International Society for Hymnological Studies

The Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie (IAH), known in English as the International Society for Hymnological Studies, is an international, interconfessional, and interdisciplinary association dedicated to the cultivation of and research into the church's song. It was founded in 1959 and since 1992 has been a registered voluntary association (e.V.) with its headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. The society brings together scholars, teachers, and practitioners from a wide range of fields—including theology, musicology, church music, literature, linguistics, history, bibliography, folklore, sociology, and psychology—who share an interest in hymns, hymnals, and congregational singing. The IAH's membership is geographically and denominationally diverse. As of November 2017, members came from 32 countries, and the society maintains contact with sister organizations such as the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland (HSGBI) and the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada (HSUSC). Its core activities include academic conferences held every two years, often in different countries to foster international and interconfessional exchange, and every six years organized as joint conferences with the two sister societies. The IAH also publishes resources and is a co-editor of the Jahrbuch für Liturgik und Hymnologie, and it regularly issues the IAH-Bulletin and Mitteilungen der IAH. In 1997 it published the multilingual ecumenical hymnal Unisono. The society is governed by a board of officers drawn from various countries, with a president, secretary, and regional representatives. The current president (since 2022) is Esther Handschin. The IAH continues to support hymnological research and practice, and it engages with its membership through surveys and conferences to plan future activities.

The Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie (IAH) was founded in 1959 as an association to support the cultivation and research of the church's song on an international, interconfessional, and interdisciplinary basis. In 1992, it became a registered voluntary association (e.V.) with its headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. The society's early leadership included Konrad Ameln (president 1959–1967), followed by Markus Jenny (1967–1985), Robin A. Leaver (1985–1989), Andreas Marti (1989–1993), Christian Bunners (1993–1999), Franz Karl Praßl (1999–2011), Jørgen Kjærgaard (2011–2022), and Esther Handschin (since 2022). From 1965, the IAH has held international conferences every two years (previously every three years), with each conference taking place in a different country to promote international and interconfessional exchange. Since 1981, joint conferences have been organized at varying intervals with its sister societies, the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. In addition, IAH members organize smaller regional working conferences. The IAH is a co-editor of the Jahrbuch für Liturgik und Hymnologie and regularly publishes the IAH-Bulletin and Mitteilungen der IAH. In 1997, it published the multilingual ecumenical hymnal Unisono. The society's membership has grown to include members from 32 countries (as of November 2017), representing diverse academic disciplines such as theology, literature, linguistics, publishing history, and musicology. The IAH maintains contact with other international societies and continues to foster hymnological research and practice worldwide.

• 2022

  Esther Handschin became president.

• 2017

  Membership reported from 32 countries (as of November 2017).

• 1997

  Published the multilingual ecumenical hymnal Unisono.

• 1992

  Became a registered voluntary association (e.V.) with headquarters in Heidelberg.

• 1981

  First joint conference with the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.

• 1965

  Began holding international conferences every two years (previously every three years).

• 1959

  Founded as an international association for hymnological studies.

International, interconfessional, and interdisciplinary network for hymnological research and practice.

• Jahrbuch für Liturgik und Hymnologie

  Co-editor of the academic yearbook.

• IAH-Bulletin

  Regular publication of the society.

• Mitteilungen der IAH

  Regular newsletter of the society.

• Unisono

  Multilingual ecumenical hymnal published in 1997.

1. 1International Society for Hymnological Studies – Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie (IAH) e.V. / Cercle international d'études hymnologiquesiah-hymnologie.de
2. 2History and purpose – International Society for Hymnological Studiesiah-hymnologie.de
3. 3About us – International Society for Hymnological Studiesiah-hymnologie.de
4. 4Board – International Society for Hymnological Studiesiah-hymnologie.de
5. 5Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie – Wikidatawikidata.org