From the Organist & Choirmaster

Last week, I was in Atlanta for the 60th Annual Conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians. It was a glorious week of liturgy, education, fellowship, and music making. Though I will share a more fulsome “report” of the conference in the next issue of the parish magazine (Word and Deed), I wanted to share a bit about a book that was presented to us Shapers of The Hymnal 1982: Our Fatih in Words and Music by Dr. Marty Wheeler Burnett (Associate Professor of Church Music and Director of Chapel Music at Virginia Theological Seminary).

Dr. Wheeler Burnett’s book explores The Hymnal 1982 through its creators who she calls “the shapers.” The book’s chapters dive into the arrival of the hymnal, looking at the previous hymnals (especially the 1940) and what was included in the new hymnal and why things were “left out,” the creations of a genuinely American Hymnal, details on the hymnal;’s committee, service music, the texts of the hymns themselves, hymn poet perspectives, composers perspectives, the spirituality of the hymnal, looking to the future and the next hymnal, and the power of music in church. She also includes discussion questions with hymns to sing making it interesting for a book club or a parish book reading and series for not only the choir but the entire church.

I’ve greatly enjoyed reading this book so far. If anyone is interested in reading it with me, let me know and we’ll get something together! If you’d like to purchase the book, you can do so by clicking the button below, it’s not an intimidating book, trust me!