Update on Hymnal Revision Virginia S. Moe

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 10 Director of Music The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour Rock Hill, SC July 23, 2017 Page! 1 of! 7

2 Page 2 of 10 I. Background A. How are hymns composed/written 1. Start with the History of the Church a) History of the Church History of Church Music History of Music b) Denominational timeline Page!2 of! 7

3 Page 3 of 10 (1) BUT all of it was a movement of various converts, not an organization (2) Communication slow and difficult - many indigenous traditions 2. Outside influences on the church-greek legacy-judaic heritage-non-christian observances-psalms and hymns-eastern churches-national traditions a) Many liturgies and much music, little recorded (written) as too dangerous AD Edict of Milan a) Constantine the Great and Licinius jointly legalized the Christian religion b) Edict was the first step in creating an alliance with the Christian God, whom Constantine considered the strongest Deity. c) Finally, Christianity is out in the open and theological discussion can take place and questions can be answered d) Confusions solved and heresies identified e) Sing Of the father s love begotten H82 (Arius) f) Over the next 100 years some Christian movements became organizations g) Public liturgies developed, private services were not retained h) Music was part of this-only organizational music was written and propagated B. Development of organizational resources 1. Most early Christians could NOT write, so oral tradition important at this time a) Western churches-only saved hymns of those who could write b) Between the fifth and eighth centuries music began to be written 2. As early as the 5th c., tropes appeared, a) adding in music and texts to tell stories and elaborate the liturgical texts Page!3 of! 7

4 Page 4 of 10 b) Quem quaeritis? (Whom do you seek?) is an early trope from the non-canonical Gospel of Peter, a dialogue between the angel at the tomb of Christ and the women seeking his body. Tropes later added dialogue, acting, and music, and were taken out of the church and became the mystery and miracle plays of the 12th c. (1) Angels: Whom do ye seek in the sepulchre, O followers of Christ? (2) The Marys: Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified, O heavenly ones. (3) Angels: He is not here; he is risen, just as he foretold. Go, announce that he is risen from the sepulchre. 3. Tension between educated trained leaders often trying to educate vs personal expression and storytelling of average person in the pew - often non-canonical a) Music treatises appeared to train musicians who composed both secular and sacred music, some of it liturgical (1) Theoretical (a) Boethius De institutione musica. 5th c. (b) Scolica enchiriadis an anonymous ninth-century music theory treatise (2) Practical - Musica enchiriadis - an anonymous 9th c. musical treatise of the 9th century, the first known attempt to set up a system of rules for polyphony in western art music 4. Pope Saint Gregory I (the Great) (c ), an excellent administrator, began to organize and prescribe resource use a) Plays of Daniel 1140, music/drama St. Nicholas b) Notre Dame School II. Resources developed for and by each organized group A. Hymns for each period of church history - see Hymns through the Ages at end 1. Episcopalians can accept a lot more divergent opinions than others due to focus on the service a) James I. Warren such an Episcopal thought 2. But hymn usage is not just arbitrary 3. from the 1979 BCP a) Hymns referred to in the rubrics of this Book are to be understood as those authorized by this Church. The words of anthems are to be from Holy Scripture, or from this Book, or from texts congruent with them. b) On occasion, and as appropriate, instrumental music may be substituted for a hymn or anthem. c) Where rubrics indicate that a part of a service is to be said, it must be understood to include or sung, and vice versa. d) When it is desired to use music composed for them, previously authorized liturgical texts may be used in place of the corresponding texts in this Book. 4. Authorized resources e.g. The Hymnal 1982 Page! 4 of! 7

