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.

• [An earlier form of this article was published in German in Jahrbuch für Liturgie unde Hymnologie 32 (1989) 94-104].

Artifact

Transcription

Date

• Reverse = scratch papyrus of corn accounts (200 – 250 CE)

• Hymn = 275 – 325 CE

Music

• Two distinct hands:Words in uncial GreekMusic 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”)

Text

Text