A processional hymn, opening hymn, or gathering hymn is a chant, hymn or other music sung during the Procession, usually at the start of a Christian service, although occasionally during the service itself. The procession usually contains members of the clergy and the choir walking behind the processional cross. [1] Occasionally, a service will also contain a recessional hymn, although in the Protestant tradition this is usually an organ voluntary. [2]
The genre first appears in the early Middle Ages, and is a distinct genre from breviary hymns, often containing a refrain. With its longer cathedrals and churches, England was particularly rich in these and several are to be found in the Sarum Processional. [3]
In The English Hymnal nos. 613 to 640 are described as "Processional" and nos. 641 to 646 are "Suitable for use in procession". The processional hymns include " Of the Father's Heart Begotten" (Corde natus ex parentis, by Prudentius), " Ride On, Ride On in Majesty!"(by H. H. Milman), "Hail thee, Festival Day!" (Salve, festa dies, by Venantius Fortunatus) and "Jerusalem, my happy home" (by F.B.P. c. 1580). [4]
Recessional hymn
A recessional hymn or closing hymn is a hymn placed at the end of a church service to close it. It is used commonly in the Catholic Church and Anglican Church, an equivalent to the concluding voluntary, which is called a Recessional Voluntary, for example a Wedding Recessional.
References
- ^ Winfred Douglas, The Hale Lectures - Church Music in History and Practice Studies in the Praise of God, (Read Books, 2008) ISBN 978-1-4437-3063-1 pp.176-178
- ^ Richard J. Mouw, Mark A. Noll, Wonderful words of life: hymns in American Protestant history and theology (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004) ISBN 978-0-8028-2160-7, p.158
- ^ Charles Herbermann (ed.) Processional hymn in the Catholic Encyclopedia, (Robert Appleton Company, 1913)
- ^ The English Hymnal; with tunes. London: Henry Frowde, 1907; pp. 790-837
External links
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The dictionary definition of
recessional at Wiktionary
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