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 The Verse
A monthly newsletter |
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The Hymn Society
in the United States and Canada |
November 2011 |
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Greetings!
This month I was able to participate in the Enliven workshop/retreat here in Richmond sponsored by Global Praise, a part of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. About twenty faculty and particpants, led by Jorge Lockward and Debra Tyree, spent energetic and joyful sessions sharing and leading global songs. We not only sang, but drummed, and practiced songleading techniques. We found heartsongs and made new friends.
If you're looking for global song resources, there are a number of resources available which are excellent, but I want to commend Global Praise to you. In addition to the three song collections, there are many resources available through their website: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/resources/globalpraise/ Check it out!
Meanwhile, keep singing!!
Deb
Deborah Loftis
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2012 Calvin Symposium on Worship
The 25th annual conference will be held January 26-28, 2012 in Grand Rapids, MI. The worship theme is "The Psalms: When Life is Prayer." Plenary speakers are Walter Bruegemann and N. T. Wright. This year, 1500 participants from over 40 countries are expected. For more information and registration forms go to http://Worship.calvin.edu/symposium/ . See you there! |
Naming our Concern for Congregational Song
In the Fall Stanza, you read about the ongoing work of Brian Hehn, Jonathan Hehn and others to address some of the foundational questions around the future and health of congregational song. Now it's your turn to enter the conversation! Brian has started several threads on the discussion area of our website and you are invited to add your comments and questions. Go to News and Views > Bulletin Boards > Discussion to find the threads. We'll all benefit from a lively conversation! |
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2012 Summer Conference
We're planning two Hymnal Showcases this summer! The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Faith Alive Resources will present Psalms for All Seasons: A Complete Psalter for Worship. This is the largest collection of psalms for worship--all 150 psalms, most of them in multiple formats. GIA is having a busy year producing new hymnals. They will present Worship, (4th ed.) and Oramos Cantando/We Pray in Song, a completely bilingual Spanish and English hymnal. |
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The Hymn Society Announces A Search for a New Hymn or Song
Theme: Unity in Diversity
Occasion: The 2012 Hymn Society Summer Conference: "The Meeting Place-- Sharing our Song"
As part of The Hymn Society's ongoing commitment to the enrichment of congregational song and in anticipation of the 2012 conference "The Meeting Place-Sharing our Song" the Executive Committee has announced a search for a theologically rich hymn or song that engages the idea of our unity in faith which bridges divisions based on our cultural, ethnic, and theological diversity. The winning entry will be premiered at our 2012 conference in Winnipeg, a historic "meeting place" for both First Nation and European settlers. During those days we will enjoy experiencing the diversity of faith expressions in that multicultural city and examine the ways in which song can bring us closer together. An effective entry in this hymn search will address the idea of our unity while respecting the diversity of our cultural and ethnic contexts.
This search continues the series of hymn searches related to various aspects of the life and witness of people of faith made possible by a gift from Hymn Society Life Member Mary Nelson Keithahn.
This is primarily a search for new texts exploring the theme in accessible poetic language. Entries consisting of both words and music will also be considered, whether in a traditional hymnic or a contemporary musical idiom. All texts must be singable, either to existing tunes or to new music provided with the submission. Further details can be found with the entry forms on the Hymn Society website at www.thehymnsociety.org or may be requested in a printed version by contacting the Hymn Society headquarters.
The prize for the winning entry will be $500. Because collaboration is strongly encouraged in the creation of entries involving new tunes, it is likely that words and music will be by different persons, and they will share the prize equally. An author or composer may choose to retain copyright. Doing so will not affect that person's designation as winner of the search, but the corresponding portion of the prize money will not be awarded.
All entries are expected to follow the search guidelines and must reach the Hymn Society office by April 30, 2012, in order to be considered. The judges reserve the right not to name a winner if no entry adequately fulfils the criteria of the search.
The winning entry will be sung at the Annual Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, July 15-19, 2012, and will be published in the Autumn 2012 issue of The Hymn.
