Comments on: Who chooses the hymns?

By: Hymns « RevRuth’s Rantings

Hymns « RevRuth’s Rantings — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:48:01 +0000

[...] 29, 2009 · Leave a Comment Last week Fr Kelvin asked Who Chooses The Hymns? It is a question I am often asked too. And the answer in my case is: I do. To be truthful, I do [...]

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:39:27 +0000

I’m sure it’s unavoidable that the elements of taste and preference intrude when it comes to the evaluation of our hymnody. However, I have the (perhaps naive) hope that other criteria will take precedence. Here is a list of factors that need to be considered.

1) The hymn should be truthful.
It should express the truths of God’s Word clearly and accurately, and also be true to human experience. If a song is doctrinally in error, or spiritually unrealistic, that is a major flaw.

2) The hymn should be devotional.
It should be devotionally appealing, with a warmth of feeling that strikes a responsive chord in the heart.

3) The hymn should be universal.
Great hymns are able to span generations and cultures. They have a timelessness that ministers to a wide audience. (I’m not one, however who takes so-called political correctness to the extreme that I expunge any reference to “sons of men” and other such generic terms.)

4) The hymn should be poetical.
It should be of high literary quality, full of memorable phrases, richly vivid and insightful. And the wording should be appropriate, worthy of the sacredness and importance of its subject.

5) The hymn should be singable.
Though they can often be simply read with profit, hymns are intended to be sung. That means the words need to be wedded to a tune that is skillful, suitable, and singable. Unfortunately there are some fine tunes that don’t suit the text they are put with. The tune must act like the frame of a picture, supporting and enhancing the message of the words.

By: office manager

office manager — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:13:53 +0000

‘hand’ this time; ’sand’ next time!!

By: Lay Clerk

Lay Clerk — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:57:50 +0000

Ooh, hark at him! I believe I’ve just been roundly handbagged.

By: office manager

office manager — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:34:02 +0000

Two comments:
“good natured”, besides being accurate, should be hyphenated;
I have now chosen Lay Clerk’s funeral hymns, and may get to sing them soon, if there’s any more of his nonsense!

By: Ritualist Robert

Ritualist Robert — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:03:45 +0000

Here in Australia we get Songs of Praise on TV, edited down to 30 minutes. The episodes are also repeated so we’re a few years worth behind the UK it seems. What it does seem is that virtually every episode we get here features either ‘Lord for the years’ or ‘How great thou art’ – sometimes both. The amount variety of hymns on the show seems to be getting less and less, though this may be due to the ABC’s editing and broadcasting schedule. Does there seem to be less variety that 10 years ago in the UK?

By: David | Dah•veed

David | Dah•veed — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:47:47 +0000

Knowing neither, but now having listened to both, indeed East Acklam is more majestic. Stowey was syrupy, too sweet for my taste.

It was a delight to hear the Wells Cathedral Choir’s presentation of East Acklam.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:51:32 +0000

You are right Kelvin the angels would indeed prefer “East Acklam” pity we aren’t singing it on Sunday.

By: kimberly

kimberly — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:42:53 +0000

I am as sure as you that I know which the angels prefer. But I am less confident that have been listening to the same angels.

For those of us not there, do tell…

By: kelvin

kelvin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:11:37 +0000

And here was me expecting an erudite conversation about hymnody…