hymn

A hymn is a song of religious devotion, usually written in strophic form (the same melody for each verse) with texts of praise, prayer, or theological reflection. Hymns are designed to be singable by congregations, so they typically have simple, memorable melodies and regular phrase structures. The hymn tradition spans centuries. Martin Luther wrote hymns to encourage congregational singing during the Reformation. Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley wrote hundreds of English hymns that are still sung today. Many hymn tunes have transcended their religious origins — the melody of Amazing Grace is recognised worldwide regardless of religious affiliation.