ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Die stand van psalmsang in die NG Kerk

 

The status of psalm singing in the Dutch Reformed Church

 

 

Hendrika J. Jankowitz^I; Daleen Kruger^II

^ISkool vir Musiek, Noordwes-Universiteit, Potchefstroomkampus, Suid-Afrika

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Over the past three decades, there have been consistent and increasing signs that psalms are disappearing from the repertoire of hymns that are sung in the Dutch Reformed (DR) Church. In an attempt to turn this tendency around, research was undertaken to determine the seriousness and the cause of the current situation. An empirical study was done to determine the frequency of use and the functionality of psalms, and to identify the practical factors that influence these.
Results confirmed the low application frequency, dysfunctionality, unpopularity and sparse liturgical employment of psalms, and showed that most psalms that appear in the hymn book of the Church, Liedboek (2001), have not become part of the repertoire of hymns of the DR Church. Respondents also provided valuable information in their explanations of why psalms are out of touch with the needs of congregations in contemporary Afrikaans culture.
The research concluded that psalm singing is falling into disuse in the DR Church in South Africa. Only a small number of psalms stand a chance to survive, and then only in congregations where the singing of psalms is propagated, where well-known psalms are sung regularly and where new psalms are being learned.

Keywords: Psalmsang; NG Kerk; Afrikaanse psalmtekste; Afrikaanse psalmmelodieë; liturgiese psalmsang; Liedboek

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Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

Literatuurverwysings

Barnard, A.C., 2001, 'Voorwoord by die Psalms', in Liedboek van die Kerk, pp. 11-17, NG Kerk-uitgewers, Wellington.         [ Links ]

Brueggemann, W., 1984, The Message of the Psalms. A Theological Commentary [Die boodskap van die Psalms.         [ Links ] Teologiese kommentaar], Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis.

Fourie, F.P., 2000, ''n Geskiedenis van die kerklied in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk', DTh-proefskrif, Departement Musiek, Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.         [ Links ]

Jankowitz, H.J., 2009, 'Die praktyk van liturgiese psalmsang in die NG Kerk in Suid-Afrika en Namibië', PhD (Musiek)-proefskrif, Departement Musiek, Noordwes-Universiteit.         [ Links ]

NG Kerk, 2001, Liedboek van die Kerk vir gebruik by die erediens en ander byeenkomste, 2001, NG Kerk-Uitgewers, Kaapstad.         [ Links ]

Roux, E., 1985, 'Grondbeginsels van die Gereformeerde Kerklied met verwysing na die 1978-Psalm en Gesangboek', DPhil-proefskrif, Departement Musiek, Universiteit van Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Strauss, M., 2005, 'My allerbeste vir die Allerhoogste. Kan/wil ek liturgies 'n verskil maak in 'n post-Christelike tyd?', Vir die Musiekleier 32, 7-16.         [ Links ]

Viljoen, M., 1997, 'Sentiment en die lied van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk: 'n Inhoudsanalitiese perspektief', ongepubliseerde MMus-verhandeling, Departement Musiek, Universiteit van die Oranje Vrystaat.         [ Links ]

Vos, C.J.A., 2005, Theopoetry of the Psalms [Teo-poë         [ Links ]sie van die Psalms], Protea Book House, Pretoria.

 

 

Correspondence:
Hendrika Jankowitz
Posbus 30247
Windhoek 9000
Namibië
Email: 3kie@iway.na

Received: 26 May 2010
Accepted: 17 Sept. 2010
Published: 18 Nov. 2010

 

 

Note: Hierdie studie is onder leiding van prof. Daleen Kruger gedoen, in samewerking met die Statistiese Konsultasiediens van Noordwes-Universiteit.