O God, the Strength of Those Who War: The Hymns and Hymn Writers of World War I

Scholars have long studied the prose and especially the poetry arising out of the Great War, yet they have largely neglected the hymn texts produced during and in response to World War I. Given the large impact of hymn texts, as poetry connected to faith and embodied physically in communal song, thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Lied und populäre Kultur 2018-01, Vol.63, p.167-188
Main Author:	Josselyn-Cranson, Heather
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Biographies Christianity Clergy English language God Hymns Literature Military personnel MUSIK IM KRIEG – MUSIC IN WAR Poetry Poets Religious music War Welsh language World War I
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Scholars have long studied the prose and especially the poetry arising out of the Great War, yet they have largely neglected the hymn texts produced during and in response to World War I. Given the large impact of hymn texts, as poetry connected to faith and embodied physically in communal song, this literature deserves greater attention. This article surveys many of the authors who composed hymn texts in English during and after the war, including British pastors and chaplains, English poets and playwrights, some of whom questioned the necessity and outcome of the war, and Americans, both lay and ordained. The hymn texts that are presented connect the reality of the war with a variety of liturgical situations. These texts allowed congregations to respond to the war with optimism, frustration, sorrow, confidence, gratitude, and many other attitudes and theological positions.
ISSN:	1619-0548