A Functional Art: Reflections of a Hymn Writer

by Timothy Dudley-Smith

One of the finest and most influential hymn-writers of our age, Timothy Dudley-Smith has published around 400 hymn texts. In this fascinating book, the author explores not only the writing of hymns but many other aspects including the study and singing of them. It is not a history, a text book, or an academic treatise, but the personal reflections of an experienced practitioner who has been speaking and writing on this subject, on both sides of the Atlantic, for more than fifty years. His armchair reflections draw freely on the writings of others, and in a discursive, almost conversational, style.

174 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Born 26 December 1926 in Manchester, England.

Ordained deacon 1950, priest 1951
Archdeacon of Norwich, 1973-81
Bishop of Thetford, 1981-91

Since 1992 in retirement at 9 Ashlands, Ford, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6DY, England.

As a hymn writer, has published c. 400 hymn texts (no music, but many to well-known tunes) originally in four single-author collections, now out of print, but subsumed into a larger collected edition, A House of Praise, 2003 and the three supplementary collections from the Oxford University Press. Many such hymns appear in published hymnals throughout the English-speaking world and in translation. He is an honorary vice-president of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, a Fellow of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, and a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music. In 2003 he was awarded an OBE 'for services to hymnody', and in 2009 an honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) from the University of Durham.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dudley-Smith is a wonderfully congenial host for this all-too-brief survey of the intricacies of hymn-writing. It is at times wry and humorous, at others earnest and thoughtful, as one would expect and hope. It is a privilege to have the writer of 450+ hymns lead the reader gently through his process, covering such issues as the links and differences between poetry and hymnody, the need to 'gruel' at one's text, the challenges of rhyme and scansion.

He draws on perhaps the usual suspects like Watts, Newton, Cowper and of course the Wesleys - it is clear that Charles is his great hero. More surprising is the poetic influence of the likes of Philip Larkin or Stephen Sondheim, not to mention W S Gilbert and Noel Coward. This makes for such a refreshing read, a book littered with gold-dust. A joy - and (hopefully) an inspiration to many.

[James Shrimpton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aptly subtitled "Reflections...", this is very much that, rather than a full treatise. But a lovely, marvellously encouraging and stimulating collection of reflections it is. One that any budding or aspiring hymn writer should read. One that I intend to return to.