traces of reformation hymns remain in the church of the Twenty- First Century.