5 Page 5 of 10 B. Examples of changes 1. Many hymns have a word or verse altered to suit Episcopal theology, marked as alt. or rev. 2. A mighty fortress H688 The Hymnal 1982 H688 Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary of 1996 Did we in our strength confide, With might of ours can naught be done, our striving would be losing; Soon were our loss effected; were not the right man on our side, But for us fights the Valiant One, the man of God's own choosing: Whom God Himself elected. dost ask who that may be? Ask ye, Who is this? Christ Jesus, it is he; Jesus Christ it is. Lord Sabbaoth, his Name, Of Sabaoth Lord, from age to age the same, And there's none other God; and he must win the battle. He holds the field forever. 3. Come, O thou traveler unknown H 638 The Hymnal 1982 H688 The United Methodist Hymnal of 1989 Pure universal Love thou art; Pure, Universal Love thou art; thy mercies never shall remove, to me, to all, thy mercies move -- thy nature and thy name is Love. thy nature, and thy name is Love. C. The Rev. Dr. William Bradley Roberts, VTS - Music and Vital Congregations Short term Long term Right now Page!5 of! 7

6 Page 6 of 10 III. The Hymnal 1982 and the Hymnal Revision Feasibility Study of 2010 A. Consider a new hymnal: Why? 1. All the extra resources we already use, authorized and unauthorized: Lift every voice and sing II, Wonder, Love and Praise, etc. 2. Directive from the General Convention B. Church Pension Group Office of Research team in consultation with the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music conducted a survey in Online questionnaire 2. Three separate, role-specific versions: one each for congregation members, clergy, and music directors, and a number of in person interviews with hard to reach groups 3. In depth interviews and questions for the four groups above, and open online participation by anyone else percent of all parishes and over 13,000 people particpated 5. in-depth and random online produced the same results C. Much information gathered which you can read showmeta/0/?label=hymnal%20revision%20feasibility%20study D. Unexpected and significant results 1. Clergy and Music Directors are the ones who want a new hymnal, not congregations a) Want hymnal to express new ideas, e.g. Women, people of color, etc b) Even Clergy and Music Directors were only about 40% in favor of a new hymnal and almost as many opposed 2. Among congregation members a) The 1979 BCP does not embody our identity as the 1928 BCP did (1) Baptists have Bible, Muslims have dress, etc. ours was BCP (2) e.g. Prayers of the People - Confession or not? - kneel or not - same service as the Queen of England no longer true - choices in lections, prayers, everything (3) BCP no longer our identity because there are too many choices (4) The changes seem arbitrary to average person b) The Hymnal 1982 has become our identity and people want to emphasize it (1) People want the historical and traditional content of the hymnal, which they miss from the 1928 BCP (2) A preponderance of traditional hymns is preferred, though a few newer songs and choruses are acceptable (3) Use the book itself, not merely its contents - No screens - they want to hold the book (4) People do not want to juggle several books (5) People want service music and a few non-hymnal resources in a bulletin to facilitate the flow of the service and to help visitors (6) OK with printed bulletins containing everything at special times when many visitors expected Page! 6 of! 7

7 Page 7 of These conclusions are true for every demographic (sex, age, race, education, etc.) however, two groups overwhelmingly gave these results: THOSE UNDER AGE 30 AND OVER AGE 60. IV. Where are we now? A. Clear majority of those surveyed do not want a new hymnal yet, and for good reasons, not just We ve always done it this way. B. A new BCP is being discussed and the hymnal should properly be a response to BCP C. Decided not to get a new hymnal now, and just use online and previously authorized resources Page! 7 of! 7

