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 The Verse
A monthly newsletter |
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The Hymn Society
in the United States and Canada | May 2013
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Greetings!
Hurry! There are just a few days left to register at lower prices for our conference in July. Register online, send in the form printed in The Hymn, or call us -- just don't miss the chance to save $100! Lower prices are in effect until Saturday June 1.
Registrations that include on-campus housing must be received by June 24. Advance registration without campus housing is available until July 8. Walk-up registrations with off-campus housing will be accepted at the conference.
We're getting close to 300 registrants! Join us for great singing, engaging sectionals and plenaries, and lots of good friendship.
Meanwhile, keep singing!!
Deb
Deborah Loftis
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2013 Conference, Richmond, VA July 14-18
50 years ago, Vatican II contributed new voices to our revitalized congregational song.
Join us to explore how a rich cross-fertilization continues to inspire a new generation of writers.
Last days to Save!
Register by June 1
"New Shoots from Old Routes"
2013 Emily Swan Perkins Presentation
A group of Protestants well-known both within The Hymn Society and throughout the larger scope of the hymnic world will discuss the impact of Vatican II changes and how their influences of the past fifty years on our congregational song.
Panelists
 Emily Brink, FHS, past President of The Hymn Society, is Senior Research Fellow of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, Michigan and editor emeritus of Reformed Worship, a quarterly journal published by Christian Reformed Church Publications. She was editor of the 1987 Psalter Hymnal and assisted with the recent volume, Psalms for All Seasons.  Ruth Duck has been writing hymns for over thirty years which reflect her passion for inclusive language and a vision of peace and justice for the world. They are widely published in hymnals across the denominational spectrum. At the end of this month, there is a celebration in her honor at Garrett-Evanglical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois as she retires as professor of worship there. Prior to teaching, she was pastored United Church of Christ parishes in Illinois, Wisconsin and Massachusetts. C. Michael Hawn, FHS, University Distinguished Professor of Church Music and Director of the Sacred Music Program in Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, is well-known for his study of global song and for his song-enlivening across musical genres. The author of numerous publications, his latest book, New Songs of Celebration Render: Congregational Song in the Twenty-first Century will be released by GIA this summer.
 David W. Music, FHS, editor of The Hymn from 1990-96, has taught hymnology and church music courses for over thirty years and has also served as a Minister of Music. Currently he is Professor of Church Music at Baylor University, a position he has held since 2002. A prolific scholar and author, in 2011 he and Milburn Price revised A Survey of Christian Hymnody, 5th edition and 2008 co-authored, with Paul A. Richardson, "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story": A History of Baptist Hymnody in North America.
 Anthony Ruff, OSB, will be the moderator for the session. A former Executive Committee member, Ruff is a monk of St. John's Abbey since 1988, ordained in 1993. He teaches liturgy, liturgical music, and Gregorian chant in the Theology Department and the School of Theology and chairsthe Advisory Board of St. John's Institute for Sacred Music. He is a frequent presenter on topics of liturgy and music nationally and internationally, publishes frequently in journals, and moderates the blog about liturgy Pray Tell. He also serves frequently as German/English translator for IAH meetings. Author of several books, his volume Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform: Treasures and Inconsistencies, a study of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, is of particular note for our conference's focus.
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Conference Bookstore HUGE SALE
The biggest Hymn Society sale ever!
We are taking everything in our inventory to the conference bookstore and nearly all of it will be marked down drastically. This is your chance to add all the titles you've been wishing for -- and at tremendous savings!!! The University of Richmond has a post office right on campus, so you can also arrange to ship your treasures home.
We will also have back issues of THE HYMN available. Because of space constrictions and our plan to digitize the back issues, we are culling our holdings. You get the benefit!! Take what you need and make a donation to the Lovelace Scholarship fund --whatever you think is appropriate. But you have to be at the conference to take advantage of this offer. |
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The "Move"
The Hymn Society has moved, is moving, will move again.
The first step of the move is completed. We are in our temporary location for the summer. Sherry and Deb are sharing one office and one phone. The phone number is the same but you get two for the price of one when you call!
