The Bible in Music

the long version

There have been numerous publications over the last several decades on the Bible in literature, film, and art. But until now, no reference work has appeared on the Bible as depicted in Western music. In The Bible in Music: A Dictionary of Songs, Works, and More, scholars Siobhán Dowling Long and John F.A. Sawyer correct this gap in Biblical reference literature, providing a convenient guide to musical interpretations of the Bible. As well as providing examples of classical music from the Middle Ages through modern times, Dowling Long and Sawyer also examine the Bible's impact on popular culture with numerous entries on hymns, spirituals, musicals, film music, and contemporary popular music. Each entry contains essential information about the original context of the work (date, composer, etc.) and, where relevant, its afterlife in literature, film, politics, and liturgy. The book also includes an index of biblical references; an index of biblical names; a detailed timeline that places key events, works, and publications in their historical context; a bibliography; and a glossary of technical terms. The Bible in Music will fascinate anyone familiar with the Bible, but it is also designed to encourage choirs, musicians, musicologists, lecturers, teachers, and students of music and religious education to discover and perform lesser-known pieces, as well as helping them to listen to familiar music with a fresh perspective. - Back cover.