Lifting Hearts - Joining Hands - Raising Voices: The Campaign for The Center for Congregational
S ong We received $11,000 in May in our Endowment campaign. These are new gifts and pledge payments -- each dollar helps us build support for the work of The Hymn Society and The Center for Congregational Song. Are you ready to invest in the future? Help us live into our mission to "encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song" across the broad landscape of worshiping communities. |
2015 Annual Conference in New Orleans
Registration deadline for
on-campus housing
is June 23!
The Hymn Society Annual Conference
Loyola University, New Orleans
July 12-16, 2015
Tuesday Hymn Festival
Shiru L'Adonai - Sing unto the LORD:
A Feast of Jewish Congregational Song
 
Patricia Woodard, active member of The Hymn Society and a regular contributor to THE HYMN, recently published a chapter in We Shall Overcome: Essays on a Great American Song. Her research has also appeared in Methodist History, American Music, and Research Strategies. A reference librarian at Hunter College (City University of New York) for 23 years, Patricia served two terms as secretary of the HSUSC, and currently continues research, writing, and singing.
Cantor Joel Colman has been serving as the Cantor at Temple Sinai since 1999. Previously he served as the Cantor at Temple B'rith Kodesh in Rochester, New York and as the Cantor/Educator at Greenwich Reform Synagogue in Greenwich, Connecticut. Colman received a Master Degree in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, School of Sacred Music where he was ordained as Cantor in 1995. Cantor Colman has sung in concerts in many cities and has also been the featured artist at two concerts held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He recently appeared in a feature role in the New Orleans Opera production of Samson & Delilah. He also serves the community as a Chaplain with the New Orleans Fire Department, and as an emergency coordinator for Amateur Radio communication within Orleans Parish.
|
Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
There is still time to show your support for the Annual Conference by sponsoring an event. Deadline for sponsorships is June 10. Sponsoring sessions at our summer conference has become a favorite way to support the work of The Hymn Society and help keep the costs of our conference as low as possible. We started in 2011 and every year the support gets stronger! Thank you for this marvelous vote of confidence in our work! You can reserve your sponsorship online. It's faster and payment is secure through PayPal. On our website, select: Get Involved>Donate>Annual Fund and you'll see the option for conference sponsorship. Just fill out the form letting us know what you want to sponsor. When you hit Submit, you'll be redirected to the PayPal payment page to finish the sponsorship. You can also download and print the form here. to send it by postal mail. And don't forget: You can also support the Lovelace Scholarship online as well! You're going to be very impressed with our group of Lovelace Scholarship recipients this year!
|
And While You're in New Orleans . . . .
Bob Batastini, FHS, tell us: On Bourbon Street there is a club called Fritzel's European Jazz Pub. Several nights per week there is a band that includes an extra ordinary clarinetist by the name of Tom Fisher. He is a classically trained phenomenal jazz clarinetist. He is of special interest to the Hymn Society because he happens to be the nephew of Hymn Society fellow, Carl Schalk! His mother was Carl's sister. ). If you go to their web site www.fritzelsjazz.net you'll see a photo gallery. He's the clarinet player wearing a suit jacket. If you want to tap into an inside joke, ask him if he can play variations on Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.
|
More New Orleans Connections
Henry Wilder Foote, 1875-1964, hymnographer extraordinary, author of numerous essays for THE HYMN, and the definitive Three Centuries of American Hymnody (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1940). After attending the Roxbury Latin School, Foote entered Harvard College where he earned an A.B. in 1897 and an A.M. in 1900. Two years later he graduated from the Harvard Divinity School with an S.T.B. Shortly after he was ordained, he was called by the First Unitarian Church, New Orleans, Louisiana. From the start, his ministry emphasized music, poetry, and art. Writing years later he insisted that the Christian minister "is called upon to create, Sunday by Sunday, a form of beauty, which though it be composed of the simplest elements, shall give expression to the mood of worship in which the congregation gathers, but which is inarticulate and inchoate until his skill shall evoke and clothe it in living speech." |
|
Future Conference Dates and Locations
Put the future dates of our summer conference on your calendar now --
July 17-21, 2016 -- University of Redlands, California: "Formed in Faith, Shaped by Song"
July 16-20, 2017 -- Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, Ontario.
