Predating what is today known as gospel music are the hymns. According to Chief (Miss) Alma H. Rohm in her book, 306 Hymn-Writers, "singing has always been a part of worship and praise to God. When God laid the foundation of the earth, 'the morning stars sang together' Job 38: 4, 7. The great grand son of Adam and Eve was given the name Mahalalel meaning 'giving praise to God by singing'. Gen. 5:12
Singing must have been part of man right from Adam, and several musical instruments must have been fashioned amongst the Israelites long before their sojourn to Egypt, and without doubt, many more would have been learnt from the Egyptians.
The Bible is replete with great poetic praise songs. However, the first recorded song or hymn in the Bible was by Moses (1526 B.C-1406 B.C.) These songs were recorded in Exodus 15:1-8; Numbers 10:35; Numbers 21:17-18; Psalm 90; Deuteronomy 12:1-43 and Revelation 15:3-4. It is instructive to mention that verse 11 of Exodus 15 has become a famous chorus sung across the world:
Who is like unto the, O Lord 2x
Amongst the gods, who is like thee? Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, Doing wonders? Hallelujah.
The lyrics was written by Moses but whoever composed the tune is still unknown.
Other early writers include Miriam (c.1532-c. 1406 B.C.), elder sister to both Aaron and Moses and the first prophetess amongst the wandering Israelites. Her Chorus of Praise was documented in Exodus 15:21.
Job (about 1200 B.C-1000 B.C.) an Aramean or Midianite of the Land of Uz is another hymn writer. His songs were documented as Lament for my Birth in Job 3:1-26; Lament for Misunderstanding of Friends, Job 6: 2-7; Lament for the Bitter Punishment of God: Job 10:1-12; Hymn of Praise for God's Power, Job 26: 5-14 and Hymn to Wisdom, Job 28:1-28
Others hymns are in the Books of Samuel: these include Song of Hannah, 1 Sam. 2:1-10, Song of the Women - 1 Sam. 18:6-7, David's lament for Saul and Jonathan, 2 Samuel 1:19-27; Lament for Abner, 2 Samuel 3:33-34; Oracle of David, 2 Samuel 23: 1-7; Song of David - 2 Sam. 22:1-51.
Isaiah also wrote Song of the Vineyard, Isaiah 5: 1-7; Songs of Praise Isaiah 12: 1-16; 26: 1-19 and 42: 10-17. Also in the Book of Isaiah is Song of Hezekiah - Isaiah 38: 9-20.
Jeremiah (c.655 B.C-580 B.C.) a Hebrew prophet also wrote Lamentations while the Book of Jonah has Song of Jonah - Jonah 2: 1-9 and Song of Habakkuk is recorded in Habakkuk. 3:1-19.
The greatest collection of praise songs is called the Book of Psalms. This biggest book in the Bible remains the Jewish God-breathed (2Tim. 3:16) hymnbook that defines the proper spirit and content of worship.
About seven people wrote the book of Psalms: King David (c.1040 B.C. 970B.C) wrote at least 75 of the 150 Psalms. These are Hymn for the dedication of the temple- Psalm 30; hymns for the temple choir to sing, Psalm 4, - 9, 12, - 14, 18, - 22, 31, 36, 39, - 42, 51, 53 - 62, 64, 65, 68, - 70, 109, 139, 140.
David also wrote Hymns of Ascents (for people to sing as they come to Jerusalem to worship)- Psalms 112, 124, 131,133; a hymns of prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, Psalm 110, Personal Prayers and Petitions- Psalms 2, 7, 17, 25, - 28, 32, 35, 38, 63, 86, 141, - 143. There were hymns for personal thanksgiving and praise. These are in Psalms 15, 16, 23, 24, 29, 34, 37, 101, 103, 108, 138, 144 and 145.
The son of Korah, one of the Levites musicians accounted for 10 Psalms, which are 42, 44, - 49, 84, 85 and 87. Asaph, another Levite musician also accounted for 12 Psalms, which are Psalms 50, 73-83.
Other writers include Moses Ps. 90, Herman Ps. 88, Ethan Ps. 89 and Ezra the famous chronicler of Jewish history is also thought by Bible scholars to have authored some. King Solomon wrote Psalm 72, a prayer for guidance and Psalm 127, a hymn of ascent for those who coming to offer sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem. He also wrote 2 Chronicles 6:41-42 which is a prayer requesting God to abide in the temple. Solomon also wrote Song of Solomon. The Biblical songs were not restricted to the Old Testaments alone as many songs were also recorded in the New Testament.
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| * Charles Wesley |
* John Newton |
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| * Isaac Watts |
* Fanny Crosby |
The New Testament Hymn writers, according to Alma Rohm include Mary, Zechariah, theHeavenly Host and Simeon. Mary, the mother of Jesus (c.20 B.C-60 A.D.) sang the song "Magnificent" as recorded in Luke 1:30-33, Zechariah (c.75 B.C.) sand what is known as "Benedictus", recorded in Luke 1: 68-79, the Heavenly Host, "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" as recorded in Luke 2:14 and Simeon (c. 80 B.C.) whose hymn is "Nunc Dimittis" as recorded in Luke 2:29-32.
