Singing can happen anywhere

I turned to the Indexes at the back for some information.

Here I could calculate that there are 23 different authors or sources for the 33 hymns in the 2008 Hymnal Supplement. Some of the names are familiar and contemporary, some of whom I will list here: 

-Peter Allen (hymn 453 – Rise up and walk); 

-Fenella Bennetts (458 Though I may speak with moving words); 

-Desiree Goyette (444 I am the Lord, there is none else, and 460 We are walking in the light of God); and 

-Susan Mack (445 I awake each morn to a brand new day, and 462 When my heart is lost in sorrow).

Other names are fondly remembered from past years – 

-Rosemary Cobham (443 Home is the consciousness of good) and 

-Peter Henniker-Heaton (452 O Thou unchanging Truth, and 461 We cannot turn away from God).

Some authors are also composers: 

-Peter Allen (434 Brood o’er us, 453 Rise up, 442 Here, O God, and 451 O sometimes gleams upon our sight); 

-Fenella Bennetts (457 Take my life, and 432 Blest Christmas morn); 

-Desiree Goyette (444 I am the Lord, and 454 Saw ye my Saviour); and 

-Susan Mack (445 I awake, 452 O Thou unchanging Truth, and 462 When my heart).

There are traditional tunes from Africa (460 Siyahamba), America (431 Amazing grace), and the Caribbean (441 Halle, halle, hallelujah), and two versions of the Scottish folk song O Waly, Waly (443 Home is the consciousness, and 458 Though I may speak). The German “Geistliche Kirchengesang 1623” (Google Translate suggests “Spiritual Church Singing” for this phrase) provides the tune for hymn 448 Lo, they that follow after good.

I love the five Indexes at the back of the book. They yield much useful background information for the organist, person/s choosing the hymns, and the congregation.

One of my favourite hymns is 435, Mrs Eddy’s poem Brood o’er us, set to the tune “Brother James’ Air" (by James Leith Macbeth Bain) and adapted by Robert Rockabrand. A quick internet search reveals that I can download a ringtone for my mobile phone with this tune…I didn’t! And YouTube has a pleasing version (words from Ps 23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsw1gix1CvA) sung by a boy’s choir (English I think), though for me nothing beats actually singing this tune to Mrs Eddy’s words as part of a lively and thoughtful congregation (like we had at the Church Alive get-together in Brisbane a few years ago) or with any congregation at all.  I have also been known to sing it at the top of my voice from the deck of a certain catamaran!

Julie Swannell

Growing with new music

Now the Hymnal Supplement (2008) – January 2017

An article titled "A New Hymnal Supplement" in the October 2008 issue of The Christian Science Journal appeared under the banner "THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY".  The article speaks of the “long pent-up demand for new music.” [http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/2008/10/126-10/a-new-hymnal-supplement]

And further on it adds - 

“What is planned for the future? That is largely up to you! We hope to publish more music if there is both the demand for it and supply of submissions from the Field. As we consider the next few years, our ideas include the following: A series of Hymnal supplements (as new and interesting music is available); CDs incorporating the new hymns sung in choral arrangements or as solos by contemporary artists; regional hymn-sings to encourage and share music possibilities; and a music-resource website to assist branch churches with solos, hymns, and performance ideas. At this point, we are committed to engaging fellow members to find new music and new ways of playing and sharing "the rhythm of head and heart," as Mrs. Eddy referred to music (Science and Health, p. 213).”

Much of that promise has come to pass with the New New New Supplement ready for the churches.

New New New because the main hymnal we are now using includes already a Supplement of hymns 401 to 429.

I am very interested in the “regional hymn-sings.” And I could name people to lead them in Australia, but so far they have not reached our state at least.

As one who loves our present Hymnal Notes which accompany the Hymnal Concordance, I hope that there will be further hymnal notes to tell us about the new ones' history. (We studied the Hymnal Notes for this blog in December 2012.)

Joyce Voysey

PS

I am becoming more appreciative of the Hymnal Supplement (2008) since needing to choose hymns for Sunday School.  The old hymnal doesn't seem to offer many suitable for very young children.

We will be trying some of the Supplement ones now.

Addendum to my notes on Daniel (from last month)

Chapter 8 ends with the thought that Daniel himself did not understand the vision he had of the Ram and the Goat! One wonders what hope one has of doing so.

Time to sing!

Study for January 2017 - the 2008 Hymnal Supplement

Back in 2008, the Christian Science Publishing Society issued a new Hymnal Supplement. 

A note in the October issue of The Christian Science Journal that year began 

"COMING THIS NOVEMBER, for the first time in 76 years, a new Hymnal Supplement! This 2008 supplement contains new inspiring and healing hymns written and arranged by Christian Scientists today, as well as hymn texts from the current Hymnal set to contemporary music. We hope you will enjoy singing these hymns as much as we have loved collecting and publishing them. These songs are offered to support the healing and joy of our church services and your practice of Christian Science.

As we reviewed the history of our Hymnal, it was surprising to all of us that a supplement was not issued sooner. In Mary Baker Eddy's day there was a succession of new or revised Hymnals."

http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/2008/10/126-10/a-new-hymnal-supplement

With the imminent issue of a further supplement, it seems timely to take a look into those hymns we were gifted back in 2008. Music offers much to ponder. Some avenues for further research might include: sacred music, Hymnody, and congregational singing. 

The Bible and our Leader's writings, as well as the wealth of material in our periodicals (see jsh-online.com) are replete with instruction and inspiration, so I hope readers will share their prayer-based thoughts on the topic through the avenue of this blog site. For instance the Church Manual offers guidance about the tone, type and place of suitable music for church services.

Henry E. Wright shared the following story in his lovely article "Freedom Won by Song from the June 19, 1943 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel: 

"One beautiful summer evening, a bird flew into the kitchen of a large house. Upon the approach of one of its occupants, the timid bird flew into a large cupboard. In due course this person went to get an article from the cupboard, afterward closing the doors. A little later, although entombed in the darkness of the cupboard, the bird began to sing. It was assumed that it was the song of a bird in the garden. Gradually, as the volume of song became louder and louder, the hearer decided to investigate. Since the sound came from the direction of the cupboard the doors were opened, and the bird flew out through the window into the garden.

"Does not this incident hold a lesson for each one of us? When the daily round does not appear to run smoothly, let us start to sing, either mentally or audibly. Mrs. Eddy encourages us in these words from "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 19. 20): "The spiritual sense of Life and its grand pursuits is of itself a bliss, health-giving and joy-inspiring. This sense of Life illumes our pathway with the radiance of divine Love." It is recorded in Acts that Paul and Silas won their freedom from prison by continually praying and singing praises to God. What a wonderful example for us all to follow!....

http://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1943/6/45-25/freedom-won-by-song

So "Let all within us sing/For that's what we are made to do" (Hymn 462 by Susan Mack)
Words Copyright 2005

Hymn 462:-1 Words (to 2005)
From Concord Express - A Christian Science Study Resource: The King James Version of the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's published writings

Simply Praising Him

Susan Mack

(462)

SANCHEZ

Susan Mack

Arranged by Sue Loomis and Robert Rockabrand

Words Copyright 2005 and Music Copyright 2007 In Our Field Productions. Used by permission. Arr. Copyright 2008 The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Hymn 462:-2--1

Tralalala...

Julie Swannell