Session 6: Keynote Session
Scholarship for Enhancing the Church’s Song: Prolegomena to a Hymnal Companion Carl P. Daw, Curator of Hymnological Collections
Not all hymns and songs are created equal. Some derive from ancient texts (usually paraphrased in a modern language) and are set to venerable and complex tunes; others may have emerged recently and are accompanied by uncomplicated settings. Yet all may find a valuable place in the worship life of congregations. The goal of a hymnal companion is to inform the choice and use of what is sung, so that a congregation will have the fullest possible repertoire and will use those hymns and songs in a way that engages people on multiple levels.
This presentation will examine four features of the annotations provided in a projected hymnal companion: textual history and analysis, musical history and analysis; theological considerations; and suggestions for effective use. The physical limitation of providing such information for approximately 600 hymns and songs in a single volume of reasonable size requires that each element of a specific entry be as concise as possible. The various strengths (and weaknesses) of each hymn or song will necessarily shape the relative proportion of attention given to the components of an entry.
At the same time, it is hoped that there can also be room for encouraging users of the hymnal to approach this body of textual and musical material in a thoughtful and creative manner. How might open-ended questions be incorporated, for example? An effective hymnal companion will not only inform but will also stimulate readers to pursue further studies on their own.