|
New Resource: "Braille Hymns and Hymnals, USA"
Those serving and/or attending churches and schools that minister to the blind and sight-impaired will welcome an essay on 'Braille hymns and hymnals,USA,' written by Dr. Phillip Mitchell, First Baptist Church, Richmond, VA, appearing in The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. The entry includes a survey of braille hymnody, a bibliography of braille hymnals, the use of electronic braille readers, and online access to braille hymnals.
|
New Latvia United Methodist Hymnal
The recent publication in Latvia of the first musically scored hymnal for Latvian United Methodism marks the culmination of nine years of intensive work by the local committee and consulting editors S T Kimbrough, Jr., and Carlton R. Young, FHS. The editorial and publication process enjoyed support from two United Methodist agencies, the General Board of Discipleship and the General Board of Global Ministries, and from the Fred Pratt Green Trust, a number of churches and individuals.
The new hymnal of the Latvia United Methodist Church is titled Dziesmu Grāmata and includesa broad spectrum of music and theology with roots in the Wesleyan, Lutheran, Reformed, Moravian, Baptist, and Roman Catholic traditions. There is also a wide range of indigenous contributions by Latvian authors and composers. The hymnal also includes many well-known gospel hymns, contemporary popular Christian hymns and songs, and a large group of songs from the Taizé community in France.
The new Latvia United Methodist Hymnal bears a distinct Wesleyan and Methodist imprint for it includes twelve hymns by Charles Wesley (1708-1788), one of the founders of the Methodist movement, some of which appear in Latvian translation for the first time. The familiar tune, Aurelia, by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876), grandson of Charles, also appears in the hymnal.
A tremendous debt of gratitude is owed to the hymnal committee members: Gunta Sneidere, Edgards Sneiders, Miervaldis Ziemelis, Ruta Beika, Inese Budnika, Rudolfs Vainovskis, to Rihards Germans for special editorial assistance, district superintendent Rev. Gita Mednis, and the consulting editors.
Note from Deb: Regrettably, Constant Contact does not support the diacritical marks used for the Latvian names so they have been removed.
|
Hymnals Available
300 Presbyterian Hymnals printed as "Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs" (1990) with dark red cover are available for donation to a community that would use them. Inquiries to Brian Carder , email: bcarder@hopechurchrca.org
|
Music That Makes Community
Music that Makes Community invites you to Saint Paul University in Ottawa August 19-21 to explore the ancient and new practice of paperless music leadership, sharing songs as people did before music or words were written down - music in a style that is fresh and engaging to people of all ages and levels of musical experience. Participants will learn practical skills and strategies for adding the practice of paperless songleading to their toolbox of resources for congregational singing. Discounted early registration ends June 31, so reserve your spot today at musicthatmakescommunity.org! |
Continuing Hymn Contest
The Bethlehem Music Series, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave. South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55410 announces a Hymn Writing Competition to open its 34th Season.. The hymn tune must be original, not previously performed, not published, and must be suited for festival worship. The text may be original or pre-existing and it should contain a praise and celebration theme.
A cash prize of $500.00 will we awarded the winner and the winning hymn will be premiered at a Hymn Festival on Sunday, October 11, 2015- 4:00 pm. This hymn festival (Let All the Earth Rejoice) will be led by renowned organ improviser and composer, Dr. Aaron David Miller.
Deadline for submission of manuscripts is July 30, 2015 and should be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope mailed to the above, attention to Maria Bucka, Director of Music. All entrants will be notified on the final decision. Depending on the submissions, we reserve the right to not name a winner.
Any questions may be directed to Maria at 612-312-3411 or mbucka@bethlehem-church.org
Macalester Plymouth United Church of Saint Paul, MN announces their 2015 hymn contest: a search for a hymn that celebrates the language of love, inclusiveness, commitment, and the love God has for the union of all people regardless of gender. See the attached document for full description and contest rules. The prize is $500. Hymns must be postmarked by December 31, 2015.
|
Reviews of Hymn-Based Compositions
This month, choral reviews are written by Jane Best. Piano and organ reviews were sent in by Karin Gargone. Many thanks to both of these members! Choral Reviews Piano and Organ ReviewsIf you are interested in reviewing choral or instrumental music for The Verse, we are starting a new list. Send your e-mail, mailing address, and preference for choral, organ, piano, handbells, or other instruments in an e-mail to Robin Knowles Wallace, editor of The Hymn, at rwallace@mtso.edu. You will be contacted when there is music available, asked about deadlines, and sent music which you will play through and write reviews of the best; the music is then yours to keep. Thanks for your help!
|
Upcoming Events
July 12-15, 2015 -- UCC Musicians Association National Conference Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois, suburb of Chicago Speakers: Reverend Dr. Lillian Daniel, keynote speaker Rev. John Thomas, plenary session on minister/musician relationship Jeffrey Hunt, choral director Dr. David Schrader, organist David Weck and Agape Ringers Dr. Keith Hampton, concert and workshop on African-American spirituals & gospels Emily Ellsworth, conducting, and children/youth choir workshops For registration and information, please visit: www.uccma.org July 21-24, 2015 -- Baylor University Alleluia Conference. The Alleluia Conference is one-of-a-kind enrichment event features superb clinicans who re-energize and inspire worship leaders, music ministers, children's choir leaders, and keyboard ministers. Hymn Society members serving as clinicians include: John Bell, FHS, Randall Bradley, Stephen Cowden, Brian Hehn, David Music, FHS, Jacob Sensenig, Al Travis. Online registration is open. http://www.baylor.edu/alleluia/
|
|
Recent Events
May 31, 2015 --Hymn Festival marking the 100th birthday of Margaret Clarkson was presented at Knox Presbyterian Church in Toronto, ON. Clarkson, one of Canada's foremost hymn-text writers was a member of Knox Presbyterian.
June 1, 2015 -- Oregon Catholic Press sponsored a hymn festival of the work of J. Michael Joncas to mark the publication of his second volume of hymn texts "We Celebrate the Mystery," hymns for Lent and Triduum. David Haas was a guest leader. This new collection of hymns will also be presented at the annual conference in New Orleans.
|
News of Members
On July 8, Sipkje Pesnichak, Executive Committee Member-at-Large will represent The Hymn Society on a panel of music organizations for the Pray Tell blog. The filming will take place at the NPM convention in Grand Rapids.
Anthony Ruff, OSB, moderates the blog. Also participating will be Horst Bucholz from CMAA, Fr. Rich Hilgartner from NPM, and Preston Dibble from AGO. They will be discussing what is happening in their organizations, what is changing in church and society and how the organization is adjusting.
The University of Houston recently paid tribute to David Ashley White for his outstanding contributions as professor, administrator and internationally renowned composer by presenting him with its highest faculty honor, the Esther Farfel Award. The award symbolizes overall career excellence and carries a $10,000 cash prize.
A further honor came as David won the Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Music, given by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. The winning composition was "Spirit Moving Over Chaos." Congratulations, David, on these two significant achievements! HSUSC member Royce Eckhardt, has contributed to the group of Short Guides sponsored by HSGBI. His article,"What is a Hymnal" is now on the HSGBI website: http://www.hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/publications.htm With our joint conference coming up in just a few weeks, it's great to get a jump on international collaborations. Thanks, Royce! C J. Redden-Liota will present a workshop entitled "Hymnody in the 21st Century" at the American Choral Directors Association Voices United Conference at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA on August 9. CJ will be a Second Year Lovelace Scholar this summer in New Orleans. Ginny Chilton and her husband James, currently of Boston, are moving to Newport News, Virginia in August. Ginny is sad to leave Boston and especially her position at Christ Church, Fitchburg, which has been a particular blessing to her. (To see the job posting, visit the church website: christchurchfitchburg.org ) She is eager to make connections in her new home. If you're from "the Peninsula," as they call it, find Ginny at the conference this summer and introduce yourself!
|
|
|
|
|
