The thing is, Moravia is a place but it's also a church. It has been going since the 1400's, and you can Google it (The Moravian Church) and get the whole story.

Moravians and their church have spread widely, when a song has a source such as "Moravian hymn," it is apt to be music of that church, rather than simply from that region.

I have listened to some of them on line, and so far they range from the plain to the pretty. It is about what I would expect of congregational music from early centuries.

When I was a child, I learned a Moravian hymn in school:

Day now is done, there's a star in the west.
Still is the land and the twilight is deep.
All things are ready to turn to their rest.
Father, we thank thee for this good sleep.

The tune was quietly beautiful, and I still like to sing it.

---

Click to play