New hymns/songs

[docgnorris]

Most of the arrangements for the new hymns/songs being released are for the piano. Are we supposed to just try our best to adapt them when playing the organ? Or are we going to be moving toward playing the piano in the chapels instead of the organ?

[jdlessley]

Moderator note: This thread was split from a previous nine year old thread discussing a different topic.

[russellhltn]

What songs are you looking at? Some of the Hymns in the music app, like 1004 "I Will Walk with Jesus" has some pretty long sustains that I wouldn't think would be piano friendly.

I do notice other style differences. A number of them don't seem to be written for 4-part choirs. (They also don't specify that it should be in unison or not.) They also list the chord names which I'd think would make them more friendly to other instruments, like guitar.

[tobynixon]

There are several songs in similar style in the 1985 Hymnbook that we love to use in sacrament meeting, such as "Love One Another", "Because I Have Been Given Much", "Families Can Be Together Forever", and "Teach Me to Walk in the Light", which work OK on the organ. As for new hymns, we've used "When the Savior Comes Again", "I Will Walk With Jesus", and "His Eye Is on the Sparrow", in sacrament meeting; it went extremely well, and our organist adapted them just fine. Haven't tried "Gethsamane" yet, just because we haven't had an appropriate occasion, and I'm a bit concerned about the congregation following the structure (the D.S. al Coda especially).

[sbradshaw]

Here are the relevant quotes from the General Handbook:

19.3.2: The piano, organ, or another instrument approved by the bishopric may be used to accompany hymn singing in sacrament meeting.

19.3.6: Live instruments are normally used for prelude and postlude music and for hymn accompaniment in Church meetings. Where they are available and where members can play them, organs and pianos are the standard instruments. Bishoprics may approve the use of other instruments to accompany congregational singing, for prelude and postlude music, and in other musical selections.
…
If a piano, organ, or accompanist is not available, recordings may be used.

There's no preference for organ over piano or vice versa. If you're comfortable on both, I think it makes sense to switch between them depending on the style of the song.

[billscott]

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing has been in the Hungarian hymnbook for some time. On my mission I played the piano in the branch assigned to. I notice the new English version Hymn 1001 has a slightly different arrangement, mostly in the left hand. While muscle memory makes it harder to adapt, i was wondering what led to the changes as it seems a touch more awkward in this version.

[Fyrewyrrm]

My LDS Unit has one of the Kawai CN 43 - LDS Digital Pianos. Will the new hymns be made available to download into this digital piano at some point?

[tumkin]

New subject: “Joy to the World” was originally written as follows: Joy to the world, the Lord WILL come!” - as noted in “ The Second Coming of the Lord” by Gerald Lund, page 332. Would the Church music committee consider changing Joy to the World back to the text’s author, Isaac Watts,’ original wording- “Will” Come —since this hymn is clearly about the Second Coming of Christ. I imagine Pres. Nelson might potentially be in favor of this with his emphasis on our all preparing for our Lord and Savior’s return.

[rmrichesjr]

New subject: “Joy to the World” was originally written as follows: Joy to the world, the Lord WILL come!” - as noted in “ The Second Coming of the Lord” by Gerald Lund, page 332. Would the Church music committee consider changing Joy to the World back to the text’s author, Isaac Watts,’ original wording- “Will” Come —since this hymn is clearly about the Second Coming of Christ. I imagine Pres. Nelson might potentially be in favor of this with his emphasis on our all preparing for our Lord and Savior’s return.

[Edit: Please see the next post for a more complete answer.]

The current/green hymn book says the text was altered by William W. Phelps. I had always figured the change in that word was to bear witness of the First Vision--that the Lord _HAS_ come again as part of the sequence of visits and other events that lead up to the big event. At least one other change seems to be of a similar character: "saints and angels" instead of "heaven and nature".

[sbradshaw]

The original words were "Joy to the World; the Lord is come" – see Psalms of David Imitated, page 253, published by Isaac Watts in 1719. The hymn was written as an advent hymn that looks forward to the second coming, but the word "is" wasn't changed to "will" until William W. Phelps published his adapted version in The Evening and the Morning Star, December 1832. It was changed back to "is," probably to hold familiarity with the broader Christian community, in our 1985 hymnal (the current hymnal). Several of William W. Phelp's other adjustments were kept in 1985, such as "saints and angels," and the full fourth verse that starts with "Rejoice! rejoice! in the Most High." It will be interesting to see what additional changes, if any, will be in the new hymnal.

Be sure to send feedback through the Sacred Music app or website if you have suggestions!