Why Is Musical Chanting Being Introduced into United Methodist Worship?

History

The use of chant in worship is something that may be new and strange to some United Methodists, despite the fact that it is not new to Methodism. Indeed, John and Charles Wesley received early instruction in singing the Psalms, and they continued the practice as adults in their private devotions, Sunday worship, and morning and evening prayer. Charles set many psalms in English metrical verse over a forty-year period. (SeeThe Worship Resources of The United Methodist Hymnal,edited by Hoyt Hickman. Nashville: Abingdon, 1989; page. 111).

During some times and at some locations (such as the nineteenth century American frontier), the practice of singing or chanting the Psalms nearly disappeared; but as a feature of Methodist worship practice, chanting has always been with us. Canticles, chants, and instructions for their singing by congregations have appeared in virtually all Methodist hymn books, although the use of spoken responsive readings — not known in Methodist worship until its introduction a little over one hundred years ago in the 1880's — has been more commonly used than psalm singing in the twentieth century. The editorial committees of the next three Methodist hymnals (1905, 1935, 1966) all were pressured to do something more musical and "more meaningful" with the Psalms; thus, when the present hymnal came out in 1988, it included a fully singable Psalter, which actually marked a return to the older, more traditional Methodist practice of the Wesleys (Hickman,Worship Resources of The United Methodist Hymnal,112).

What Is Chanting or Singing the Psalms?

Some United Methodists are put off by the word "chanting," associating it with Roman Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, or other high church worship practice. Actually, "chanting" and "singing" are nearly equal synonyms. Sometimes chant is used to designate sacred versus secular song or singing. Even more particularly, chanting may be used to designate the singing of certain parts of the worship liturgy, such as the ritual for Holy Communion or baptism or certain prayers and Scripture. Most commonly, chanting is used to differentiate sung liturgy or sung worship from congregational hymn singing, although we are well on our way in United Methodism to losing that distinction.

The Psalms, of course, were written to be sung; and by custom and tradition, they have been sung by the people in worship throughout Christian and Jewish history. That is why our present United Methodist Hymnal contains information, resources, and instructions on singing (or chanting) the Psalms on pages 736-737. In this preface there is a bit of history, some basic instruction on a number of ways to use the Psalms in worship, as well as instructions for the complete chanting by leader and people of the psalms contained in the Psalter pages of the hymnal that follow. Some of these directions and some of the music were borrowed from the Lutheran Book of Worship when our hymnal was published, thus connecting us with the ecumenical community.

Additional Resources

Chamberlain, Gary. Psalms for Singing: Twenty-six Psalms with Music Settings for Congregation and Choir. Nashville: The Upper Room, 1984. (Out of Print)

Chamberlain, Gary. The Psalms: A New Translation for Prayer and Worship. Nashville: The Upper Room, 1984. (Out of Print)

Hickman, Hoyt, ed. The Worship Resources of The United Methodist Hymnal: Introduction to the General Services, Psalter, and Other Acts of Worship.Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989.