Weather songs in the 17th and 18th century

At a time when people faced existential dangers from rain and hailstorms and lightning, weather songs arose in large numbers as a kind of "theological-metereological reaction" to these environmental hazards, alongside sermons, prayerbooks and pamphlets about the weather. Most are church songs (hymns), about half of which concern storms and other threatening weather formations. The writers and publishers were with few exceptions protestant theologians, who called for an appropriate religious demeanour when singing and praying. The essay investigates the selection of songs in terms of words and melodies, and the changing nature of piety under the influence of the Enlightenment.