Musical Dictionary
Hymn Texts and Tunes
Choral Composers
American Protestant Denominations
Churches Around the World
100
This word, from the Italian for "in the style of the chapel", is often used to describe pieces of music without instrumental accompaniment.
What is a cappella?
100
SLANE
What is "Be Thou My Vision"?
100
This German composer wrote extensively for the church, including over 200 cantatas, several choral motets, and passions.
Who was Johann Sebastian Bach?
100
This denomination stretches back before the founding of America, and is led by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
What is The Episcopal Church?
100
What is St. Paul's Cathedral (London)?
200
An instruction to sing or play notes short and detached, from the Italian word for "detached."
What is staccato?
200
EIN FESTE BURG
What is "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"?
200
In 1824, this composer wrote the first symphony to include a chorus along with the orchestra in the fourth movement.
Who was Ludwig van Beethoven?
200
After a contentious schism within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1975, the departing congregations merged with several smaller denominations in 1988 to create this, the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States.
What is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)?
200
What is the Cologne Cathedral?
300
The category of symbols which define the volume (softness or loudness) of the music.
What are dynamics?
300
NETTLETON
What is "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"?
300
This English composer was organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, and later St. Paul's Cathedral, London where he wrote the oratorio "The Crucifixion" in 1887.
Who was John Stainer?
300
The second-largest protestant church in the United States, this denomination's logo features a cross and flame which represent Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit respectively.
What is the United Methodist Church?
300
What is St. John the Divine (New York, NY)?
400
The voice type between Soprano and Contralto.
What is mezzo-soprano?
400
AURELIA
What is "The Church's One Foundation"?
400
This American composer's music is known for dense harmonies and evocative lyrics, with titles such as "Lux Aurumque", "Sleep", "Water Night", and "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine."
Who is Eric Whitacre?
400
This denomination, founded in 1914, which traces its origins to the Azusa Street Revival, expanded globally in the 20th century to become the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world.
What are the Assemblies of God?
400
What is the Sagrada FamÃlia (Barcelona)?
500
A syllable sung over multiple notes.
What is a melisma?
500
SALVE FESTA DIES
What is "Hail Thee, Festival Day"?
500
This American composer's most successful choral anthem, among the hundreds published, was included in The United Methodist Hymnal as the "Hymn of Promise", better known by its first line "In the Bulb There is a Flower."
Who was Natalie Sleeth?
500
This denomination grew out of the work of Canadian preacher A. B. Simpson who founded the "Gospel Tabernacle Church" and "Missionary Training Institute" on 44th Street in New York City. The institute moved to Nyack, NY in 1897 to become Nyack College. In 1997, Nyack College opened another campus in Manhattan, and in 2020 consolidated operations there selling it's Nyack campus.
What is the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA)?
500
What is the Crystal Cathedral/Christ Cathedral (Garden Grove, CA)?