William Billings has been largely forgotten, except among music historians. But he was the country’s first notable composer, penning protest songs against Great Britain.
Articles on Hymns
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For one thing, most of it isn’t the kind of music you’d want to shop to.
Songs of the season – sacred and secular music alike – sometimes acknowledge that Christmas isn’t all joy.
Gratitude and praise are not only some of the most common themes in Christian music, but also some of the oldest.
The Pilgrims who started the first Thanksgiving tradition after they landed in Plymouth were following the customs they had grown up with, originating in medieval times.
In the great reformer’s eyes, if you didn’t love a rousing tune you deserved only “the music of the pigs”.
Other than church, the pipe organ is often perceived as belonging in horror movies. But there’s more to the instrument that spans most musical genres.
Top contributors
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Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University
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Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History, University of Birmingham
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Associate Professor of Music, University of Pretoria
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Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Academic in the School of Education and Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland