How Hymns are Selected for Worship at Holy Trinity
Hymn selection begins with the scripture lessons for the day as prescribed by the lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer. Using a variety of indexes and other resources, possible hymns are first selected on the basis of their texts, using the following criteria, roughly in order of preference:
- The hymn text supports, amplifies or elaborates on a central theme of one or more of the lessons.
- The hymn text uses direct quotes or specific phrases from one of the lessons, providing the general theme of the hymn text supports the theme of the scripture text.
- The hymn text is in keeping with the general theme of the current liturgical season (Christmas, Lent, Easter, etc.).
- Communion hymns may or may not follow these criteria strictly.
While the text is of primary importance, the tunes do play a role. If I am unsure that the congregation knows the tune, I may select an alternate hymn, an alternate tune or both. More on that later.
Different denominations and congregations within a denomination have different hymn tunes in their repertoires. A hymn tune well-known and loved by one group may be completely unknown to another. I have learned not to assume that Holy Trinity (or any other congregation, for that matter) knows a hymn simply because I’ve known it for years or it was well-known to previous congregations I’ve served or been active in. So during choir rehearsals, I ask the choir how familiar they are with each hymn I’ve selected for a given Sunday, as well as any alternate hymns and tunes. Of course, the choir’s knowledge of hymns may or may not correspond exactly to the rest of the community’s, but this is really the only practical method I have of determining familiarity to the Holy Trinity community. The degree of familiarity to the choir will usually determine which of the alternates I use, or if I go back to the drawing board.
There are several other criteria that come into play, as well.
- The sequence hymn needs to work best with the Gospel lesson or, if possible, tie the Old Testament and/or Epistle lessons with the Gospel.
- The tunes for the processional and recessional hymns should be familiar and the hymns themselves long enough to get everyone in or out without running out of music and stranding people in mid-aisle.
- Any request or preference for a specific hymn from Fr. JD has priority.
- I try to limit completely unfamiliar hymns to one or two per month, if at all possible. Sometimes it’s not.
- We may sing an unfamiliar Communion hymn several times within a few weeks to help us learn it.
- My personal preferences (or anyone else’s, for that matter) are seldom a factor, and are usually only used as a “tie-breaker” when two hymns are equally suitable. (I think this has happened only once since I came to Holy Trinity.)
More on Alternate Tunes
If the hymn text is particularly appropriate for a Sunday’s lessons, but the tune is not familiar, I will try to find another, better-known tune that fits the text metrically as well as stylistically. This is why you sometimes see a notation such as “Sing to the tune ‘Truro’” (for example). It is not important whether you can recognize the tune just by its name. The important things are that you know it well enough to sing it and that it fits the text.
If you have any questions or comments about this process or hymns in general, please feel free to talk with me.
No comments yet.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.