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 The Verse
A monthly newsletter |
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The Hymn Society
in the United States and Canada |
August 2012 |
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Greetings!
As we enter these waning days of summer, I hope you've had a chance to relax and to play somewhere over these past few months. If you're like me, summer is a good time to gather energy for the start of fall activities. In schools and congregations, the cycle of new programs are starting up. (I've missed handbells and am really ready to start up again!)
Even in other kinds of work environments, it seems that new initiatives start in the fall when folks are all back from vacations. In the US, the Labor Day holiday marks the end of vacation time, but it also reminds us that meaningful work is a good thing--a way for us to make important contributions to the community where we live. I hope you've got some good work to do, whether it's for a salary or as a volunteer.
Here in the office, Sherry and I are winding down the Winnipeg conference (read: paying the bills) but we're also gearing up for new projects and plans for future conferences. The Executive Committee is working on an advance agenda to streamline the work for our fall meeting. It's our privilege to work for you and for the cause of promoting, encouraging, and enlivening congregational song. Thank you for the opportunity to do good work!
Meanwhile, keep singing!!
Deb
Deborah Loftis |
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Applications for the McElrath-Eskew Research Fund
There's still time!! Applications are due by September 30, 2012. You will find the guidelines on the website under the Research tab. The grants are open to both beginning and experienced researchers. |
Sectional Proposals for 2013 Conference
If you would like to present a sectional workshop at our next summer conference, please send your proposal to Deb by email (preferable) or postal mail. Include a title, a brief description, and your name. Proposals should be received by September 30 at the latest so that the program committee can review them and make selections.
The conference theme is Tree of Life and Love: The Blossoming of Congregational Song Since Vatican II. July 14-18, 2013.
Geoffrey Moore, Program chair, describes the conference this way: "Like a stone dropped in the middle of a pond, Vatican II, in calling for the renewal of the church's liturgical life, sent waves of energy which rippled through the church, landing on all sorts of shores, irrespective of denomination or affiliation. Over these fifty years, the energy Vatican II gave to liturgical reform has brought about a burgeoning of new congregational song, an engaging creativity in the field, and a rich cross-fertilization between Catholic and Protestant groups in the area of hymnody. Our conference will examine the ways that the new energy released by church leaders at Vatican II invigorated, enlivened and emboldened congregational song across the church, both Catholic and Protestant alike."
Proposals may be related to the conference theme or may focus on such topics as pedagogical techniques in song leading, hymns and children, historical, global, or theological topics in hymnody. All proposals should be focused on congregational song. |
Upcoming Event: Marie-Louise Langlais in Richmond
Saturday, October 6, the Richmond, Virginia AGO Chapter will spend "A Day with Madame Marie-Louise Langlais" at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, located at 6000 Grove Avenue, Richmond 23226. The day will begin at 9:00 AM with coffee and fellowship. At 9:30 AM, "The Life and Music of Jean Langlais" will be presented. There will be a brief break; then, at 11:00 AM, Madame Langlais will present "The Ste. Clotilde tradition from César Franck through Jean Langlais." Lunch will be at St. Stephen's, and then the masterclass (Richmond AGO members) will be at 1:30 PM. (Lunch is $12 per person, and reservations are required. Please contact Chris Martin at martin@grace-covenant.org or 804-359-2463 x204 no later than September 25 if you would like to have lunch.) |
In Memoriam
We are saddened to learn of the deaths of two long-time members of The Society. Our prayers go out to the surviving family members and friends
H. Roberts Lorenz, Life member, died July 26 in Honey Brook, PA after several years of declining health. His wife, Joan, survives him. An obituary that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer is attached here. obituary
Ed Doemland, Life member, died August 11 in Milwaukee, WI. On June 6th he received a lifetime achievement in music award from the Civic Music Association in Milwaukee. Conference participants signed a program booklet for Ed, who missed the Winnipeg meeting due to surgery. We thought at the time that he was recovering but the cancer came back in a very aggressive form. He did get to read the conference booklet and was deeply appreciative of all the kind messages. obituary
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Kelly Tennille Grooms will be ordained to Christian ministry on September 16, 2012 at Yanceyville Christian Church in Louisa, Virginia.
Paul A. Richardson, FHS sent a correction to the notice in the July Verse regarding the collection by David W. Andrews, The Pilgrim's Choice, A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Please note that there are three copies in addition to the one acquired by Samford: NOBTS, Alabama Archives, and the private collector.