In case you haven't heard, our host, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, has sold its campus to another school and is moving to a new location just a few miles away. The Hymn Society will be moving with them when the new location is finished--hopefully by the first part of August.
While our physical location will change, our mailing address will stay the same: 3400 Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23227. The new school that has purchased the property is allowing us to keep our present address as long as the offices stay in Richmond.
Because of the move, we have already packed the entire Book Service for the conference Book Store. After the conference is over, there will still be a waiting period before we can unpack and open the Book Service again. Watch the website for announcements.
Thanks for your patience in the transition!! |
Carpool Options for the Richmond Conference
If you'd like to car pool with someone from your area coming to the conference or if you're driving and would like to have an extra driver or simply company for the trip, please contact me at the office. Be sure to give me contact information you want to share with others and include your home area. I make no promises, but am willing to gather possibilities and make that information known to registrants.
Our first request came from David Whitney, in Eastern PA. He's looking for a ride and can help with driving.
Others?
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Upcoming Events
Community of Christ will present their new hymnal, Community of Christ Sings
with a conference entitled, "Peace, Justice, and Song" on October 17-19, 2013. John Thornberg will present the keynote address; John Bell, FHS, will lead worship and workshop sessions. Jane Gardner, Jan Kraybill, Lauren Hall, and Joey Williams who have worked to produce the hymnal will also lead portions of the event. Congratulations to all! The Hymn Society will showcase this new hymnal at the 2014 conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Holy Land Tour
Join Tony Alonso, Marty Haugen and Msgr. Ray West for an 11-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, December 26- January 5. See the atached brochure for more information. brochure
Summer Courses in Hymnology and Church Music
May Schwarz will teach "Leading the Church's Song" this summer as part of the course offerings at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Bexley Hall Seminary. See the attached schedule and registration form for more information. brochure
IAH Conference in Amsterdam
You are invited to participate in the project choir that will be involved in the Evensong in the Oude Kerk at Sunday, August 11th, 6pm. It is provided that you take part in a choir rehearsal: Sunday, August 11th, 3:30pm in the Oude Kerk. Those wishing to sing in the project choir can register with the choirmaster and cantor of the Oude Kerk, Christiaan Winter (christiaan.winter@planet.nl) until July 31st. The sheet music will then be sent to you via e-mail.
Please mind that the time for applications for the IAH conference in Amsterdam ends June 15th. If you apply after that date a higher registration fee is to be paid. Furthermore I would like to remind you that the number of low-priced hotel rooms at the Best Western Delphi Hotel is limited.
The Southern Ontario Chapter of The Hymn Society and the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine will host a workshop, "Fit the Music to the Word: the perils of planning worship together" June 14-15, at St. John's Convent Guest House in Toronto. See the attached flyer for more information. Flyer
HymnFests introducing Lift Up Your Hearts
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is providing support to worshiping
communities across North America to host Hymnfests. The purpose of this program
is to promote learning about what it means to sing the whole of God's story.
Apply for support through an application form at
http://wosrhip.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/hymn-festivals/ and
read this related story on "Singing the True Story of the Whole World" at
http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/singing-the-true-story-of-the-whole-world/. Applications may be made until June 30, 2013.
Cambridge Choral Courses, will sponsor a week-long course at All Saints Indianapolis in July. The concept behind the course is to bring the English and American choral traditions together, allowing people to experience the best of both traditions and their music. The course is exclusively staffed by members of Cambridge College Choirs, including the renowned King's College Cambridge, and will be conducted by a leading American Choral director. There will be numerous performance opportunities, as well as an Evensong on the final Sunday. For more information:
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News of Members
Dr. Nancy Hall, Associate Professor of Ministry taught "How Hymns Shape Worship and Faith" at American Baptist Seminary of the West during the spring semester just concluded. Students from a variety of denominations studied the history of hymnody in Christian worship, various forms and styles, current directions in new hymns, and how the texts of our hymns serve as a foundation for Christian education, as well as for personal and corporate theology.
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Hymnology Course Available Online
The Hymn Society is sponsoring an online Hymnology course to be offered this fall through Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and taught by Dr. Deborah Carlton Loftis. It will be a three-credit, master's level course, in a course of study fully accredited by ATS. Students at any seminary or divinity school may take the course and transfer the credit to their home institution. Contact the Hymn Society office (1-800-THE HYMN) for more information on how to enroll. The class begins September 9, 2013.
