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Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 1786. Bibliographical Recommendation. Tripp, David H., and Peter Wheeler. “The Oldest Christian Hymn with Music: Its Use as a Seminary Project in Liturgical Studies.” The Hymn 48/2 (April 1997) 20-24.
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Bibliographical Recommendation • Tripp, David H., and Peter Wheeler. “The Oldest Christian Hymn with Music: Its Use as a Seminary Project in Liturgical Studies.” The Hymn 48/2 (April 1997) 20-24. • [An earlier form of this article was published in German in Jahrbuch für Liturgie unde Hymnologie 32 (1989) 94-104].
Date • Reverse = scratch papyrus of corn accounts (200 – 250 CE) • Hymn = 275 – 325 CE
Music • Two distinct hands: Words in uncial Greek Music in cursive Greek • G mode (natural F) • N.B. Rising pitch when Holy Spirit is mentioned • N.B. Could “Amens” be congregational? • N.B. Solo / Choir / Assembly
Authorship • Anonymous • Text: generally anapestic; c. 16 syllables per line = not sophisticated • Music: • Originally a pagan tune to which the text-writer added the lyric? • Poet wrote the words then asked a musical friend to add melody? • Stenographer wrote down hymn text, then asked musician to add notes from sung example
Context/Use • Personal devotions by an individual (however N.B. “we sing”) • Eucharist (but what element?) • Agape (as distinct rite in 4th C CE?) • Liturgy of the Hours (like Psalm 148 / Canticle of the Three Young Men?) • Home / informal circle of friends (N.B. “giver of all that is good”)