Kenneth W. Osbeck

I thought this little book was exceptionally well-written.

This book tells of English-language hymns from Europe, and this tight focus has allowed for a far more vivid historical portrait. Hymns translated into English are also given in context of their introduction into English congregations. The connections between certain hymns, between lyricists and composers, and even between certain denominations are more clearly shown than would be possible in a book with a broader focus. Each chapter, show more though quite short, is chock-full of information. Author Kenneth Osbeck packs quite a lot into just a few words: biographical detail, historical context, and even theological implications. I have found, too, that this background knowledge has improved my worship experience and given me deeper spiritual insight. It’s too bad that there are only 101 hymns included, as I would have wanted to learn about even more. As it is, the hymns chosen here were carefully selected, and they represent many of the most widely sung and well-loved hymns within this book’s focus. I was also delighted to see the attention given to translators. Finally, I listened to the version published by Oasis Audio, and they did a fantastic job of incorporating the music into the book. Instrumental arrangements use a variety of instruments, which keep the collection of songs from feeling homogenous. The narrator reads the lyrics while the tune is played. Amazing. All in all, this is an excellent resource. show less

The full hymn is printed, then Ken Osbeck provides a one-page summary of the author's life with focus on the circumstances of how each hymn came to be written.
I found it very helpful and insightful to learn the story-behind-the-story of each hymn. These poignant insights are very useful in explaining the hymn in Sunday school classes and to the entire congregation.
This book has my full recommendation, and for just ten dollars, it represents good value as well. The book is very readable for show more laypersons. show less

Completely directed to music leaders. A great reminder of why they do what they do. This book is not for people trying to understand why certain music is right and other music wrong, though that is covered. It is intended for a reader who already has a grip on that truth and will then implement that into worship services. Great resource to have on the shelf!

I have used this book as a resource since it was published and a friend recommended the book. It is laid out in daily devotional style, with a hymn entry and hymn history and corresponding bible verse text. It has become an invaluable book in my music library. This year we are using it in our homeschool bible study resource list.