Please visit the website or contact the Hymn Society office for full guidelines and entry form.
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| Continuing Hymn Contests
See the October issue of The Verse, archived on our website, for more details on these contests:
St. Paul's on the Green Episcopal Church, Norwalk, Connecticut. Entries must be received by March 1, 2012.
The Alliance of Baptists. Entries must be received by January 15, 2012.
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
October 16, 2011 - Christ Lutheran Church sponsored a Hymn Festival In celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Dr. C. F. W. Walther's birthday at 3:00 pm. Several organists led by presenting organ literature based on chorales and leading the congregation in singing one of Walther's hymns. Society member Adeline K. Yoder was one of the festival leaders.
October 30, 2011 - The 26th Annual Reformation Day Festival of Hymns was presented at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI. The theme for the festival mirrored the church's year-long theme, "Knowing Christ," based on Philippians 3:10. The festival was divided into four sections-Knowing Christ, The Power of His Resurrection, Sharing in Sufferings, and To Attain to the Resurrection of the Dead-all of which were supported by scripture readings and anthems, hymns, or hymn concertatos. The church's Junior and Chancel Choirs participated along with a brass quintet and timpani, accompanied by Larry Visser, Minister of Music and Organist.
October 30, 2011 - A "Reformation Hymn Festival" was held on Reformation Sunday at First Lutheran Church, Lorain, OH. The two-part festival was led by Director of Music Brian Wentzel, and focused first on hymns of Martin Luther and his contemporaries, and second on contemporary hymns of the reforming church. The program is available at http://www.firstlutheranlorain.org/firstmusic/reformation.html.
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New Metrical Psalter
Chris Webber alerted us to The New Metrical Psalter, Revised Common Lectionary Edition from Church Publishing, available as a download.
Here's a way to sing the psalms to tunes every congregation knows. Every psalm or psalm portion called for in the Revised Common Lectionary is presented here in one of three formats: Common Meter, Long Meter, or Short Meter. The result is that those planning the service can use familiar tunes for the psalms week by week. Also included are the canticles and invitatories as well as an index keyed to mainline denominational hymnals and a helpful liturgical index. List price of $25 includes the right to reproduce these texts in the Sunday bulletin. Visit Church Publishing: https://www.churchpublishing.org |
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Timely Articles on Congregational Song
John Thornburg shared links to two recent articles you won't want to miss.
An interesting interview with Keith and Kristyn Getty was published in the United Methodist website: "Why Hymns Matter" http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=8379 One short quotation: "Songs can be short, they can be long. They can be any structure. That's not the issue. But we do have to write songs of substance because there is a direct correlation with waht we sing as to how we live our lives." Check out the rest of what they have to say!
Christian Century devoted a cover story to the music of the church, and especially to congregational song. The author does more than the usual surface view. Mark Bowman, who is featured at the end of the article, is a very close friend and real disciple of John Bell. You see John's influence in many things Mark says.
I found the comments posted at the end of the article as interesting as the article itself.
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New Hymn-based Keyboard Collections from Augsburg
We received these new collections for review and thought you'd like to know about them.
For organ
Easy Hymn Settings, vol. 2 - Ronald A. Nelson
In Praise fo God: Organ Improvisations on Hymns of Faith - David Lasky
Communion Hymns for Organ, vol. 1 - Edwin T. Childs
Yours is the Glory: Settings of Global Tunes for Organ - Ronald Roschke
Lenten Reflections for Organ - Franklin D. Ashdown
Loving Spirit: Hymn Settings for Organ - David Maxwell
For piano
By Day and By Night: Piano Settings - Dave Mackie
Grace & Peace, vol. 4: Hymn Portraits for Piano - Nancy M. Raabe
Piano Blessings - Gregory Hamilton
In Heaven Above: Piano Music for Funerals and Memorials
-Norma Aamodt-Nelson, Mark Weiler, eds. |
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