Only 20 hymns

[oopsorganist]

It is, of course, a variation of the thread on Core Repertoire. But is is also, a look at what people are singing now as Core Repertoire and what they think they ought to be singing or would like to be singing. I guess.

However, I started the thread after wittering on about how useful it would be to have a resource of a limited repertoire which would work not just to improve Liturgy, but to improve the quality of singing, the quality of response to singing, for the Mass. And that would need a look at what is happening and what might be happening. There are so many hymn books and so many hymns. And so many Mass settings. So much to choose from. And yet,often what is sung when there are few resources, is not of much interest or quality. Although that might be a personal judgement rather than fact.

And if that is the base line, then could it be improved? Could "All that I am" and "Amazing Grace" be the start of better singing and if so, could Praise to the Holiest in the Heights (insert any classic hymn) and a good Mass setting be the development point.

Oh I am long - winded. and not entirely clear what I mean.

[Hare]

No, I see exactly what you mean. And there is no reason why All that I am etc should not co-exist with Praise to the holiest etc.

I suppose, being from a non-conformist and Anglican background where, 40/50 years ago every church had its own organist and choir, I find it difficult to grasp how things have got so dire in some Catholic churches.

[oopsorganist]

What he said.

And also just mentioning that this thread is an off spin from the thread about parish music in an age of dwindling resources..... in that their is a need for a simple book/CD or website where the average parish can get some help for drawing together people to sing together without a specialist talented music leader.

If you could find the right tool - it could be done but only for a limited range of Liturgical hymns and Mass settings - some basic and probably audio materials for beginning a choir that could begin to add some part singing.

This is because in my experience, you can find people who think they can sing and they know all the hymns they need to know and are not willing to practice or to learn new material but could be challenged by developing their community singing leadership by developing what they already know.

[Hare]

What he said.

And also just mentioning that this thread is an off spin from the thread about parish music in an age of dwindling resources..... in that their is a need for a simple book/CD or website where the average parish can get some help for drawing together people to sing together without a specialist talented music leader.

If you could find the right tool - it could be done but only for a limited range of Liturgical hymns and Mass settings - some basic and probably audio materials for beginning a choir that could begin to add some part singing.

This is because in my experience, you can find people who think they can sing and they know all the hymns they need to know and are not willing to practice or to learn new material but could be challenged by developing their community singing leadership by developing what they already know.

Yes - I understand your point. There are several parishes and mass centres fairly near me, with little or no musical leadership. I have offered assistance to all of them from time to time over the last 23 years, but had no response whatsoever!

[alan29]

Maybe some communities just don't want to sing.

[Hare]

Maybe some communities just don't want to sing.

Another scenario - When I first started at my current church 23 years ago, I was only "contracted" for the late morning Mass on Sundays, plus a weekly choir rehearsal. I discovered after a few months that PP was attempting to lead some singing at Holyday masses, and I asked why I couldn't play? He said "I didn't like to bother you!" I now do all 3 weekend and 2 Holyday masses!

[pdsfd]

I don't choose the music in my parish, although I do have some input through requests every so often.

These are 20 hymns we have sung probably around 5 times or more in at least 1 of the last 3 years, in no particular order:

Praise my soul the King of heaven
All people that on earth do dwell
Tell out my soul
As I kneel before you (this year anyway, sadly...)
Colours of Day
All that I am
Sweet Heart of Jesus
Sweet Sacrament Divine
Go the Mass is ended
Now thank we all our God
Lord accept the gifts we offer
In Bread we bring you Lord
Upon thy table
O Bread of Heaven
Jesus Thou art coming (whenever it's the Sacramental Programme)
Our God reigns
I am the Bread of life
Make me a channel of your peace
Away in a manger (I'm sure last year we sung it at the Epiphany and then at least 3 times over the following Christmas!)
Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us

Just recently we've started singing some 'Songs of Praise' style hymns that I've never heard us sing before, one being 'We plough the fields of scatter'.

