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    STUDIA THEOLOGIA%20REFORMATA%20TRANSYLVANICA - Issue no. 1-2 / 2003  
         
  Article:   ORAL TRADITION AND WRITING / SZÁJHAGYOMÁNY ÉS ÍRÁSBELISÉG.

Authors:  PÉTER ÉVA. 		 
       
         
  Abstract:  Oral Tradition and Writing. Written music in the 16-17 th centuries was in a retrograde state related to the development level of other European countries. Score reading has not been taught in the schools, and only a few scored music publications were issued. If we want to know what did the church hymn collection contain we have to look for it either in the very few contemporary notes, or in the church hymns collections edited 1-2 centuries later.The versions edited in the hymnbooks of other denominations have not been different from the original.The oral tradition has contributed significantly to the spread of the hymns. While the editors have slowly but surely decreased the number of hymns, the oral history retained hymns that were no longer present in the hymnbooks. If the melody or the rhythm of the hymn was not suitable for the Hungarian taste, the people have simply changed it to fit their needs. The most beautiful and popular melodies were sang with rich ornamentation. The melodies, which have sounded strange or were hard to assimilate were simply ignored. Church hymns are spread even today in two ways: printed on scores and through oral tradition. The several scores present variations of different eras and regions. But the oral tradition preserves the living form of the hymn collection. Surveillance of this oral tradition is also today a very important task.  
         
     
         
         
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