Speaker to showcase Historic Zoar Village’s Schoolhouse

Rev. Dr. Daniel Grimminger, Ph.D., DCM, will present the first in-depth examination of the Zoar hymnal in Historic Zoar Village’s Schoolhouse on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m.

The Separatists printed their hymnal, Sammlung auserlesener geistlicher Lieder, zum gemeinschäftlichen Gesang, in 1867 and suggested a Lutheran hymn tune for each of its texts.

“The Separatists distanced themselves from the Lutheran church because of their earlier persecution at the hands of the State Church of Germany; however, they could not separate themselves from the beloved music of the Lutheran chorale,” Grimminger said. “These hymnals allowed the Separatists to bridge their theology to the larger Protestant ethos.”

Grimminger preaches at the Zoar United Church of Christ and is a respected authority in German-American culture and music, hymnody, and the history and practice of sacred music and the liturgy. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, a doctoral degree in church music from Claremont Graduate University, a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and German from University of Mount Union, and the Zertifikat Deutsch from the Goethe-Institut at Schwäbisch-Hall in Germany.

This event is free to attend. Free parking is available near the Schoolhouse.

Visit www.historiczoarvillage.com or call 330-874-3011.