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 The Verse
A monthly newsletter |
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The Hymn Society
in the United States and Canada |
October 2011 |
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Greetings!
Every month when I begin to prepare The Verse, I think "there's not much to put in this issue" but when I actually get started, I'm always surprised to see how wrong I am!! We have multiple hymn searches in progress that could keep our poets and composers busy for quite a while. The list of events--either recent or upcoming-- tells me that hymn singing is alive and well in many areas across the US and Canada. That's good news. I always enjoy looking over the hymn festival programs that come into the office! Such a range of topics and hymns! Remember that you can request (free!) a copy of up to 3 services you see listed.
The Executive Committee, Sherry, and I are already working hard to get our 2012 summer conference planned for you. I hope you're reserving the dates to join us in Winnipeg--July 15-19. We're going to have a good time! Watch for more information about the program each month.
Meanwhile, keep singing!!
Sincerely,
Deb
Deborah Loftis
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A recent article in the United Methodist Reporter, "Let the People Sing! Advocates Emerge for Congregational Song" featured our own John Thornburg, Michael Hawn, FHS, and Chelsea Stern. Exciting things are happening in Dallas! Click on the link to read the article: http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=8266
Congratulations to Charlotte Kroeker whose new book, The Sounds of Our Offerings: Achieving Excellence in Church Music, was released October 24 from the Alban Institute. |
Hymnary.org wants to hear from you!
If you use Hymnary.org please visit its homepage to fill out a survey about why and how you use it. www.hymnary.org The more we learn about our users, the better we can plan for the future. Hymnary.org is the online home of the Dictionary of North American Hymnology and much more where you can search for hymns by tune names, composers, authors, first lines, and scripture references. If you haven't visited yet, please do! Thanks! |
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2012 Summer Conference
Plans for our July 15-19 conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, "The Meeting Place: Sharing our Songs" are quickly moving into place. We are delighted that Alice Parker, FHS will be our Emily Swan Perkins presenter! Our other plenary speakers are Canadians: Dr. Andrew Fullerton and the Rev. Stan McKay. Look for more information on these speakers in future editions of The Verse. |
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New Hymn Contests
St. Paul's on the Green Episcopal Church in Norwalk, Connecticut, announces a search for a new hymn text in conjunction with our 275th Anniversary Celebration during 2012. The theme of our celebration, and of the hymn, is feeding all of God's people in all of God's ways: physically, spiritually, intellectually, and artistically as we come together to worship and share God's holy meal each week.
The winning text will receive a prize of $500. The ideal entry will be written in a standard meter which may be sung to a familiar tune. For more information on the search and our parish history please see our website at www.stpaulsnorwalk.org. All entries must be received by March 1, 2012. The author will retain copyright of the text, but will agree to its use by St. Paul's on the Green for the life of the copyright period.
Please send entries to: Hymn Search, St Paul's on the Green, 60 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.
The Alliance of Baptists announces a search for a new hymn. The composition chosen will be introduced at the annual convocation of the Alliance, April 13-15, 2012, in Austin, Texas. While the context of the search is the celebration of the organization's twenty-fifth anniversary, its objective is the creation of a new congregational song that gives voice to values of the Alliance.
The Alliance of Baptists is a growing movement of progressive Christians-individuals and congregations-seeking to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world. Its values are articulated in its Covenant, which may be seen on the group's web site:http://www.allianceofbaptists.org.
http://www.allianceofbaptists.org/learn/about/covenant_mission.
The search is specifically for a text. Submissions may include a tune, old or new, but the judges reserve the right to make another pairing or to commission a setting. There are no limitations on textual or musical style beyond reflection of the values stated in the Covenant.
Four copies of each entry, without indication of authorship, should be sent to: Alliance of Baptists, 3939 La Vista Road, Suite E-122, Atlanta, Georgia, 30084. These must be accompanied by a cover letter that identifies the author and provides complete contact information. There is no entry fee, but authors are limited to two submissions. The closing date of the search will be January 15, 2012.
The author of the entry chosen by the judges will receive an award of $500. The judges reserve the right not to make an award. All rights will remain with the author, though entry will confer to the Alliance a non-exclusive license, at no charge, for copying and use in its gatherings. |
| Continuing Hymn Contests
See the September issue of The Verse, archived on our website, for more details on these contests.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Kansas City, Missouri.
All entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2011.
Macalester Plymouth United Church of St. Paul, Minnesota. Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2011.
Pascack Reformed Church in Park Ridge, New Jersey. All entries must be postmarked by March 1, 2012. |
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Recent Hymn Festivals
September 11, 2011-- James Abbington led "Atlanta Sings New Wine in Old Wineskins: Reflections, Thanksgiving, and Praise" at Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College. The choirs of several churches combined to support the singing. A recording of the event is available from GIA.
