Hymn Writing | The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

A Functional Art by Timothy Dudley-Smith

Hymn Writers Workshop

Short Guide No 18: Getting Hymns Published

To write one or more hymns and have them used by a congregation to which you belong is one thing; to have these hymns published commercially is another matter. This paper looks primarily at hymn texts but similar principles apply for music. Before Publishing Write, check and re-write. The first draft is rarely the finished article. Let someone else see …

Bulletin 276 Volume 20 No7 Summer 2013

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Short Guide No 6: What Makes A Good Hymn?

Answering this question inevitably contains a subjective element: a hymn which one person finds comforting can seem mawkish to someone else, while one believer’s treasured old favourite can sound dated to another Christian. Here, as food for thought, are five balances and five contrasts which may help to identify hymns of quality… Five Balances A good hymn balances… Theology and …

Bulletin 261 Volume 19 No4 October 2009

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Bulletin 258 Volume 19 No1 January 2009

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Occasional Papers 3 No1: Snakes and Ladders

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Bulletin 242 Volume 17 No9 January 2005

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Bulletin 236 Volume 17 No3 July 2003

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Treasure No 69: A Few Thoughts on Hymn Writing

Treasure No 69: A Few Thoughts on Hymn Writing by Alison Robertson: An article from Bulletin 235, April 2003 (This article was originally written as guidance for potential contributors to the Church of Scotland hymn-book now in preparation.) ymn writing is a real challenge, requiring a great deal of practice, because there are so many considerations to be dealt with …

Bulletin 235 Volume 17 No2 April 2003

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Bulletin 222 Volume 16 No1 January 2000

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Bulletin 222 Volume 16 No1 January 2000

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Bulletin 215 Volume 15 No6 April 1998

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Bulletin 206 Volume 14 No9 January 1996

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Bulletin 174 Volume 12 No1 January 1988

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Treasure No 43: Genesis of a Hymn

Treasure No 43: Genesis of a Hymn by Brian Wren: An article from Bulletin 143, Autumn 1978 ow do hymns get written? Readers may find it interesting to eavesdrop on the process of composition of one particular hymn—or is it a song? Stage 1: Inspiration While I was thinking of a friend’s experience of bereavement, the following four lines came, …

Treasure No 42: The Hymn Today

Treasure No 42: The Hymn Today: An article from Bulletin 138, Winter 1977 Under this title a symposium was presented at the Society’s Conference at Norwich last year. Here we print the substance of what each speaker said on that occasion (or, more accurately, what he would have said had time allowed). i. The Challenge of the Words by Brian …

Bulletin 120 Volume 7 No06 January 1971

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

2 weeks ago

We are looking forward to "seeing" you all at our first Virtual Conference which will run on Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th November. Please join us from 11.00 - 12.00 on all three days – or even for just one or two! Each session will consist of our usual Short Metre presentations of 10 minutes (familiar to those who attend our annual Conferences), with plenty of time for you all to contribute to the discussion via the chat. The subjects covered will, in the true spirit of The Hymn Society, be wide ranging. Andrew Pratt and Anne Harrison will be talking about contemporary hymn writers and Alison Robertson will be introducing her own hymns. Two anniversaries will be celebrated with Martin Leckebusch discussing the work of James Montgomery (the 250th anniversary of his birth in 1771). Janet Wootton will be talking about the legacy of "Amazing Grace", next year (2022) being the 250th anniversary of the year in which it was written. Gillian Warson will look at how hymns are used in the children's novels of the "pioneer child" Laura Ingalls Wilder.All you have to do is settle down with a cup of coffee and join in with the discussion. Please register you interest here: hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/resources/short-metre-2021/ so that we can send you a reminder nearer the time.The event is free to attend, but a donation of £7.00 will be used to finance bursary places at future conferences. ... See MoreSee Less