After the bible was close and the early church took firm root, several pioneering works on the gospel of Christ began. Some of these literary works became hymns.
According to Alma Rohm, the poems of Clement of Alexandra (c.150A.D-c.220A.D) originally written in Greek were later translated as hymns into English. These are today known as "Shepherd of Tender Youth or Lead" "Holy Shepherd, lead us" which are still being sung in some churches till date. Other Greek hymn writers include Andrew of Crete, John of Damascus, Stephen the Sabaite and Joseph the Hymnographer.
There were also Latin Hymn writers like Niceta of Remesians, Ambrose of Milan, St Francis of Assisi, Bernard of Cluny, Abanus Maurus, Gregory the Great and many more.
Other hymn writers came from the continental Europe after the reformation period. Some of them were Martin Luther who led the reformation, G. Handel, J. Christian Bach, S. Ingerman, John Calvin, C. Pierluigi da Palestrina, C. Coffin, and so many more.
Of great influence to the African continent are the British Hymn writers. Their songs became familiar to the Anglophone Africa through slave trade and colonisation that largely brought Christianity to the continent.
Some of them include August Montagu Toplady who wrote "Rock of Age cleft for me."
Francis (Fanny) Jane Crosby, (March 24, 1820) a blind woman who wrote " Blessed Assurance," "All the Way My Savior Leads Me," "To God Be the Glory" "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior," "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" "Rescue the Perishing" "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross" "I Am Thine, O Lord," and many more.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) wrote more than 650 hymns. Some of his famous hymns are "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" "Rejoice, the Lord Is King" "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing".
Isaac Watts (July 27, 1674 - November 25, 1748) also wrote more than 600 hymns. Examples of Watts' method can be seen in his paraphrases of Psalm 72 into the hymn "Jesus Shall Reign Wher'er the Sun", Psalm 90 into "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" and Psalm 98 into "Joy to the World". "When I survey the wondrous cross" "Sweet is the work, my God".
Another great hymn composer was John Newton, (1725 - 1807) once an infidel and libertine. His songs include "Amazing Grace" "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" "Approach my soul" "May the grace of God" "One there is above others" and "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken."
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John Francis Wade (1711-1786) wrote "O Come all ye faithful". "Angels from the realm of glory" with other 15 hymns were written by James Montgomery; "O worship the King, all glorious above" was written by Robert Grant. As it is evident from above, the Bible heavily influenced most of the hymns, and one of the most distinguishing facets of modern worship in the era of the Reformation, that great Christian faith renaissance was congregational singing.
Two things were required for singing Psalms. One, a metrical version of the psalm, which meant translating each Psalm into a rhyming poetry for rhythm and two, a tune.
In those days in Geneva, Switzerland, which was the epicentre of the Reformation some Psalm songs were written. They were lively and strong. In actual fact, the songs were too lively and strong for the then Queen of England, Elizabeth who waved them off as "Geneva jigs". In their different churches, Christians sang the Psalms and nothing but the Psalms and some of the hymns composed by the people mentioned above.
While so many Christians believed that no other songs could surpass the spirituality and majesty of the Psalms, gradually, the enlightened ones in the church began to embrace some of the new hymns.
The greatest blow was delivered to this tradition when immigrants began to move to New Foundland where they had liberty to do as the want. Though they still considered the hymns as appropriate, the various cultures that met in the church was bound to bring changes to accommodate all worshippers.
The role of the African slaves in America in the transformation of Christian music cannot be emphasised. In their miseries, many of the slaves who have somewhat been assimilated into the Christian cultures of the slave masters turned to God through songs, using native instruments drawn from their African ancestry.
Gradually, the hymns sang in churches gave way to what became known as gospel music. This remains an arm of a whole body of religions music dedicated to witness Christ. The term gospel music emanated from the white "revivalist" hymns of the 1890s.
Not until the middle of the 20th Century that gospel music became acceptable to the generality of the world as a strong musical genre to be played outside the churches, for which individuals could embrace as profession and source of livelihood and for which it could be classified and recognised for excellence.
Gradually, gospel music as it is known today, is thought to be sourcing its lyrics from quarters far from the bible. In America where Christianity and morality is largely a matter of opinion, in some parts of Europe and lately in Africa and Nigeria to be specific, the influence of the nascent Pentecostalism is sequestering to the background the most spiritual and elegant lyrics and imports of the hymns.
Apart from the orthodox churches where the hymns still hold sway, and genuine revival resurging, Pastors in Pentecostal churches are seen to be responding to the sentiments of the both the Christians and the mixed multitudes in their midst.
Hymns are being disregarded as old, slow, commonplace and lacking in 'fire' that characterises the exuberance of the present gospel musicians.
Many churches have replaced singing the hymns with what they call Praise and worship, where the Christians and the mixed multitudes could dance, twisting their bodies and wastes suggestively to the often worldly rhythm made popular by the secular musicians.
In praise and worship, churches are thought to have found first, entertainment, which is often construed as a means to elevate the worshippers' spirit, making it compatible with the spirit of God.
Though some of the songs are loaded with spiritual messages, the instrumentations, rhythm and dancing steps have compromised the minds of some Christians who come to church to worship God.
© Bola Adewara.
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