We don't have a choir, but we do have a fairly capable singing assembly, an excellent organist in charge of a very decent 2-manual Makin and a PP we a good singing voice, so it's a shame to see these talents wasted on some of the dross above!

This would be my ideal core repertoire of 20 hymns/songs at the top of my mind (there are more), which we currently either don't sing at all or rarely, again no particular order:

All my hope on God is founded (Michael)
Christ is made the sure foundation (W.A)
At the Name of Jesus (Camberwell)
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (not just at Epiphany)
O Purest of Creatures
Thou whose almighty word
Come down O Love divine
Battle is o'er (Surrexit)
Christ be our light (Farrell)
God beyond all names (Farrell)
Unless a grain of wheat (Farrell)
Surrexit Christus (Taize)
Will you come and follow me (Bell)
As the deer longs (Hurd)
All are welcome (Haugen)
The Lord is my Light (Haugen)
To you O Lord, I lift my soul (Haugen)
Now in the Banquet (Haugen)
Lord your love has drawn us near (Dean)
Thanks be to God (Dean)

I can't remember us ever singing any of the last 10 in the list and can't see it happening anytime soon either, sadly. Some in the congregation would complain that they don't know the hymn, although one or two in the list would need choral accompaniment to work well.

In terms of settings of the ordinaries, we currently sing the outdated Salazar Gloria; I'd like us to try the Psallite Mass Gloria, we could probably get away with this without a choir. The Sanctus is currently being spoken; two settings I particularly like are Martin Barry's Spring Sanctus and Bob Hurd's Missa Ubi Caritas, but these may be slightly more tricky for our congregation to pick up, without a choir.

[TimSharrock]

And another "what have we actually sung": These are the twenty hymns we have sung most often with our Children's Music group over the last twelve years (We sing twice a month, with piano and instruments, the other Sundays an organist plays, and we have an overlapping, but not identical range).

The columns are rank (I have omitted items of the Ordinary, so it does not start with 1), count, number in Laudate and title.

9: 41 L785 Though The Mountains May Fall
10: 41 L966 Walk With Me O My Lord
12: 32 L820 Seek Ye First
13: 31 L878 You Shall Go Out With Joy
14: 30 L627 This Is My Body
15: 30 L749 The Servant King
16: 30 L877 Will You Come and Follow Me
18: 29 L713 Sing Of The Lord's Goodness
19: 27 L603 Blest Are You Lord
20: 27 L768 Our God Reigns
21: 27 L832 One Bread One Body
22: 26 L107 The King Of Glory Comes
23: 26 L849 Freely, Freely
24: 26 L865 Here I Am Lord
25: 25 L771 Walk In The Light
26: 24 L147 What Shall We Give
27: 23 L088 Wait For The Lord
28: 23 L268 Alleluia Alleluia Give Thanks To The Risen Lord
29: 23 L278 Now The Green Blade Riseth
30: 23 L605 Take Our Bread

[Hare]

.....the other Sundays an organist plays....

Rather dismissive............?

[TimSharrock]

.....the other Sundays an organist plays....

Rather dismissive............?

sorry, it was not intended to be. I wondered how to phrase it, and did not find a good way.

There are some significant advantages to having different instruments active - as some much loved hymns are more natural with one rather than another.

[Becky]

This is our top 19 for the last 5 years (excluding Christmas pieces):

Be still for the presence of the Lord
Soul of my Saviour
This is my body
Christ be our light
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer
In bread we bring you Lord
All that I am
To God be the glory
Lord Jesus Christ/living Lord
Sweet Sacrament divine
Alleluia, sing to Jesus
Christ triumphant, ever reigning (Guiting Power)
As the deer pants for the water
Thine be the glory
For all the saints
O Lord my God
Praise my soul the King of Heaven
Love divine, all loves excelling

Tied in 20th place:
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
Shine Jesus shine
Amazing Grace
At the name of Jesus (Camberwell)
The kingdom of God is justice and joy
All my hope on God is founded
My God, accept my heart
Seek ye first
Hail to the Lord’s anointed
Love is his word

It's a very interesting exercise but I'm glad we don't have to limit ourselves to 20!