Short Metre 2021

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

2 weeks ago

Ahead of Cop26 - shared with the author's permission.CREATION SONG(or ‘SONG FOR PLANET EARTH’)Tune: Hyfrydol 87 87 D1. Thank you, God, for all creation,sun and moon and stars above;fertile earth and mighty ocean,rushing wind and gentle dove;burning flame and cooling water,breath of God that gives us life;rainbow colours painting nature,filling senses with delight.2. As your people, we are stewardsof this world which you have made.But our lack of constant caringmay become the price we’ve paid.For its beauty and your creaturesmay not now survive our greed,if we cannot work togetherin this hour of nature’s need.3. As your oceans are pollutedand your icecaps melt away.As our selfish need for progresscauses chaos in its sway.When the breath of God is poisonedand your forests are laid bare;we destroy all nature’s balanceand the creatures in our care.4. Holy Spirit, move among usas you did at Pentecost.Fill us with a new desireto redeem what may be lost.Give us minds to see more clearlyall the changes we must make,so your creatures may still flourishand your planet re-awake.5. Let your people stand togetheras we speak a common tongue:words of caring and commitment -‘Let us make your kingdom come’.For creation’s heart is groaningand the time is ‘now’, not ‘when’.Time for action and for healing,let all people sing ‘Amen’.Text © Jan Brind 2003, 2010(from ‘Creative Ideas for Whole Church Family Worship’ – Jan Brind and Tessa Wilkinson published by Canterbury Press 2011) ... See MoreSee Less

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

1 month ago

A glimpse of another era... The all-male choir and pupils of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, sing some of the 'big' Public School hymns and choral anthems in their impressive chapel, back in 1965.Apart from what might be considered a few eccentricities (relating to the period), this must be some of the clearest, most tuneful singing from such an institution that I know.In particular, the sound engineers have done well to let us hear the mighty, west-end Hill, Norman and Beard (1933) in a greatly resonant acoustic, without it overpowering the singers. ... See MoreSee Less

Songs of Praise 1965

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RHS songs of praise 1965

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

3 months ago

We end the month as we began with a reflection by Gordon Giles; this reflection is on 'Jerusalem the Golden, with milk and honey blest' to the tune: EWING. "One of the Bible’s most enduring visions of heaven is of a new Jerusalem: a city of God, in which the hustle and bustle of the saintly population is focussed on the praise of an ever present God, reigning on high..." hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/2021/07/jerusalem-the-golden-with-milk-and-honey-blest-gordon-giles/ ... See MoreSee Less

Jerusalem the Golden, with milk and honey blest: Gordon Giles

hymnsocietygbi.org.uk

Jerusalem the Golden, with milk and honey blest ‘Urbs Sion aurea’ from Hora novissima, Bernard of Cluny 12th century and Hymns A & M editors 1861 Public Domain Tune: EWING adapted from a tune by...

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

3 months ago

Day 30, our penultimate reflection, is by Andrew Pratt on his hymn 'The song of the sea, once melodious, is dying' sung to the tune: STREETS OF LAREDO. This hymn, about conservation, was written whilst Andrew "was asked to be ‘hymn writer in residence’ for a series of seminars drawing together scientists and Christian faith." hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/2021/07/the-song-of-the-sea-once-melodious-is-dying-andrew-pratt/ ... See MoreSee Less

The song of the sea, once melodious, is dying: Andrew Pratt

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The song of the sea, once melodious, is dying Andrew Pratt (1948 - ) © 2021 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL...

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

3 months ago

Day 29 is by Gordon Taylor who's reflection is based on 'How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord' - ‘K’ in Rippon’s Selection (1787), sometimes attributed to Richard Keen (fl. 1787) to the tune: ST DENIO (Welsh melody, 19th century). "...it is unusual in that almost every line was originally printed in quotation marks, as if spoken directly by God." hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/2021/07/how-firm-a-foundation-ye-saints-of-the-lord-gordon-taylor/ ... See MoreSee Less

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord: Gordon Taylor

hymnsocietygbi.org.uk

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord ‘K’ in Rippon’s Selection (1787), sometimes attributed to Richard Keen (fl. 1787) Public Domain Tune: ST DENIO (Welsh melody, 19th century) Public Domain Gordon Taylor HOW...

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

3 months ago

Day 28 of our Hymn of the Day for July comes from Ian Sharp, reflecting on 'Jesus was passing through Jericho' by Alan Gaunt to his own tune: JERICHO SONG. "The author’s own note explains that this is ‘a song for all-age worship... Written to be sung, it could equally well be read aloud, as a passage of prose. (Try it!)" hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/2021/07/jesus-was-passing-through-jericho-ian-sharp/ ... See MoreSee Less

Jesus was passing through Jericho: Ian Sharp

hymnsocietygbi.org.uk

Jesus was passing through Jericho[1] Alan Gaunt (1935 - ) Tune: JERICHO SONG – A. Ian Sharp (1943 - ) Text and tune © Stainer & Bell Ltd, PO Box 110, 23 Gruneisen Road, LONDON...

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