Churches have the opportunity to pre-order the new 2014 Book of Praise (“final”). It is time to get ready for musicians, and understand the musical implications.
Check out this page for the changes, and information about the Hymn Accompaniment Book that is now available again.
The software program Hauptwerk (www.hauptwerk.com) makes it possible to play an electronic keyboard and produce the authentic sound of a pipe organ. These pipe organ sounds are using collections of sound files that were recorded from the original instrument in high quality: one pipe at the time. The characteristics of the room (reverbation) is often included.
This capturing of the sound of an organ is an electronic documentation of the sound. In case of historic instruments this can be valuable, especially in cases of dissaster when an instrument is destroyed. Technically it could be possible to reconstruct an instrument, but it is impossible to reconstruct the original instruments sound, because aging of the materials can’t be reconstructed. Therefore this digital catalogue of the sounds of an organ is unique.
I am testing the software, using the free (limited) version of Hauptwerk with free (limited) organ sets. I tried the free Brindley & Foster (English), fully functional organ that is included with Hauptwerk, the Cavaille-Coll organ from Caen (France), and the Dutch romantic Batz organ, from Utrecht, the Netherlands.
It is this last instrument that brought back some memories. In the specification all stops were included, even if they didn’t produce any sound. This results in a true historic representation of this instrument.
Let me explain…
The stop KALKANTEKLOK does not activate any pipe ranks. In some other organs this stop is called CALCANT. Pulling this stop results in a tingling sound of a tiny bell. This tiny bell is located behind the organ, where the bellows are located.
Instead of a motor, the air was provided by people that were pumping air into the bellows. With this tiny bell the organist would indicate that the pumper(s) should start working. Very nice that this real organ-’stop’ is included.
Related to this, there are stops called “Afsluiting” (Closure). There are four of these type of stops, one for each manual and one for the pedal. Every manual has its own bellow and the pumper has to pump hard to keep all bellows filled. A kind organist will use one or two manuals and close the other bellows. That makes it easier for the pumper, especially on a warm Sunday the the summer.
Organ playing was teamwork and good communication was needed between the organist in the front, and his helper(s) behind the organ.
By the way, after a long sermon the pumper may have fallen asleep, and the congregation would not hear the organ play right away, but an agitated little bell, trying to wake up the organ pumper…
Sometimes the organ was sounding out of tune, which meant that there was not enough air. The organist could be very enthusiastic and pull out all the stops, or the organ pumper was did not keep an eye on the level of the bellows…
Interesting that a software program brings back these memories.
For an impression of Hauptwerk, see the video below. Recorded at the organist’s home, we hear the Bovenkerk in Kampen, The Netherlands.
In Brazil some new rhymings of the Psalms have been released on their Psalm website (http://salterio.org). A number of Portuguese speaking people here in British Columbia sang the first verse of each Psalm so that the churches in Brazil can listen and learn them via the Internet, which should help in singing the Psalms in church.
Have you ever wondered about the Genevan Psalms that we sing in church?
Sunday night, June 23 at 7:30-9:30 PM. Frank Ezinga presents an informative and interactive evening about the Book of Praise. Congregational singing, some audio clips and video clips, singing demonstrations with the audience, and time to ask your questions… Get to know what you always wanted to know… “Young and old” are invited!
Synod 2013 made decisions regarding the musical notation of the hymns. It was a smaller portion of the agenda, but a section that impact church members significantly. The Book of Praise is used at church, at school and at home. I realize that many churches and church musicians are very pleased with the decisions to have many changes undone as per their request, and I hope that the final Book of Praise will be a blessing to those, and to all of our churches.
However, the background of many of the Synodical decisions regarding the hymns I did not completely understand. Some decisions seem to be contradicting, or inconsistent. I will give a few examples of my findings:
1. Consistency with other hymnals
- In the APV the last line of Hymn 65 was changed and made consistent with other hymnals (Psalter Hymnal was mentioned; the SCBP could have mentioned the 1979 Hymn Section of the Book of Praise). However, this change was rejected by Synod 2013, citing a “well-loved” tune, reverting back to the 1984 version.
- The changes to Hymn 78 (Synod 2013) make this tune also consistent with other hymnals. (The Psalter Hymnal was mentioned by the SCBP as well as the 1967 edition of the BoP).
2. When you ask for a breath mark, you are given a fermata…
- Some churches requested that Hymn 73 and Hymn 74 be reverted back to the 1984 notation, specifically mentioning breath marks (Art. 170, 2.7.27 and 2.7.28).
- Synod 2013 has decided to add fermatas instead. We did not have fermatas in 1984 or before, and no church requested them. How do fermatas practically change our singing…?
3. To breathe or not to breathe?
Synod 2013 considered: “The SCBP was correct in going away from breath marks, due to the varying interpretations of rests.” (Art. 180, 3.4). Yet, some churches requested that breath marks or fermatas be reinstated. In some cases their request was granted.
For example:
“…there is a legitimate need…” (Hymn 49),
“…the need for fermatas is compelling here…” (Hymn 53),
“…fermatas should be inserted for the ease of singing…” (Hymn 73/74).
In several other cases the request was denied because “it does not impact on how the hymn is sung”.
4. Two heavens…?
In Hymn 1 the word “heaven” was always treated the same.
In the 1984 edition:”…Maker of heav’n and earth…” and “…ascended into heav’n”.
In the APV edition: …Maker of heaven and earth…” and “…ascended into heaven”.
Only one church did not like this change: they wrote to Synod that they would like to (only) change line 2 back to “…heav’n…” instead of “…heaven…”. Synod turned around and granted the request of that one church (Art 169, 4.2).
The SCBP was mandated concerning the Book of Praise. But these decisions made by Synod 2013 regarding the hymn music have sent a clear message…
Nevertheless, we have to work with these decisions. I wish the local accompanists and congregations much wisdom now what Synod 2013 wrote in Art. 180 3.4 will become a reality: “…it is more important that each congregation develops its own consistency…”.
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I have updated most of my new, 2013 edition hymn accompaniment book – few things to address yet. For those who have the 2010 Edition of the Accompaniment Book for the 85 Hymns, you would still be able to use this book.
I summarized the decisions and their impact on this 2010 version of the Hymnbook:
Most of these changes can be made with a pencil (adding rests, femates). Where mentioned: the PDF files will be made available here.
As soon as I send the files for the new, 2013 Edition of the 85 Hymn Accompaniment Book to the printer. At that time I will also the confirm the expected delivery date.