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News From New Zealand and Taiwan
At the July 2012 meeting of the World Association of Chinese Church Music, held at the Baptist Tabernacle in Auckland, the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust were invited to share the songs of the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust. Co-Manager John Thornley reports that the conference attendees responded warmly to a selection of sixteen hymns written by New Zealanders, including Colin Gibson, Shirley Erena Murray, Bill Bennett, Jillian Bray, Barry Brinson and others.
In her letter to the conference, Shirley Erena Murray welcomed all to New Zealand and challenged the Asian churches to write contemporary hymns, songs and carols reflecting the 21st century time and place, drawing on imagery from their own cultures - illustrating with symbols of life and resurrection in the 'rice fields and lotus flowers which grow in muddy waters.'
The national television crew for TV One was in Palmerston North earlier in August recording material for the Sunday morning half hour program of hymns, Praise Be. Roy Tankersley and John Thornley persuaded them to draw on nine songs from Hope is our Song for the congregational session. Around 250 folk turned out for the first rehearsal. There were two further rehearsals and then the actual recording was made on August 6 and 7.
In June Carlton R. Young, FHS, travelled to Tainan, Taiwan to attend the graduation ceremonies where his Malaysian student/tutoree Lu Chen Tiong received the first ThD in hymnody in a graduate program sponsored by a consortium of SE Asian seminaries and universities. In the photo, the new Dr. Lu on the left; I-to Loh, FHS (his major adviser) and Young is on the right.
I-to Loh provided this description of the historic event
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Reviews of Hymn-Based Compositions
Here are the August reviews from Sida Roberts. You may read online, download or print. Enjoy!!
Reviews |
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Recent Hymn Festivals
Thomas Pavlechko recently led two hymn festivals entitled, "The Life of Christ." Though similar in structure, the hymns and readings were completely different. On February 5, 2012, the first festival was held at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Riberas del Pilar, Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. The second festival was presented at The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Region II Conference
on June 12, 2012 at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas. (In July Thom led a festival for the Hymn Society's conference in Winnipeg--that makes festivals in three different countries this year--congrats, Thom!) |
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New Hymn Contests
The Religious Institute: Faithful Voices on Sexuality and Religion, a non-profit advocacy group headquartered in Westport, CT (www.religiousinstitute.org), announces its first annual international contest for English language
hymn/song writers. The search for new texts is part of an effort to gather the finest possible online collection of hymns and songs for congregational use on the subject of God's good gift of sexuality. For more details, see the attached pdf: Religious Institute contest
Church of the Servant is proud to announce its 2012 New Psalm Contest. See the attached pdf for contest details: Church of the Servant 2012 Contest If you have questions, please contact Greg Scheer, music@coscrc.org |
| Continuing Hymn Contest
Macalester Plymouth United Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, announces the seventeenth annual international contest for English language hymn writers. It is our understanding that hymns can motivate the church to be more actively involved in social reform, a vital part of its ministry. It carries a prize of $500 for the winning entry. Our 2012 contest will be a search for hymns that address the scriptural call to speak out loudly and clearly against injustice, and to unite with others working for change. Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2012. Macalester Plymouth Hymn Contest details can be found at: www.macalesterplymouth.org or call (651) 698-8871 |
| International Hymn Conference Scheduled for 2015
The next joint meeting of the Hymn Society in the US and Canada, the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft
für Hymnologie will be held at RobinsonCollege, Cambridge. Robinson College is one of Cambridge's newer colleges which has been equipped particularly with conferences in mind, it has a beautiful chapel with a fine stained glass window by John Piper and an organ by the Danish organ builder Erik Frobenius. Registration will begin on Sunday, 26th July 2015; the conference program will be Monday through Friday, July 27-31. It is anticipated that there will be at least one optional outing day on Saturday, 1st August. The Conference theme will be: Hymns in Liturgy and Life. Revd Michael Garland is convening the group which will be organising the Conference.
If you think you might be interested in attending the conference (no firm commitment needed at this point) please contact Deb at the HSUSC office. it would be helpful to the HSGBI hosts to have an idea of what accommodations might be needed. |
| New Resource Available from HSGBI
The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland has just published Praying Thrice: Prayers from Hymns by Gordon Giles. This is a collection (32p.) of brief prayers to use with or in response to familiar hymns. Many of the prayers first appeared in Church Music Quarterly, the journal of the Royal School of Church Music. Joint HSBGI members will shortly receive a copy as part of their subscription.
If you are not an HSGBI member but would like to purchase a copy, please contact the office. The price will be $5.00 plus $5.99 shipping. |
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