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Updates on the New LDS Hymnbook

8/28/2023

Many people have been wondering when the new LDS Hymnbook will be coming out. After attending some classes presented by members of the Hymnbook Committee at BYU Education Week, I have a new appreciation for how much time it has been taking. Apparently, over 17,000 hymns and Primary songs were submitted. The committee said that they have reviewed each and every one of them. However, there is no way that many new hymns can possibly be included in the new hymnbook!

They told us that each hymn or song has been quadruple-blind reviewed by at least 130 top-notched musicians. They had to narrow down the selection to roughly 500. From those, they have enlisted help from translator/poets and musicians from countries all over the world who can identify the hymns and Primary songs that could be most successfully translated into their languages. The goal is to publish the new hymnbook simultaneously all over the world in all the possible languages at the same time --- they are projecting sometime in 2026.

Those of us who attended the classes got a close-up peak at the process of TRANSCREATION --- a new term the committee coined. Because of the many differences in languages --- including numbers of syllables per word, cultural idioms, languages that are tonal, and some that are read right to left NOT left to right --- there are HUGE problems fitting words to music across so many languages. The translators must have the poetic gifts to create hymn lyrics that fit the tunes as well as convey a similar message as the original hymn given the musical constraints.

Suffice it to say that I have little hope for the chances of any of my submissions to be considered. However, they will very likely be listed on the new SACRED MUSIC app. Look for them there, if you are interested.

Go Forth in the Service of God - Hymn (original)
Come All Ye Saints Who Dwell on Earth - Hymn (new tune and SATB setting)
My Baptism Covenant - Primary Song (original)
Live By the Light of His Love - Primary Song (original)
Lord of All - Christmas - Primary Song (original)
How Far Is Heaven? - Primary Song (original) about Temples
Put On the Whole Armor of God - Primary Song (original)

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Planning Choir Music

8/17/2023

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One of the most difficult tasks for a choir director seems to be choosing music. It isn't so hard if the THEMES are already chosen, but that rarely happens. It doesn't even matter if the choir is a Children's Chorus for Elementary School, a Community Choral Society, or a Church Choir. The problems for the directors are the same. Picking pieces for their groups to sing is time consuming and hard.

First, you've got to find MUSIC THAT SUITS YOUR GROUP. That can mean that the song that you heard another group sound so good doing just may not work for your group. So your first thoughts are dashed to pieces.

You need to find songs that your ACCOMPANIST can manage. Or sometimes you have no regular accompanist, but the other options for accompaniment aren't that great, either.

Your BUDGET is tight, so you either have to use music that already exists in your library stacks or be very creative and frugal.

Seems I've spent my life doing the creative and frugal route. Many times I have searched and searched for that perfect piece for my chorus only to run out of time. So I just wrote one. Or, I didn't have an accompanist, so I just directed from the piano bench. Or I got around not having much in the budget by strategically using music from the library stacks or my own private files and only afforded that one new piece I just had to have.

In the end, PLANNING is a matter of being AWARE of upcoming needs and situations and by using your own CREATIVITY to work things out. It can be done.

This version of "Away in a Manger" came about because of some particular circumstances we had one year for our Ward Choir. I had a good choir of about 20-25 voices, a lovely young high soprano soloist, and a very inexperienced accompanist. (That year, we actually did several a cappella pieces on our Christmas program because our pianist could only handle a couple of songs. In order to fill out the program, we had to do a cappella pieces!)

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Special Musical Numbers

8/6/2023

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The summer months can be particularly hard for a Ward Music Coordinator to find Special Musical Numbers for Sacrament Meetings. So many musicians go out of town or have other commitments during the summer that make them unavailable.

I have heard of some pretty creative solutions, though.

A family I know volunteered to sing in their ward. They had to do something very simple, but what they came up with was quite successful.

Some wards do InstaChoirs where they ask anyone who wants to join in to just come up and sing a hymn from the hymnal.

Then I heard of a Ward that had all of the men just stand up in their places and sing "Ye Elders of Israel."

The Primary children sometimes get asked to try out one of the songs they are preparing for their Sacrament Meeting Presentation later in the year.

Sometimes, one of the youth is available to play a piano or other instrumental solo.

We've had trouble in our Ward with the speakers getting very long-winded. This summer we've had to nix the Intermediate Hymn completely more than once. I wonder what would have happened had we also prepared Special Music for those days.

I am always glad when Fall comes around again and people are more willing to prepare Special Musical numbers for Church. I especially love having the choir sing. Only a few more weeks....

In the meantime, here are a few 2-Part Mixed Hymn Arrangements that have been used successfully for a family or small group or even a duet.

"Abide with Me 'tis Eventide," "Come Follow Me," "Count Your Blessings," and "Israel, Israel God Is Calling."

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Updates on the New LDS Hymnbook

Planning Choir Music

Special Musical Numbers

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