The purpose of this volume is to trace the history of the medieval Latin
hymn from the point of view of usage. It must be evident to any student
of a subject which is spread over a thousand years of human experience
in the widening environment of an entire continent that a guiding thread
is needed to show the way. One must not, at the same time, ignore the
fact that a monumental religious literature in the poetic field is
involved. But the hymn is functional, having its greatest significance
as a lyric when employed in an act of worship. Latin hymnology,
moreover, is an aspect of ecclesiastical studies following the history
of the Church through the classical and medieval ages into modern times.
A wider cultural background than the immediate interest of theology and
religion is reflected in the hymns of any age. Here often lie secrets of
interpretation which make possible an appreciation of contemporary
thought.
As the study of the medieval hymn is followed from the standpoint of
life and usage, the antiquarian and the literary critic, who cannot
fully satisfy the quest of the student for reality, must give place to
the medieval worshiper himself who has revealed in its entirety each
successive phase of a hymnological history not yet ended.
For information about the Christian hymn as it existed prior to the
medieval era, the author’s _Christian Hymns of the First Three
Centuries, Paper IX_, a publication of The Hymn Society of America, may
be consulted. This account of primitive Christian hymnody, although
pre-medieval, serves as an introduction to the subject matter of the
present volume.
The pages which follow are intended for the general reader rather than
the specialist in medieval culture or in the classical languages.
Biographies of hymn writers have not been attempted since the literature
of this subject is already extensive. Documentation has been reduced to
a minimum. A bibliography has been provided for any who are interested
in specialized fields.
It is hoped that this brief study will have a modest part in opening up
to the general reader a field which has never been fully explored in any
language, especially English. An inclusive treatment is not offered here
but one which represents the fruits of a generation of research.
My grateful thanks are due to my friends and co-workers in the fields of
classical studies, hymnology and medieval history who have assisted me
in countless ways, particularly to Dr. Adelaide D. Simpson and Dr. Carl
Selmer, both of Hunter College of the City of New York, who have read
the entire manuscript and offered invaluable criticisms and suggestions.
Among the many librarians who have assisted me in varied centers of
study, I am most indebted to the staff of the Library of Union
Theological Seminary of New York, under Dr. William Walker Rockwell and
later under Dr. Lucy Markley. Finally, I wish to acknowledge my
obligation to those authors and publishers who have granted permission
to use certain translations of Latin hymns which appear in this volume.
CHAPTER ONE
Early Middle Ages: Latin Hymns of the Fourth Century