When an incumbent and his organist disagreed, they were observing a tradition. It happened when instrumentalists in the gallery found themselves outflanked by the arrival of an organ. It happens nowadays when seasoned directors of music fall out with enthusiastic amateurs in the pulpit. Simpering hymns can bring matters to the boil. Other hymns soar, some never get off the ground. Much depends on the singers. ‘A mighty fortress is our God’ growls.
Luther, the reformer, was a great hymn-writer. He wrote the words and the music of ‘A mighty fortress’. It came out of the heat of the Reformation and did not mince its message. When we use the word ‘Almighty’, we may find the hymn clearing our minds about what it means to wield all power. (And we have to remember that Jesus renounced power).
Hymns that come from other countries and other language have a cachet of their own. Neale gained a reputation by translating many ancient hymns from the Latin.
Military hymns (‘Onward, Christian soldiers’ and the likes) have gone out of fashion and a good thing too. Luther’s hymn teeters on the brink but is defensive rather than aggressive.
Look at the index of authors of words for hymns and, surprise, surprise, Charles Wesley tops the list. Watts and Herbert are more or less level-pegging. Taizé has a strong showing, as has Kendrick. Timothy Dudley-Smith is well up in the list. (This information comes from ‘BBC Songs of Praise’.) And where is Stuart Townend?
Hymns are usually a notable component of church music. Congregations like hymns. There are however, snakes in the grass, one being musical taste.
Burford parish church, Oxfordshire has Burford Singers, a group of 100 amateurs with a reputation for putting on high quality concerts with professional orchestras. And what a beautiful setting for such music.
St Ebbe’s, Oxford, a city centre church, has a clear aim for its music. ‘In practice we aim to sing the best of new and old (often with a modern twist.) ’This is clear and reticent at the same time.
‘Music on Mondays’ is a feature in the unassuming but venerable St Michael at the North Gate parish church, Oxford usually of an orchestral nature with complementary tea and coffee. There is a slot for a collection. The events, with notable groups, take place at one p.m.
Sternhold and Hopkins, Tate and Brady, Moody and Sankey have had their parts to play in the story. The fat lady has yet to sing.
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