hymnody

Religious lyric poetry as distinct from epic and didactic poetry, and contradistinct from profane lyric poetry; hymns taken collectively. According to whether it is used for public and official worship or for private devotion, the entire Latin hymnody is divided into liturgical and non-liturgical. Liturgical hymnody is again divided into the hymns belonging to the sacrificial liturgy of the Mass (Missal and Gradual), or to the liturgy of canonical prayer (Breviary and Antiphonary). Non-liturgical hymnody is divided into that intended for singing and that intended for silent, private devotion. The study and science of hymnody is called hymnology.