HYMNS OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN THE 16th CENTURY
Keywords:
vocal ecclesiastical music, gradual songs, paraphrased psalms, historical hymns, strophic adaptations, through-composed pieces, homophonic and polyphonic structural techniques.Abstract
In the 16th century verses were written only to be sung, to be presented in the form of a hymn or song. This was not only the general custom of the age, but it also fit the ancient Hungarian tradition. Hungarian preachers of the age who studied abroad got acquainted with Luther’s and Calvin’s perception on ecclesiastical singing and music. They realized that the Word of the Lord could be spread more effectively using songs for this purpose. Since translation of the Geneva Psalms was published in printing only in 1607, the Hungarian preachers wrote hymns themselves. Hymns represent texts of prayers, confessions of faith or confessions of sins. The works of the Hungarian hymn writers were a valuable musical material not only for the Hungarian Reformed congregations, but they were also an inspiration for the great masters of choir literature. The most famous Hungarian composers, Kodály Zoltán, Bárdos Lajos, Gárdonyi Zoltán, thought it relevant to popularize the most beautiful ecclesiastic hymns by creating choir works based upon these.References
Csomasz-Tóth, Kálmán, Református gyülekezeti éneklés (Reformed Congregational Singing), Published by Református Egyetemes Konvent (The Universal Reformed Covenant), Budapest, 1950.
Csomasz-Tóth, Kálmán, A XVI. század magyar dallamai (The Hungarian melodies of the 16th century), Régi Magyar Dallamok Tára I (Anthology of Old Hungarian Songs I), Published by Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1958.
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Karasszon, Dezső, Zoltán Gárdonyi, Published by Mágus kiadó, Budapest, 1999.
Kodály, Zoltán, Egyneműkarok, Editio Musica, Budapest, 1972.
Papp, Géza, A XVII. század énekelt magyar dallamai (Sung Melodies of the 17th century), Régi Magyar Dallamok Tára II (Anthology of Old Hungarian Songs II), Published by Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1970.
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