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 The Verse
A monthly newsletter |
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The Hymn Society
in the United States and Canada
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September 2014
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Greetings, friends. It's the end of the month again, so here is the news you've been waiting for!!
This coming month I'll be travelling to Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario, to New Orleans, and to Dayton, Ohio. Then the last week of October, the Executive Committee will come to Richmond for their fall meeting. We have LOTS of work to do in three days, so we'd appreciate your prayers.
I'll try to keep up with email in-between flights and will check phone messages, but Sherry will be "minding the store" for much of the month. Send her a Facebook message so she won't get too lonely!
Till then, keep singing!
Deb
Deborah Loftis
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 "O For a Thousand" members Lifting Hearts - Joining Hands - Raising Voices Getting 1,000 members of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada to participate in our O, for a Thousand drive is no small task. That's a lot of people to involve in the fund-raising campaign to endow The Center for Congregational Song. But we've got a good starting point-we're all members of the Society because we share a passion for the song of the church. Don't miss our newest video, made at this year's conference in Columbus! It features three of the 16 (that's right, 16!) Lovelace Scholars who attended. They are inspiring, as are other Society members who appear in it. Here's the link: http://youtu.be/iuaxwwgAdAY Have you participated in O, for a Thousand yet? All you need to do is make a donation. Go to www.thehymnsociety.org and click on the Donate tab. Be sure to indicate your gift or pledge is for the endowment campaign, "Lifting Hearts, Joining Hands, Raising Voices." You can also phone the Society office at 800-843-4966 or send your check directly to 8040 Villa Park Drive, #250, Henrico, VA 23228. Of course we hope you'll give generously, but the size of the donation is less important than your decision to invest in our future. It's your participation that is most important. And remember that all new gifts and pledges coming in will be matched dollar for dollar by the Baugh Foundation challenge grant, so your gift is automatically doubled! If you're already "One in a Thousand," have you reached out to one other Society member to ask them to participate? It's easy--just call your Hymn Society friends and ask if they're One in a Thousand" yet. If not, tell her or him why you decided to participate. Share the link to the video. Provide the web address, phone number of mailing address. That's all. You don't have to ask for money--just share why you decided to participate. We're calling this process "Each One Reach One." It's a great way to move the O, for a Thousand drive forward. We've got 256 members involved now. Just think what will happen when each one of us reaches out to draw in one more! Joanne Reynolds Chair, Financial Development Committee |
2015 Annual Conference in New Orleans
The Hymn Society Annual Conference
Loyola University, New Orleans
July 12-16, 2015
Plenary Speakers
Dr. Miguel De La Torre, Professor of Social Ethics and Director of Latino/Latina Studies, Iliff School of Theology-"Congregational Singing from the Margins" Dr. John H. Baron, retired Professor of Musicology, Tulane University- "Psalmody in Jewish Congregational Singing" Dr. Roy Belfield, Dir. of Choral Activities and Assoc. Professor of Music, Texas Southern Univ.-"Spirituals and Gospel Song in African-American Congregational Singing" Dr. Carlton R. (Sam) Young, FHS - "Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology"
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Gaudeamus In Domino Chorale
Brazilian Ecumenical Choir in full activity needs choir robes in good condition for 50-60 people. The choir has no financial sponsorship and has had many opportunities to witness and promote the unity of the Body of Christ. If you can help, please get in touch with Joćo (John) W. Faustini. ( jowifa@aol.com or jowifa@gmail.com ) MAIL ADDRESS P.O. BOX 123 IRATI, PR BRAZIL 84500-000  |
News of Members
St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA, celebrated Crystal Jonkman's 20th anniversary as Director of Liturgical Music and Organist by giving her a Life Membership in The Hymn Society. What a great idea!! Robert C. Mann, Church Music Institute Resource Library Director and Hymn Society member published an online article entitled, "The Importance of Congregational Song to Worship, Part 1" Read the article on the CMI website: http://www.churchmusicinstitute.org/the-importance-of-congregational-song-to-worship-part-i/ Alan Hommerding presented a plenum talk "Whither (or wither) the hymnal?" for the 2014 Collegeville Conference on Music and the Liturgical Arts at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN. A video of the talk is found on the PrayTellBlog website: http://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2014/07/11/whither-or-wither-the-hymnal/ Alan will also be presenting a plenum address for the 2015 conference of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians: "Singing, then sending." The address will focus on the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, and its document on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes. Alice Parker, FHS, was recently honored at her alma mater, Smith College. http://www.smith.edu/news/the-power-of-womens-song-alumnae-chorus-to-honor-composer-alice-parker-47/  |
Hymn-based Compositions
Organ reviews this month are provided by Henry V. Gerike. Organ reviews
Choral reviews are provided by Christine Iverson. Choral reviews
Many thanks to both of these reviewers!!