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Hymn Festivals - Recent and Upcoming
April 21, 2013 - A Hymn Festival entitled "We Believe in One God," sponsored by the North Shore and Chicago Chapters of the AGO was held at Glenview Community Church, Glenview, Illinois. Bruce Neswick, Associate Professor of Music in Organ and Sacred Music at the Jacobs school of Music at Indiana University and Assistant Organists of St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky was organist for the event.
May 1, 2013 - First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Alabama presented "American Songs of Faith" under the direction of Billy Orton, Minister of Music. A copy of the program can be seen here. Program
June 2, 2013 - New member Andrea White reports that Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hampton, VA will sponsor a Hymn festival this coming Sunday at 4:00 pm featuring several choirs from area churches: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Newport News, St. John's Episcopal Church, Hampton, St. Michal Lutheran Church, Virginia Beach, in addition to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. The Hilton Brass Ensemble, the Gloria Dei Handbell Choir and a violinist will also be present. The choirs will present choral settings of well-known hymns.
Be sure to let us know of hymn festivals in your area. Send copies of the program to the office if available so that we can pass them along to others for planning ideas.
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Reviews of Hymn-Based Compositions
Choral reviews this month are submitted by Linda Strouf.
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Preserving the African American Hymns and Old Spirituals to nurture and inspire senior citizens across the world
Rev. Gregory Taylor writes:
The seasoned Old Spirituals and Hymns are the Gross National Product of our senior's lives from many years of worship. Sir J. Robert Bradley's music is the best of this GNP from Church Worship. He sang for the Queen of England in 1955 and he was the favorite singer of Dr. M.L.K. Jr. The Baptist World Alliance called him "Mr. Baptist.". In Music City, Tennessee, he comforted and consoled our seniors during their golden years. The following organizations have donated Sir J. Robert Bradley's CD to Senior Citizen Homes.
- To God Be the Glory of WGNS Radio
- The Bingham Sisters
- The Chairman of the MLK Planning Committee in Music City
- The Urban League of Music City
- WLOK Memphis Evening Show
- The Light 102.1 Music City
I would like to invite The Hymn Society to help us to comfort and console our seniors around the world through the music of Sir J. Robert Bradley.
www.jrobertbradley.com
If you would like to donate a CD to a senior citizen group or retirement community, please contact: Gregory Taylor; gregorytaylor9702@comcast.net; 615-329-5854.
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| Continuing Hymn Contests and Searches
South Congregational Church United Church of Christ (South Church), Kennebunkport, ME, announces a contest for hymn writers. It carries a prize of $1000 for the winning entry. We are asking for a new hymn which speaks of the Church and it's ministry to the wider community, rooted in its history, responsive to the present and laying a foundation for the future. All entries must be postmarked by September 15, 2013. The judges will arrive at their decision by November 1, 2013. For more information see the attached pdf: South Church Contest
Dan Damon is seeking new songs for a forthcoming collection from Hope Publishing Company: At Your Altars (chants, refrains, and short songs) with a projected publication date of June 2014. The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2013. For more information see the attached file: Song search
The 2013 Macalester Plymouth United Church hymn contest will be a search for a new Advent or Christmas carol which speaks to the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation, and the coming of the One who brings justice, mercy and "peace to all on earth." As always, both new music and familiar music is welcome! For more information, call the church (651-698-8871) or visit the church website at www.macalester-plymouth.org. For more details, consult the attached pdf: Macalester Plymouth 2013
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New Seminary Course for Music in Christian Worship
Dr. Paul Westermeyer, FHS, will teach a course at Brite Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, June 17-21. The course, sponsored by the Church Music Institute will offer graduate credit or welcome auditors. Housing and scholarships are available.
Click here for the course description. |
Upcoming Events in England 2013
CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONAL MUSIC: LOCAL AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES, 1-3 August 2013 at Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford University. The program for their 2011 conference is attached here.
The Charles Wesley Society, 7-10 August 2013 at the Wesley Centre, Univ. Durham, England.
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