[en] Over the 130 years of history of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's), music has been part of most of its meetings. They have published or used fifteen hymnals in English, six in Spanish, one in Catalan and translated several hymns into basque, valencian and galician; they have used music for several decades in radio evangelism and from house to house; they have used large and small orchestras and choirs and they have edited sound recordings for both congregational and personal use. What is known about this? What are, or have been, their hymnals? Which hymns have they sung? Have they changed them over the years? Have they ever used or continue to use orchestras and choirs? What kind of sound recordings have they made? Who are the people behind all this? The approach of this paper is to get to know this lesser known aspect of JW's: Musical practices within the group. It specially takes a historical approach of the hymnals they have edited and used and also of the people and other different "products" related to music (radio, recordings, orchestras, etc.). This thesis is made up of five chapters and five annexes. The chapters focus on the justification, state-of-the-art and methodology used (Chapter I). A general overview of JWs' historical and musical background (Chapter II). A historical overview of their hymnals published in English since 1877 and the sources used (Chapter III). A similar description for those in Spanish since 1919 and in Catalan since 2008 (Chapter IV). Conclusions, sources and bibliography (Chapter V). The first two annexes deal exclusively with the historical development of the group in Spain (Annex I) and in a Catalan city (Annex II). The three remaining are directly related to the musical practices of JW's. They present a series of lists with the hymns of hymnals described in Chapters III and IV (Annex III). A historical description of sound recordings produced by JW's and the way they have used radio and music as well as orchestras and choirs (Annex IV). The final annex (Annex V) is dedicated to group members involved in its musical practices with special emphasis on the figure of M.L. McPhail (1854-1931).

[fr] Au long des 130 années de leur histoire, la musique a été partie prenante de la plupart des réunions des TJ, ils ont publié ou utilisé seize livres de cantiques chansons en anglais et au moins six en espagnol, une en catalan et traduit quelques hymnes en langue basque, valencien et le galicien, ils ont eu recours à la musique pendant plusieurs décennies pour l'évangélisation à la radio et le porte à porte, ils ont eu des orchestres, grands et petits, et des chorales, ont publié des enregistrements sonores tant pour la congrégation que pour leur usage privé ... Que sait-on à ce sujet? Cette thèse se propose l'approche d'une une de ces réalités si méconnues des TJ: la pratique musicale au sein du groupe. Elle se focalise surtout sur une approche historique des hymnes et des recueils de chansons édités et utilisés, et aussi sur les personnes et les différents "produits" liés à la musique (radio, enregistrements, orchestres, etc.). Il traite également de l'histoire des TJ en Espagne et dans la ville de Sant Boi de Llobregat (Barcelone)