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Pruit Symposium at Baylor University
"Marching to Zion: Celebrating and Preserving Black Sacred Music" is the theme of the 2014 Pruit Symposium hosted by Baylor University from October 23-25, 2014. The Symposium features keynote addresses from Civil Rights leader and musician Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Associate Professor of Church Music, Dr. James Abbington, and Dr. Dwandalyn Reese from the Smithsonian Museum. In addition, there will be several gospel celebrations featuring combined choirs. More information about the Symposium is available on the Pruit Symposium website at baylor.edu/pruit.
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Continuing Contests
Call for Hymns on Labor and Faith
Faculty from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and leaders in a growing faith and labor movement are preparing a collection of songs suitable for use in churches, union halls, and at actions that highlight the focus on the struggles, hope, and agency of working people and their communities. Included will be recent hymns on this theme that speak to the labor situation today. Entries should be submitted electronically to Michael Hawn mhawn@smu.edu by October 31, 2014. The first place entry will receive $500. The second place entry will receive $300. The judges will choose other texts, along with the winning texts, for inclusion in the song collection. The original texts should be paired with well-known public domain tunes from the United States that may easily sung in a variety of venues including public gatherings and marches as well as in worship gatherings.
Macalester-Plymouth United Church in St. Paul, MN announces the nineteenth annual international contest for English language hymn writers. The 2014 contest will be a search for a hymn text that celebrates God's presence in current social changes and changes in the church. It carries a prize of $500. All entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2014. For more information, view the attached flyer.
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, is pleased to announce its first Church Music Search, a contest for composers and authors. This annual and international search calls for the creation of congregational hymns, choral anthems and orchestral music that engage and exclaim liberal Christian theology and associated themes. Each year a different musical category and theological theme will be selected to resource Pullen and other theologically-liberal congregations with artistic and meaningful church music.
The 2015 search is for an SATB choral anthem suitable for adult choirs with keyboard accompaniment (organ or piano). Other optional instrumental parts may be included. The text of the anthem should express the meaning and celebration of Easter from a theologically-liberal viewpoint.
An award of $1500 will be given to the creator of the winning selection (or divided equally between author and composer). Though the Pullen Music Ministry will retain the right to print and use the winning selection in perpetuity, copyright will remain with the creator(s) and a publisher will be sought for the winning composition.
Entries are submitted electronically and will be accepted through February 1, 2015. Find submission guidelines and enter at: www.pullen.org/musicsearch .
For additional information contact Larry E. Schultz at lschultz@pullen.org.
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Upcoming Events
Oct. 19, 2014 -- "Beloved Community: A Hymn Festival" St. Paul Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA. The festival will be led by the St. Paul's Choir with brass and organ. David Sinden, organist.
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Recent Events
September 12, 2014 --"Teach Me Some Melodious Sonnet:An Evening of Psalms and Hymns with Isaac Wardell featuring the Princeton Seminary Chapel Choir" was presented at Miller Chapel, Princeton University.
Isaac Wardell is the director of Bifrost Arts, resourcing churches with new music and educational materials for worship. In 2012 Relevant Magazine named him one of the most influential worship leaders in the country. He currently works as the director for worship at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, VA.
September 21, 2014 -- The Southern Ontario Chapter of The Hymn Society (SOCHS) presented "There will be Song: SOCHS and the Future of Church Song" at St. Andrews United Church, Toronto.
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2015 British Conferences
Have you made your travel plans yet? Many members earlier expressed an interest in attending our joint hymnological meeting which takes places every six years. Now is the time to start looking for favorable air travel. Let's have a large group from HSUSC at the meeting!
The joint meeting of our Hymn Society with HSGBI and IAH will be held at
Robinson College, Cambridge. The conference will begin with registration on Sunday, 26th July 2015 with the Conference program beginning on Monday and concluding on Friday 31st July. 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. Details
The third biennial conference of Christian Congregational Music: Global and Local Perspectives will be held at Rippon College Cuddesdon, Oxford on August 4-7, 2015. Details
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