September 25, 2011 -- "The Faith We Sing: A Service Celebrating the Musical Heritage of the Christian Church" was held at The Church of the Nativity in Raleigh, NC as a part of their Spirituality in the Arts season. Commentary by Waltye Rasulala, Music Director of The Church of the Nativity and James W. Good, Minister of Music/Organist at Millbrook Baptist provided a brief review of hymnody through the ages.
September 25, 2011 -- "Total Praise Hymnal Festival" was held at Union Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD and was co-presented by The Community Concert Choir of Baltimore and GIA Publications. James Abbington, the worship leader for the event reports that this was a first for Black churches in the Baltimore area.
September 30, 2011 -- A "Homecoming Festival of Hymns" was held at the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN. The service was led by university pastors, The Rev. Charlene Cox and The Rev. James A. Wetzstein. The organist was Philip Gehring, professor emeritus of music.
October 2, 2011 -- First United Methodist Church in Brevard, NC hosted "Generation to Generation" a hymn festival led by Mary Louise Bringle and Timothy Shepard.
October 9, 2011 -- "The Company of angels: Perfecting our Praises" was held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Bon Air, VA. Bruce Newswick was organist and choirmaster for the festival. This service was part of the inaugural series for The Gerald Morgan, Jr. Memorial Organ (Taylor and Boody, Op. 64). Crystal Jonkman is Director of Music and Arts.
October 9, 2011 -- St. Mark Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE presented "Voices Raised!" hymn festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Casavant Freres organ, op. 3797. Leaders were Michael Kesar, Director of Music Ministries at St. Mark; Glenda Bock, organist and St. Mark, and David Schack, Organist and Choir Director at First Lutheran in Omaha. |
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Upcoming Events
October 30, 2011 -- West Plano Presbyterian Church, TX will present a hymn festival at 6:00 pm, "The Way of Jesus: His Mission in Word and Song" by Hal H. Hopson.
November 5, 2011 -- At Leaside United Church, 822 Millwood Road, Toronto from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, the Southern Ontario Chapter of the Hymn Society (SOCHS) will sponsor "Hymn Writing 101" led by Lydia Pedersen and Fred Graham. For more information contact Sharon Beckstead sharon.beckstead@sympatico.ca
November 13, 2011 --"A Gift to the Church: A Festival of Colorado Hymns" will be presented at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denver. Mark Alan Filbert is Cantor.
November 20, 2011 -- A hymn sing at Fremont Baptist Church, Seattle, WA will spotlight hymns by F. E. Belden and C. A. Tindley. All in the Seattle area are cordially invited to attend. For more information, contact Leland Ross, rosharuo@gmail.com |
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Calling All Composers
There's still time!!
Work continues on the upcoming hymnal Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs to be published by Faith Alive Christian Resources in 2013. There are several texts for which they'd like new tunes. See details in the archived September issue of The Verse. Submission deadline: December 15, 2011.
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Creating Jazz Liturgy - Feb. 27-29, 2012
A workshop at Scarritt-Bennett Center, Nashville, TN, for pastors, church musicians, worship planners, seminary students, and others interested in jazz as legitimate music for worship. Topics will include worship planning, selection of music and music arrangements, selection of musicians, and actual worship experiences.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kwasi Kena - Leaders: Sara Wentz and Carlton Maaia II. Other Nashville musicians and worship leaders will also be part of the leadership team. For more info, visit www.scarrittbennett.org/programs/jazz.aspx.
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Hymn Resources for the Revised Common Lectionary
Andrew Pratt, from the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, writes:
"I was asked with a colleague, Marjorie Dobson, to write hymns, prayers and meditations for every Sunday of the RCL for a web-site: www.twelvebaskets.co.uk. As a consequence I have written over 140 hymns since November last. I retain copyright in almost all of these texts. It is a resource that folk in the Society might find useful and to which some may like to contribute themselves." |
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Organ Scholarship Competition - University of Alabama
The University of Alabama Third Annual 2012 Organ Scholarship Competition application and recorded round deadline is November 14, 2011. There are no age restrictions. The required works for the recorded round are: 1) J. S. Bach: A major Bach work (all movements of a multi-movement work); and 2) A work in the Romantic idiom by a composer born between 1800-1904. This may be a single movement only, and it may be a movement from a multi-movement work.
The final round held on Thursday, January 26, 2012 must include the two works listed above plus a contemporary work by a composer born no earlier than 1905. Total playing time of the three pieces shall not exceed thirty minutes.
The winner of the competition will be a featured artist on Friday, January 27, 2012 at the Eighth Annual University of Alabama Church Music Conference. Dr. Joby Bell, Assistant Professor of Music, Appalachian State University, will be an adjudicator as well as the featured artist for the Church Music Conference.
Download the application form and learn further details by visiting the University of Alabama Organ Department website at: http://music.ua.edu/departments/organ/ or contact Dr. Faythe Freese, Professor of Organ at faythefreese@earthlink.net or 205-348-3329.
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