Philosophical Base Undergirds Hymnal Work
Episcopal News Service. July 23, 1981 [81206]
NEW YORK -- While the massive task of evaluating texts proceeds, the Standing Commission on Church Music has sought to lay out the principles and philosophy that guide the revision of the Episcopal Church Hymnal.
The commission adopted a 10-point "Philosophy for Hymnal Revision" in which they commit themselves to developing a companion to the Book of Common Prayer that reflects the historical and cultural position of the Church and serves as a vehicle of renewal and a volume of practical theology.
Although adopted only early this year, a Music Commission spokesman noted that the document limns the principles of conservation, service to the Church, theological orthodoxy and responsiveness to the expanded worship offered in the 1979 Prayer Book that have guided its work throughout this process.
In addition, the Commission has launched a series of pamphlets, "Perspectives on the New Edition of the Hymnal," that will attempt to guide clergy and laity in understanding the hows and whys of revision. The first, Hymnal Studies 1, is expected to be available in the Fall of this year from the Church Hymnal Corporation for a nominal price.
It will contain a brief overall introduction and four essays exploring Hymnal history and philosophy, the role of hymns in faith and the task of melding texts and music. A teacher's guide will follow each essay.
All these ancillary efforts, of course, look forward to the 1982 meeting of the General Convention when the bishops and deputies will be asked to exercise their canonical authority over the body of texts that will make up a revised Hymnal.
That corpus will consist of new hymns to meet liturgical and seasonal needs of the 1979 Prayer Book and a large selection of texts from the Hymnal, 1940 with suggested revisions. It is on the latter suggestions that the Commission has concentrated in recent months.
Three reader-consultants -- the Rev. Dr. Erik Routley, of the Westminster Choir College, Princeton, N.J., the Rev. Canon Clement Welsh, former warden of the College of Preachers, and the Rev. Hays H. Rockwell, rector of St. James, New York, and a former seminary dean -- have pored over hundreds of proposals for change in 1940 texts. Their line-by-line review of literary style and theology has been completed and the proposals and comments will be passed on to a much wider body of consultants.
Raymond F. Glover, general editor of the Hymnal, has asked each diocesan bishop to appoint a team of two such reader-consultants to scrutinize the texts and report to the commission in time for the final push to prepare a report to Convention, a push that will begin in early 1982. Those men and women will also probably serve as resources to Convention deputies before the New Orleans meeting.
A Philosophy for Hymnal Revision Adopted SCCM, February 11, 1981, revised May 19, 1981
1. The Hymnal should be a companion for use with the Book of Common Prayer. A new edition of the Hymnal should support the Book of Common Prayer 1979 with its expanded lectionary, its revised Calendar (which includes additional feasts and new emphases), its renewed emphasis upon Holy Baptism as a public rite, its enrichment of the Daily Offices, the Proper Liturgies for Special Days, the Eucharistic Rites, the Pastoral Offices, and the Episcopal Services.
2. As the Church itself is constantly being made new, so the music of the Church has reflected the life of its many generations. The Hymnal has been and will be an essential part of the record of this life and growth. It should retain classic texts and music which have been honored by history and are the staples for singing congregations. At the same time it should present a prophetic vision that will speak to the Church of the future as well as to the Church of today.
3. Hymn texts serve as a practical book of theology for the people of God, and should present the Church's teaching authentically and fully.
4. In its texts and in its music, the Hymnal should be comprehensive in its coverage of all the major historic periods, without stressing any particular period. The Hymnal must reflect and speak to people of many races and cultures.
5. The texts of the Hymnal should use, wherever possible, inclusive language which affirms the participation of all in the Body of Christ, the Church, while recognizing our diverse natures as children of God.
6. Language that is obscure or so changed in contemporary usage as to have a different meaning should be clarified. Exceptions to this will be those classic texts which are firmly established in the worship of the Church and are deeply rooted in the spiritual life of its people.
7. Although prepared specifically for use in the Episcopal Church, the Hymnal by its nature should be ecumenical, drawing upon the entire Christian heritage. It is hoped that it will be valuable to other churches and congregations including those with whom the Episcopal Church shares a common lectionary.
8. The Hymnal is not primarily a choir book, although it is usable by a choir for anthem materials. The collection should be practical. Keyboard settings should be playable by the performer with average skills and, where appropriate, guitar chords may be included. For congregations finding chant difficult, metrical forms of many Canticles and often-used Psalms should be included.
9. The Hymnal should present various musical possibilities when tunes are used more than once. The repeated versions could be presented in different arrangements, or transposed.
10. Although the Hymnal should be musically accessible, there should be settings in a variety of styles which represent the best expressive artistic creativity of musicians.