Hymns Help
The "Hymns" web page consists of a table that is used (1) to display information about hymns as well as (2) providing navigation to other web sites where further information about the hymns can be obtained. In addition to the table, a variety of input controls displayed above the table can be used to specify which hymns should be displayed in the table.
The "match hymn text" field can be used to enter a partial word, a full word or a set of words that are to be used to locate those hymns that contain the specified text. For example, when the words "rock of ages" (note that capitalization is not important) are entered into this field, the result is:
For this particular search, only one hymn was found that matched the specified text. Searches on other words may return many matches.
The "LSB#" field can be used to enter a single hymn, a range of hymns (using "
The "TLH#" and "LW#" input fields behave similarly to the "LSB#" input field with the exception that the hymns are displayed based on their hymn numbers in the Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Lutheran Worship (LW) hymnal, respectively.
The "Clear Table" button will erase all the hymns currently shown in the table. Since hymns can be added quickly to the table using ranges for hymn numbers or by specifying the season, being able to quickly erase this table before adding new hymns to it is useful. By default, with the exception of the "Season" and "Topic" inputs, any hymns identified through one of the input fields are added to the end of the table.
The "Season" input field allows for the addition of all hymns for a given season to the table. Before adding the hymns for the season, any currently displayed hymns will first be erased. Therefore, selecting the "Clear Table" button before selecting a season is unnecessary.
The "Topic" input field allows for the addition of all hymns for a given topic to the table. Before adding the hymns for the topic, any currently displayed hymns will first be erased. Therefore, selecting the "Clear Table" button before selecting a topic is unnecessary.
Selecting the "Playlists" button will bring up a new window from which existing playlists (previously defined sets of hymns and other Christian songs) can be "played". This is a convenient way to listen to a number of hymns/songs without having to manually select each one of them. Also, using playlists allows access to songs and hymn versions that are not selectable via the hymn table.
The columns within the hymns table can be used to discover additional information about each of the hymns displayed in the table. Clicking on underlined text or on one of the images in the table will perform a query using another web site and will display the results of that query in a new window. The columns in this table, and the corresponding action when selected, are:
- Bible passage(s) for the hymn as specified in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB). If the hymn is not included in the Lutheran Service Book, then the Bible passage from the Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) is used. Selecting the underlined text will display those Bible passages using the "Outline of the Bible" web page.
LSB# - hymn number from the Lutheran Service Book
TLH# - hymn number from the Lutheran Hymnal (TLH)
LW# - hymn number from the Lutheran Worship (LW) hymnal
Tune - YouTube music video with the melody for the hymn. Selecting the image will play the YouTube video. If the image is a copyright symbol (), then the tune for the hymn is under copyright.
Group - YouTube music video with a group performing the hymn. As for the Tune column, selecting the image will play the YouTube video. If the image is a copyright symbol (), then the text (at least some portion of it) for the hymn is under copyright. The hymnal should be consulted for specifics on what exactly is copyrighted.
Web pages - web pages containing additional information about the specified hymn. Selecting the image will display the corresponding web page in a new window.
- uses the Bible Gateway web site (https://www.biblegateway.com) to generate the English Standard Version (ESV) text for the Bible passage(s) for the hymn for that row and display those verses in another window.
- uses the ChatGPT chatbot (https://chatgpt.com) to generate an article based on the hymn for that row.
- uses the Perplexity chatbot (https://perplexity.com) to generate an article based on the hymn for that row.
- accesses the Hymnary web site (https://hymnary.org) for the hymn for that row.
- uses the Google search engine (https://www.google.com) to generate search results for the hymn for that row.
- uses the Yahoo search engine (https://search.yahoo.com) to generate search results for the hymn for that row.
- uses the DuckDuckGo search engine (https://duckduckgo.com) to generate search results for the hymn for that row.
- searches the KFUO (radio) web site for episodes pertinent to the hymn for that row.
- searches the LCMS web site (https://www.lcms.org) for information pertinent to the hymn for that row.