Ausbund — collection of 140 hymns. Written by Anabaptists imprisoned in Passau Castle (Bavaria) 1535-1540. Published 1564. Used at every Amish Sunday service to this day.
History
53 Anabaptists sat in the castle basement. Not executed (too many) but not released. They sang. Wrote hymns on paper gotten from guards. Five years — 51 hymns. After release — 89 more.
Features
Lyrics exist, melodies don't. Tunes passed orally from Vorsinger to Vorsinger. Each community sings slightly differently. Tempo — slow. One syllable can last 5-10 seconds. A 4-stanza hymn takes 15-20 minutes.