8 Page 8 of 10 Hymns through the ages Period Theological Concerns Hymns Greek Period til 11th c. Latin Hymns til Reformation - 15th c. Psalms and Isaac Watts translations German Lutheran and Reformed 15th c. - 18th c. Wesleys Evangelical Hymns of the 18th and 19th centuries Victorian and dissenting hymns of 19th c. Mysticism, nature of God, heresies, light, monasteries, liturgy High theology of the church (RC), Christology, corporate worship, ethics, missions to far off lands Scriptural interest of laity, various protestant denominations, home use of translated psalms Objections to RC, 30 years war, pietism (Moravians), priesthood of al believers, authority of scripture, personal, mystical reaction to the Enlightenment, Industrial revolution, Reaction to Calvinism is Armenianism (Salvation for all, not just elect), Missions, personal piety (Moravians) Enlightenment, Industrial revolution, Preaching/ Teaching the Gospel story, Calvinistic vs. Wesleyan, Care of poor, straying sheep vs. utter depravity Scottish Free Church hymnody, social inequities, eschatology: longing for God vs. last judgment, Christian lifestyle, less theology, missions S60 Phos hilaron H82 Of the father s love begotten H377 All people that on earth do dwell H687 A mighty fortress is our God H657 Love divine, all loves excelling H690 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah H692 I heard the voice of Jesus say H324 Let all mortal flesh keep silence H159 At the cross her vigil keeping H680 O God, our help in ages past H168 O sacred head, sore wounded H66 Come, thou long-expected Jesus H684 O for a closer walk with God H423 Immortal, invisible, God only wise H210 The day of resurrection H56 O come, O come, Emmanuel H95 While shepherds watched their flocks by night H397 Now thank we all our God H57 Lo! he comes, with clouds descending H522 Glorious things of thee are spoken H541 Come, labor on Romantic period 19th c. democracy, exoticism, exploration and missions, literary, history, spirituality H93 Angels, from the realms of glory H117 Brightest and best of the stars of the morning H662 Abide with me: fast falls the eventide Hymns through the ages Page! 1 of 3!

9 Page 9 of 10 Period Theological Concerns Hymns Oxford Movement 19th c. political/religious conflicts, reforming the church, seeking purity, doctirine, translations from Latin and Greek, personal and church life important, church year, apostolic tradition H445 Praise to the Holiest in the height H 518 Christ is made the sure foundation (trans f Latin) H154 All Glory, Laud, and honor High Victorian 19th c. Improvements for poor, teaching children, imperialism and missions, monastic communities, evolution and science and church neglect of science, sacraments and liturgy, church year H167 There is a green hill far away H102 Once in royal David s city H645 The King of love my shepherd is Low Victorian 19th c. Romantic ideal tempered by evangelical movement, Missions and Science, Bible study, inner life of faith, personal piety not congregational action, service H209 We walk by faith, and not by sight H370 I bind unto myself today (trans) 405 All things bright and beautiful American Evangelical 19th c. Calvinistic, Camp and Town revivals, our guilt, elect, catchy simple tunes, our passivity and Jesus s action H457 Thou art the Way, to thee alone H524 I love thy kingdom, Lord 561 Stand up, stand up, for Jesus American Anti- Calvinist 19th c. Literary and more educated, Quakers, Unitarians, new England Transcendentalists, we are the likeness of God, little theology, God is transcendent, mysticism H89 It came upon the midnight clear H653 Dear Lord and Father of mankind H554 Tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be free Victorian Broad Church 19th c. Realistic version of high church movement, consolidated and organized vague piety of low church, accept science and revelation from outside the church, love of church, importance of tradition and sacraments, Jesus is our model, missions helping souls AND bodies, unite knowledge and piety, H287 For all the saints, who from their labors rest H632 O Christ, the Word Incarnate H24 The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended Hymns through the ages Page! 2 of 3!

10 Page 10 of 10 Period Theological Concerns Hymns New Theology 1860-WWI, US Religious education as opposed to revivalism, apply non-religious methods to religion, not doctrinal or theological H78 O little town of Bethlehem H376 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee H719 O beautiful for spacious skies Social Gospel1900- WWII, US Systemic injustice, application of Gospel to systems, hymns of personal service and societal action H660 O Master, let me walk with thee H609 Where cross the crowded ways of life H551 Rise up, ye saints of God WWII - end of century Not What is proper but What works, emotional and popular appeal, ease of singing, experiential, personal focus rather than theocentric, Gospel Hymns and Spirituals, Mini-Hymns, Taizé, John Bell H711 Seek ye first H335 I am the bread of life H325 Let us break bread together on our knees Newer liturgical composers present modern simple translations of ancient texts, liturgical focus, theological accuracy, modest language, focus on here and now H302 Father, We Thank Thee Who Hast Planted H513 Like the murmur of the dove s song H333 Now the silence Hymns through the ages Page! 3 of 3!