Abstract

VAN ROOY, Jacoba H.. Hymns used infrequently: Does the melody play a role?. In Skriflig (Online) [online]. 2014, vol.48, n.2, pp.01-10. ISSN 2305-0853.

Any hymn book contains hymns that are sung frequently during services and other hymns that are sung very rarely or even never. This fact can be ascribed to a number of reasons. In some instances the contents of the hymn are such that it does not fit easily into the liturgy of a service. There are, however, hymns that could easily be used in the liturgy, but are used infrequently. Different reasons can account for this. The melodies of such hymns are often blamed for this state of affairs. This article explores this issue with respect to a number of hymns that are utilised infrequently according to data from an empirical investigation into the frequency of the use of hymns in the Reformed Churches in South Africa (RCSA). This article discusses the requirements for and the function of ecclesiastical hymns as background for the evaluation of a number of hymns. Results from an empirical investigation were used for the selection of melodies discussed in this article. The article then discusses and evaluates the melodies of five hymns that are used very infrequently in the churches to determine whether these melodies impacted negatively on the use of these hymns. From this discussion it is evident that the melody plays an important role in the low frequency use in the liturgy.

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