Definition of terms

TERMS

Authority

  • An authority is meant to be a summary of all the instances of the hymn in the various hymnals in the database. It should include author or composer, the date the text or tune was written (if available), key, meter, first line, language info, a source if it is common to all the instances, and copyright info that is common to all instances.

First Line

  • The first line of the hymn using identical capitalization and punctuation as in the hymnal. Think of the first line as a line of poetry. Sometimes you can use the meter of the hymn as a guide to how much to include. If the hymn is written in multiple languages, add the first line in the other languages in parentheses behind the top first line.

Instance

  • An instance is a hymn or "number" in a hymnal or other collection. It usually has a text and a tune, but it may have one without the other.

Key

  • The key as determined by number of flats/sharps in the key signature. Major key should be a capital letter and minor key should be lower case. Spell out the words "Sharp" and "Flat". Examples include "B Flat Major", "c sharp minor", and "F Major/g minor" (when the hymn is in two keys).

Language ID

  • The language the hymn is written in. Put in full name (e.g. Spanish, Korean, English, etc.). Include all the languages the hymn is written in. If the page says something like "Latin 7th c." you may put Latin as the original language, but "Latin 7th c." should go in the Source field.

Meter

  • The organization of rhythm. Enter the meter as given. See also Meter.

Notes

  • Anything that may be helpful for someone not looking at the hymnal page, for example "The refrain of 'Shout to the Lord' paired with a responsive reading from Psalm 65" or "five spoken and sung benedictions." Notes information should be taken directly from the page.

Number

  • The hymn/song number as given in the hymnal. Each entry in this column must be unique. Each number needs to be accounted for, even if it is not a hymn, such as a responsive reading, prayer, etc. If it is not a hymn, put an explanation of what it is in a Notes field.

  • If there is more than one musical item under one number, such as multiple song responses or alternate harmonizations, add an "a", "b", etc. to the number, if necessary, such as 72a, 72b. It is preferable to try to fit the information under one listing if possible, for example, more than one composer can be listed but not more than one tune name or meter.

Original Language

  • The language that the Original Language Title is in. If the page says something like "Latin 7th c." you may put Latin as the original language, but "Latin 7th c." should go in the Source field.

Original Language Title

  • The title in the original language of a hymn, if provided.

Page

  • A list of all pages on the Hymnary.

Place of Origin

  • The approximate geographic place where a hymn arose or was physically written/composed. This field does not use language or culture as a determining factor for place.

Publication Date

  • Refers to the publication date of the hymnal. This does not refer to the date of a hymn's composition.

Refrain First Line

  • The first line of a repeated section of a hymn, to be sung after each verse. Enter the refrain using identical capitalization and punctuation as in the hymnal. Try to include enough words to make it unique from the other refrains. If the refrain is written in multiple languages add the refrain first line in parentheses behind the top first line.

Scripture Spreadsheet

  • The form into which you enter any scriptural references noted with a hymn. Add only what is indicated in the hymnal.

Text Copyright Statement

  • The complete copyright statement as listed in hymnal. Sometimes the text and tune copyright are in one statement. In that case enter the same copyright statement in both text and tune copyright statement columns (copy and paste). If there is more than one copyright statement, use a subsequent row.

Text Date

  • Date the text was written. If there is an "alt." (altered), "mod." (modernized), etc., include it after the date (separated by a comma). If there is an "alt." but no date, just put the "alt." in the date field. See also Date.

Text Person

  • The name of the person or group who is the author, versifier, translator, paraphraser, etc. If a group such as the Taize Community is listed as the author, they should be put in this field as a corporate author.

  • If there is an author and a translator (reviser, etc.) add another row below to enter the second (or third) person; e.g. author on the first row of the entry, translator or co-author on the row below in the same column. Leave the number column blank for subsequent rows belonging to the same hymn.

  • If the text comes from a source other than a person or corporate author, such as another hymnbook or a musical tradition, list that in the Text Source column.

  • If the dates of the author's life are included in the hymnal, add them in this row, using name, date of birth and death in the format given in the hymnal. For example: J. S. Bach, 1685-1750.

  • If there is a phrase such as "and others" given after a text person's name, put the phrase in the Notes field.

Text Relationship

  • Defines the relationship of the Text Person to the text: Author, Versifier, Translator, etc. (enter whatever relationship is listed. If there is none, use "author"). Also include extra information, such as stanza numbers, if more than one author wrote different stanzas, or such as "attributed to." Add the extra information in parentheses, e.g. Author (stanzas 1-2).

Text Source

  • Enter the major work, hymnal, or tradition (i.e. African-American Spiritual, French carol) if text is taken from one and cited as such in the hymnal. Cite the work as it is listed in the hymnal. Use italics if the hymnal uses them. Include the date the work was published, if given. Do not put the date of publication in the Text Date field because the publication date does not reflect when the hymn itself was written. If there is an "alt." but no text date, put the "alt." after the date the work was published.

  • Enter the source first followed by "st. #", "from", "based on", etc.

  • Hymns can only have one source line. Therefore, if there is text from more than one source, they should all be entered in the one line separated by semi-colons.

  • Do not enter scripture references in this field. There is a separate spreadsheet for these.

Title

  • Title as listed on the same page as the hymn. Entry must use the exact capitalization and punctuation.

Topic Spreadsheet

  • The form to which you enter the topic assigned the hymn, if applicable. Use only the terms from the indexes in the back of the book or the table of contents.

Tune Copyright Statement

  • The complete statement as it is listed in the hymnal. Sometimes the text and tune copyright are in one statement. In that case enter the same copyright statement in both text and tune copyright statement columns (copy and paste). If there is more than one copyright statement, use a subsequent row. The copyright data is independent from multiple column groupings.

Tune Date

  • The date the tune was composed. This should include alt. (altered), if that is included in the hymnal with the date. If there is not a tune date but there is an "alt." etc. then put the "alt." in the tune date box. See also Date.

Tune Person

  • The name of the person who is the composer, arranger, harmonizer, etc.

    If there is a composer and an arranger (harmonizer, reviser), use another row below to enter the second (or third) person, e.g. composer on the first row of the entry, arranger on the row below in the same column. leave the number column blank for subsequent rows belonging to the same hymn.

    If the tune comes from a source other than a person, such as another hymnal, list that in the Tune Source column.

    If the dates of the composer's life are included in the hymnal, add them in this column, using name, date of birth and death in the format given in the hymnal. For example: J. S. Bach, 1685-1750.

    If there is a phrase such as "and others" given after a text person's name, put the phrase in the Notes field.

Tune Relationship

  • The relationship of tune person to the tune: Composer, Arranger, Harmonizer, etc. (if no relationship is listed, enter "Composer"). If a composer does only the melody or descant, certain stanzas, etc., it should be noted in this column. Add this information in parentheses, e.g. Composer (stanzas 1-2).

Tune Source

  • The major work, tradition or hymnal that the tune was taken from as indicated in the hymnal. (For example, St. John Passion, Afro-American Spiritual, or Genevan Psalter.) Use italics for major works if that is the way it is listed in the hymnal. Include the date the work was published, if given. Do not put this date in the Tune Date field because the publication date does not indicate when the tune was composed.

    Put the source first, followed by "based on", "from", etc.

    If there is an "alt." but no tune date, only a publication date for a book, add the "alt." after the publication date.

    Hymns can only have one source line. Therefore, if there is text from more than one source, they should all be entered in the one line separated by semi-colons.

Tune Title

  • The name of the tune used for a hymn. Enter tune title in CAPS.