"Favorite" Hymns
Why would a Lutheran want to sing “In the Garden” or “I Love to Tell the Story“? The first hymn shows God working/speaking to us apart from his Means of Grace – Word and Sacrament. The latter hymn proclaims how much we “love to tell the story” and how it makes us feel, but never actually says much of anything about the Gospel or the message to be proclaimed.
Why do I bring this up? I recently received a list of “favorite” hymns that several people would like to sing more often. These two, among other similar hymns, were on the list. At least “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” didn’t make the cut. I’m still puzzled about “The Church in the Wildwood” — I had never heard of it before and the lyrics are incredibly weak.
The quality and content of these hymns are in stark contrast to those like the Hymn of the Day for Ash Wednesday – From depths of woe, I cry to thee (LSB 607). Why would Lutherans (of all people) not want to embrace the rich heritage of Lutheran hymnody? I’m making a broad generality — I know there are many Lutherans that genuinely do care about our hymnody and what we sing.
Over the last day I have been reading an essay by Walter Buszin entitled “Organ Music for the Liturgical Service” which was included in the Buszin biography “Music for the Church: The Life and Work of Walter E. Buszin” published by the Good Shepherd Institute. He had this to say about hymnody (understand this was published almost 60 years ago in 1950):
The Pietists and Rationalists of later years were as unfriendly to the great chorales of the 16th and 17th centuries as are those of our own day who prefer sugarcoated and sentimental 19th century hymnody to the truly great hymns of the Church. (Page 159)
This comment could be extrapolated to our own day in 2008 – those who prefer the sugarcoated and sentimental 20th century (and now 21st century) hymnody to the truly great hymns of the Church. Why? What draws people to desire these “fluffy” (for lack of a better word) hymns and songs? Why aren’t people flocking and embracing Lutheran hymnody that is Christ centered, cross focused, and proclaims the gifts that God continually gives/serves to us through Word and Sacrament?
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When people tell me–the lowly organist–what hymns or worship ‘methods’ they’d like to see our congregation adopt, I advise them to go to Pastor and make that suggestion.
Perhaps the list came to you because you’re seen as a conduit to the pastor, or someone who has his ear. Perhaps they think you’ll influence him to their perceived advantage.
It only goes to prove that, in their hearts, they know they’re wrong. But they just can’t help wanting what they want, for the sake of wanting. And they’ll probably continue to pursue what they want, and pursue means of making the wrong appear to be right.
I find that, when I engage people on those expressed desires, and try to explain the nature and purpose of Lutheran liturgy and hymnody, the same responses come back, about being more spiritual, not being so tied to the past, and of course, invocation of the ‘A’ word–adiaphora–etc. Which proves they weren’t going to listen and in the first place. They want what they want when they want it.
It’s definitely a part of the organist’s vocation, to be faithful to Lutheran hymnody while being patient and loving with those who not only don’t get it, but refuse to even try. They, like the poor, will always be with us.
We church musicians are indeed a conduit, but not of stubborn populist notions to a stubborn Pastor, but of the Divine Service to the people’s ears.
Oh, come on. We don’t have to choose. We can sing what one likes and then we can sing what another likes in fewer than 10 minutes. We don’t have to rate “good,” “better,” “best.” I think a roast beef dinner is finer and more satisfying than beef noodle soup but I eat both. So there is greater nutritional value in a dinner, so a dinner is more healthful All right. Now eat your soup!
Perro are you joking? It is not just a matter of preference.
Pastors are called to feed the sheep, not poison them. The hymns that we sing are part of, or should be part of that feeding. If a Pastor does not care to guard the sheep in the hymns that they sing, then he is contributing to poisoning them, worse he is purposely putting poison out for them to consume. Christ called pastors to feed His sheep. Christian America has been poisoned for years. Just like the rest of the culture, they can’t get enough of themselves, and these atrocious hymns reflect that. They are generally self centered and self focused. It ultimately comes down to what they believe, and Who they believe in. And it ultimately may be a different Jesus than the one who is proclaimed in Scripture and the only one who can save us. Christ and the apostles give plenty of warnings about false teaching and false teachers. Did they lie?
I have been saddened by the loss of good heritage music in our churches, and would like some direction from you to enhance our worship service. I am a retired Lutheran school teacher, and love to sing, but cannot sight read to find music suitable for a particular Sunday service to match the readings for that Service.
Where can I get the resources I need to choose something as special music to enhance the service? I am the cantor and have a trained voice.
( I have had the privilege to sing under Paul Manz’s direction, and attended Carl Schalk’s workshops last year at Concordia, Edmonton.
Hoping you can help me.
Hertha Klann
Hello Hertha:
I think its laudable that you’d like to find music that “fits” with the readings and theme of the service. It’s wonderful when the readings, sermon, hymns, and music all fit together (or at least “harmonize” to a certain extent – pardon the pun!).
I assume when you refer to “special music” in your comment, you’re referring to vocal music. One thing for you to check is what lectionary your church uses for Sunday readings. I’m most familiar with the lectionaries in Lutheran Service Book (LSB), but other lectionaries (e.g., Revised Common Lectionary will match with LSB for many Sundays).
I think one of the most important roles of a choir is to help support the singing and the liturgy. One way to do that is to sing the Propers (e.g., psalms, introit, gradual, alleluia verse). There are several great resources that can help you do that. Liturgy Solutions offers downloadable settings of the propers for most every season of the church year. They also have samples to give you a taste of what they offer. Concordia Publishing House offers a similar downloadable resource called Acclamation for each Sunday in the church year. CPH also publishes a book called Propers of the Day that has the text portion of the propers for each Sunday.
Hymns are part of the Propers as well. Choirs can of course sing alternating hymn stanzas and parts. Why not have the choir try doing something “special” with the hymn of the day? – maybe a hymn concertato (CPH and Morningstar have these). Or perhaps introduce a new hymn that fits in with the day. Concordia Publishing House has another great resource called the Hymn Selection Guide which provides hymn suggestions for each Sunday and shows which lesson the hymn “fits” with. There are bound to be new or unfamiliar hymns that you or your congregation doesn’t know. You can help them learn a new favorite hymn over a few weeks during a season of the church year.
Finally, if you’re looking for resources to select anthems, you can look to Morningstar Music and Concordia Publishing House. Morningstar has a list of choral music from their catalog that they feel relates to each Sunday or season. CPH used to publish a weekly planning guide that offered choral suggestions – if you call CPH at 1-800-325-3040 they could probably put you in touch with the music department.
One last resource you could check out are the newsletters of the Good Shepherd Institute. On their homepage you can download the latest CPH music catalog (that’s a NEW feature — it does have a scripture index for choral music). The newsletter, His Voice has organ and choral suggestions from Kantor Kevin Hildebrand. Definitely read what he has to say — he’s there to help parish musicians and he has some very practical ideas.
I hope this helps a little bit. Feel free to comment with further questions or contact me via the Contact Me page.
Blessings.
Chris