Final answer:
A hymn with a Hebrew text set to a melody borrowed from a non-Jewish source is called a lined-out hymn. These hymns were popular in African American slave communities and were typically sung a cappella, without any musical accompaniment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of hymns, a hymn with a Hebrew text set to a melody borrowed from a non-Jewish source is called a lined-out hymn. These hymns were popular in African American slave communities and were typically sung a cappella, without any musical accompaniment.
The practice of lining out involved a deacon or elder 'lining out' a couplet of the text in a sing-song voice while the congregation joined in on the second syllable with a volume of sound. The melody of lined-out hymns would often be borrowed from a non-Jewish source, like the well-known hymn 'Old Hundred.'
Lined-out hymns, also known as long meter hymns or Dr. Watts hymns, were an important part of African American religious traditions and were passed down through generations as oral tradition. They are an example of the blending of different musical traditions and the creative adaptation of hymns within religious communities.