SU Divinity faculty featured in int’l hymnology dictionary

Dr. Jean Cuanan Nalam, a faculty member of Silliman University’s Divinity School, has been recognized in the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, considered one of the most comprehensive online dictionaries of hymnology, featuring composers, authors, hymns, and works related to church music worldwide.

Nalam is the fourth Filipino to be included in this prestigious publication, joining the ranks of notable figures Dr. Elena Maquiso, Dr. Francisco Feliciano, and Manoling Francisco.

The dictionary highlights her significant contributions to Cebuano anthems and liturgical responses that reflect the theology, doctrines, and cultural identity of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).

Influenced by the hymns of Dr. Elena Maquiso, which are rooted in folk tunes, Nalam has carved her own niche by blending traditional and contemporary styles. Her compositions are lauded for harmonizing musical meter with Cebuano speech accents and tonal nuances. From unison pieces to multi-part harmonies, her choral arrangements cater to the diverse needs of Cebuano UCCP church choirs, while her congregational songs feature accessible rhythms and melodies that resonate with worshippers.

Nalam’s academic journey began at Silliman University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (1996) and a Master of Music in Music Education (2002). She later completed her PhD in Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2022, making history as the first Filipino to achieve this distinction.