The source readings in Hymnology are primary documents illustrating the philosophy and practice of congregational singing during various historical periods of the Christian church. They are drawn from a wide variety of sources including letters, diaries, periodicals, hymnal and tunebook prefaces, theological treatises, certain controversial books and pamphlets, and deliberations of church councils. The material ranges in date from the beginning of the second century to the 1960s. All the major streams of Christian song are covered, including early Greek and Latin hymnody, pre-Reformation vernacular hymnody, the Lutheran chorale, Reformed psalmody, and English and American hymnody from the sixteenth to the twentieth century. The book is suitable for use as a text or supplementary text for courses in hymnology, a professional reference work for ministers and church musicians, and a book for laymen interested in the history of church music.

The most significant Baptist church musician of the latter half of the twentieth century, William J. Reynolds is renowned among Baptist musicians, music ministers, song leaders, and hymnody students. In eminently readable style, David Music's comprehensive biography describes Reynolds's family and educational background, his career as a minister of music, denominational leader, and seminary professor. His extensive published works are highlighted against his career as composer, editor, and arranger-as well as his roles as conference leader, conductor, lecturer, hymn and worship leader, Sacred Harp enthusiast, and author. Baptist heritage owes much of its music, and how it thinks of music, to William J. Reynolds, and now to David Music, who has carefully compiled this sweeping tribute to Reynolds's life and work.