Telling 'The Old, Old Story' in Hymns
Fan Aims to Record, Preserve Traditional Hymn-Singing

 Listen to Bob Edwards' conversation with Dale Wiley.

Worshippers open their hymnals at Cherry Dale Baptist Church, Arlington, Va. Photo: Cara Gerhard, NPR   Hear "Jesus Paid It All," recorded at Cherry Dale Baptist Church, Arlington, Va.

March 29, 2002 -- When Christian churchgoers attend services at the denomination of their choice this Sunday morning, they may not hear the straightforward melodies of the hymns they knew from childhood. These days, says Dale Wiley, many churches have turned to "praise choruses" -- songs that employ simple, repeated words of praise rather than the more poetic, penitent language of vintage hymns.

Wiley, a lawyer and owner of a small record company, has watched hymn-singing decline over the past two decades. He counts it as a loss: "The difference between the hymns and the praise songs is the difference between a sonnet and a greeting card," he says. "They don't have the depth and the poetic language that a song would have from the old hymnal."

On Morning Edition, Wiley talks with host Bob Edwards about his fight to preserve traditional hymn-singing.

One weapon in that fight is a new CD Wiley produced: The Old, Old Story a collection of old hymns recorded as sung in two rural Missouri congregations. Wiley aimed specifically for an "on-site sound," right down to placing the recording equipment on a pew in the midst of worshippers. He hopes the CD will transport listeners to the Sunday morning services of yore: bulletins shuffling, babies crying -- and good, old-fashioned hymns.

While promoting the singing of traditional hymns, Wiley also has learned a lot about the people who composed them. At his Web site, Wiley shares some stories of creation and inspiration behind traditional hymns.

Web-Only Audio
Hear entire cuts from the CD The Old, Old Story:

 Listen to "Blessed Assurance."

 Listen to "Leaning On the Everlasting Arms."

 Listen to "Amazing Grace."



Other Resources

• Read stories behind well-known hymns from the book 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck.

• Read more stories behind hymns at the Web site tanbible.com.

• Visit a Web site by and for "hymnuts of the world."

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