ME530: Theology in Song (4 units)
James
R. Krabill, Visiting Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology
Summer 2007
DESCRIPTION:
Many
people sing the songs of the church with little thought to their meaning and
theological import. Yet it might be argued that nothing shapes the faith and
practice of the church more than its music. Any person training for ministry
today needs to take seriously the music of the church, reflecting on its
origins, its relationship to the surrounding culture, its role in nurturing
faith, its ability to mobilize God’s people to action, its capacity to reach
those outside the community of faith. This course will equip students to think
more critically about the church’s theology as composed, preserved and
transmitted in musical form by and for God’s people throughout the ages.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. To increase awareness and acquire critical
tools for analyzing and reflecting on the theology of the church’s music
2. To examine the roots of Christian
theology-in-song in the Old and New Testaments and at various points throughout
the history of the church and its mission
3. To explore case studies of emerging
hymn collections from around the world
4. To compare the themes found in
Christian hymns with the music and song texts of other world religions
COURSE FORMAT:
This
course is offered as a one-week intensive course that meets daily for 8 hours, making
use of lectures, readings, audio and video clips, case study reports, class
discussion and writing assignments.
READING EXPECTATIONS:
A
reading minimum of 1200 pages is required for this course. The only required
text is the “Theology of Song” Reader
(first item below). The remaining page requirements can be selected from any of
the other sources here or a book approved by the instructor. (If you have read
any of these texts for other courses, please select alternative readings.)
1. A
“Theology of Song” Reader [compiled by the instructor especially for this
course and designed to supplement class lectures and activities].
2. Corbitt, J. Nathan, The Sound of the Harvest: Music’s
3. Hawn, C. Michael, Gather into ONE: Praying and Singing
Globally.
4. Hill, Andrew E., Enter His Courts with Praise: Old Testament Worship for the New
Testament Church.
5. King, Roberta R., Pathways in Christian Music Communication:
The Case of the Senufo of
6. Krabill, James R., The Hymnody of the
7. Oswald, John, A New Song Rising in Tibetan Hearts: Tibetan
Christian Worship in the Early 21st Century. John Oswald, 2001.
Available from: newsongrising@bigfoot.com
8. Palmer-Quay, Dianne. Developing Indigenous Hymnody: Key Resources
for Cross-Cultural Workers.
9. The
Cross: Jesus in
10. Scott, Joyce, Tuning in to a
Different Song.
11. Sullivan, Lawrence E., ed., Enchanting
Powers: Music in the World’s Religions.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read a minimum of 1200 pages. See “Reading
Expectations” description.
2. Four 500-word essays reflecting on
various course themes relating to “theology in song” (e.g., in Old and New
Testaments, in world religions, in various global contexts, etc.). One of these
essays will be turned in on Wednesday, mid-way through the week’s course.
3. One group case-study project (2-3
people), with joint class report and reflective paper (2,000 words).
4. One personal research paper or
project (minimum 3,500 words).
5. ThM students: Research paper/project
should be an additional 2,000-2,500 words.
FINAL
EXAM: None. Writing assignments can be turned in portfolio form on two dates:
Aug. 3 and/or Aug. 24.
PREREQUISITES: None, though
the essay due mid-week may likely require pre-course reading and writing.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
Last date edited: March 10, 2007