Home Worship Planning Music Resources Thinking About a New Hymnal #1—What Do We Want?

Thinking About a New Hymnal #1—What Do We Want?

We have taken the first step toward a new official hymnal for United Methodists in the USA. In August 2007 the boards of directors of Discipleship Ministries and The United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH) approved legislation asking General Conference to approve the new hymnal when it gathers for its quadrennial meeting to be held in Fort Worth, Texas, April 23-May 2, 2008. If the proposal is approved, an editor will be selected, a committee constituted, and work will begin on developing the new hymnal. The committee would bring its proposed new hymnal back to the 2012 General Conference (Tampa, Florida, April 25-May 4) for consideration; and if it is accepted and approved, publication could be as early as 2013.

The General Conference Music and Worship Study (2004-2007), assigned jointly to Discipleship Ministries and the United Methodist Publishing House, identified numerous observations, trends, and needs within The United Methodist Church in the areas of music and worship, and through surveys and continuing research, we have heard from many people about what they do and do not want in a new hymnal. Here is a list of the top twelve suggestions I'm hearing, counting down to the most frequently-voiced suggestion:

12. Accompaniments and harmonizations that are true to the style of the hymn. Include the many styles that we sing: chorales, chant, gospel songs, folk music, ethnic and global styles, contemporary and rock, hip-hop, traditional hymns, and others. Don't force all hymns and songs into a generic four-voice hymnal harmonization. Include chord symbols for all hymns, consistent through all editions.

11. Hymns and songs for Advent, Lent, Holy Communion. United Methodist worship has given increased importance to these three since the 1966 and 1989 hymnals were published, and congregations need more hymns that relate to them.

10. Choruses and traditional hymns. The 1989 hymnal is the broadest stylistically of our history. We should include more of three important genres and musical styles: more traditional and liturgical hymns, more modern short forms such as praise choruses and Taizé chants, and more recent contemporary worship songs.

9. Liturgical music for Holy Communiion. We need not just more hymns for Communion, but we need more Communion service music, including additional musical settings of the congregational responses, and more portions of the liturgy set to music.

8. Non-English texts. Opinion is divided, but strong, on including non-English texts for a USA hymnal. Some want more as an expression of solidarity with the global church while others want less, saying it would be better to include other languages in a separate songbook or online. Some note the existence of official UM hymnals in Korean and Spanish.

7. The Psalter. Nearly everyone agrees that the hymnal's Psalter has failed to be accepted as a musical element in worship. Many of the responses are difficult or unenjoyable to sing. The formulas for pointing remain obscure and mostly ignored. It does not contain all the Psalms. It is mostly used as spoken responsive readings.

6. Patriotic songs and hymns for the nation. Provide more popular, patriotic, and national songs such as "God Bless America," the National Anthem, and "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." This is, after all, to be a hymnal for the U.S.A.

5. Traditional hymnal harmonizations. Again, we are divided, but passionate. Some want to include the traditional four-voice, homorhythmic settings of hymns and songs, including contemporary songs, so that traditional organists can play them. Others want fewer traditional settings of contemporary songs, preferring accompaniments more appropriate to the style of the hymn or song. Most are agreed to stop including melody-only selections -- give us the harmony in the book.

4. Projection. There are a number of suggestions and requests: publish only electronic versions of a new hymnal; be certain to publish print and projection versions; include four-part harmonization in PowerPoint version; provide greater variety of projection backgrounds; publish downloadable projection slides on a website for individual purchase and use.

3. Changing hymn texts. We are divided. Some want editors to leave the author's original words alone. Some want language made more modern without worrying about other issues, such as male dominated texts and images. Some want texts edited to avoid exclusive language. Some want to eliminate war images and language. Some want to retain original images and metaphors, even if they are now obscure, while others want these updated or removed.

2. Lower keys. Many complain about hymns being pitched too high, and a few being too low. A related issue dealing with keys for hymns is the request to have hymns placed in guitar-friendly keys, or include a "capo" line for guitarists.

And the number one request for the new hymnal is:

1. Verses, not just choruses. Provide the complete hymn or song, not just the choruses. Most often mentioned are "Fill My Cup, Lord," "On Eagle's Wings," "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," and in The Faith We Sing, "Shout to the Lord" and "Lead Me, Guide Me."

No attempt is made here to respond to these suggestions, merely to set them out in roughly the order of frequency mentioned. There is much more to say regarding a new hymnal for the UMC in the U.S.A. That will come between now and General Conference.

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