A Box from GIA!
Quick Summaries are pithy paragraph-long reviews
of releases that cross our LBR desk.
These are reviews for when you don't have all day
to decide whether a resource is worth
your time, money, storage space, or trouble.
Hawn, C. Michael, editor. Forewords by Carlton R. Young. Foreword by Mary Louise Bringle. Preface by Brian Hehn. Sing with Understanding: Introduction to Theology in Christian Congregational Song (Third Edition). Chicago: GIA Publications, 2022. 488 Pages. Paper with extensive online resources. $34.95. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/sing-with-understanding-third-edition-book-g10721
Webber, Christopher L. Songs of Justice, Peace, and Love: The Sharon Hymnal. Chicago: World Library Publications, 2022. 266 Pages. Spiral. $29.95. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/songs-of-justice-peace-and-love-print-003434
Mann, Robert C. The Church Sings Its Faith. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2022. 237 Pages. Paper. $29.95. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/the-congregation-sings-book-g10646
Foster, Valeria A. Tell the World: Spirituals and Gospel Songs. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2022. 34 Pages. Stapled. $9.00. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/valeria-foster-collection-print-g10666
Moreau, Basil. Faithful Echoes: Hymns by Basil Moreau. World Library Publications, 2022. 84 Pages. Spiral. $19.95. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/faithful-echoes-print-g10422
Miller, Barbara Day, Author and Text Editor. Carlton R. Young, Music Editor. Foreword by Mary Louise Bringle. Amen. Alleluia! A Resource for Praying Farewell. GIA Publications, 2022. 171 Pages. Paper. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/amen-alleluia-leaders-edition-book-g10662
Tate, Paul A. Seasons of Grace, Volume 7. Chicago: GIA, 2017. Sheet music: $21.95. Audio CD: $16.95. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/seasons-of-grace-volume-7-print-g9491
Fisher, Bobby. Guitar Prayer: Arrangements of Familiar Hymns and Songs for Solo Guitar and C Instrument. Chicago: GIA, 2005. Spiral book with CD $29.95. C Instrument Part $15.00. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/guitar-prayer-print-g6645
Batastini, Robert J. The People Sing: A Blueprint for Developing Vibrant Congregational Song. GIA Publications, 2022. 123 Pages. Paper. $10.95. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/the-people-sing-book-g10668
If you're overwhelmed by the list of resources above, think how thrilled, stunned, honored, and happily buried we were last November when a large box of unsolicited review copy books, CDs, and sheet music arrived from Chicago and our friends at GIA. Other items followed by our request or when they became newly available.
We will exercise this option for:
We previously received and reviewed this title:
Tate, Paul A. Seasons of Grace, Volume 6. Chicago: GIA, 2015. Sheet music: $21.95. Audio CD: $16.95. https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/seasons-of-grace-volume-6-print-g8983
Our invoice mentioned People Sing, but we have yet to see that title.
+ Sing with Understanding is substantive. The paperback is huge, but users also gain access to an even more massive online archive of references, indices, supplements, and pedagogical resources. The main text will have something for everyone across denominational lines, and some areas of honest disagreement. It was most helpful to me when it defined terms (like hymn) and gave focused background to hymns and hymnals dear to me as a Lutheran. The treatment of metrical psalms is helpful, as is its overview of congregational song, noting from historical and denominational distinctives. I appreciated the 1995 version, too. If you do not already have the companion to your denominational hymnal resource, consider this as a budget substitute. Recommended.
+/ Songs of Justice, Peace, and Love: The Sharon Hymnal had some hymns of interest to me (twelve), yet some areas of concern. I bristle at the mention of "Christian unity," because of the lack of substance of the modern ecumenical movement and when I hear "social justice" because so many who overuse the term are overtly political in a left/socialist bent. I welcome unity in the mind and Word of Christ and of true, Biblical justice. Equal opportunity appears to be the most realistic goal in this life. The most serviceable texts for my context are "Breath of God's Own Being" set to JESU MEINE FREUDE, "John Who Was Baptizing," "Matthias Was a Witness," No One Is Righteous," The Shepherds Watching in the Fields, and "The Word of God." Copyright use is possible through OneLicense.
+ The Church Sings Its Faith is a helpful resource for better understanding congregational song, especially hymns. Mann takes the time to carefully describe different eras of hymnody by geography and chronology. I marked no fewer than nine insights of interest to me that I have previously been unable to find in other resources. The Evaluation of New Hymnody pages (210-221) was insightful. Recommended.
+/ Tell the World: Spirituals and Gospel Songs has some familiar texts set to new arrangements. Of the twelve, two would be recognizable to my congregation, though more could be shared by our choir in time. The four-part harmonies are approachable and authentic.
/ Faithful Echoes: Hymns by Basil Moreau is very Roman Catholic. That means the texts will have minimal use in a typical Lutheran congregation. I was most drawn to "Come, Christians, Tell with Triumph Song" and "Our God Has Won the Victory."
/- Amen. Alleluia! A Resource for Praying Farewell is eclectic. That is its strength and its weakness. I have to disagree with the syncretistic advice on page xii. Use of Kaddish by Christians could rightly be seen as offensive to Jews and Christians (89). Use of apocryphal texts (e.g. 100) can be problematic apart from proper interpretation. I commend the author/compiler for two inclusions in particular: A Prayer Service When a Funeral Is Delayed (24ff), which meets a real contemporary need, and prayers for the loss of a child before birth (80), prayers which provide peace and comfort in a devastating life moment.
+ Tate's Seasons of Grace, Volumes 7 and 8 continues a series we have greatly appreciated and used. These arrangements are fairly described as of medium difficulty. Recordings demonstrate recommended tempos. Users of Lutheran Service Book will find preludes for LSB 643, Sent Forth by God's Blessing (7:2), LSB 878, Abide with Me (7:3), LSB 368, Angels We Have Heard on High (7: 14), LSB 807, When Morning Gilds the Skies (8:1), LSB 554, O Jesus, King Most Wonderful and LSB 709, The King of Love My Shepherd Is (8:3), and LSB 673, Jerusalem, My Happy Home (8:5). A number of arrangements are original, not tied to any extant melody. Recommended.
+ Guitar Prayer: Arrangements of Familiar Hymns and Songs for Solo Guitar and C Instrument was one of the resources we requested to see, and we are glad we did! The recording allowed me to assess arrangements quickly. Some sound quite timeless. I could imagine other instruments substituting (through transposition) for the flute. Even a piano/guitar duet would be possible. Hymn tunes included span most major seasons of the Church Year and provide for general use, too. I found most tunes in Guitar Prayer in Lutheran Service Book: 728, 738, 861, 507, 362, 405, 441, 370, 444, 846, 848, 849, 749, 744, 638, 543, 700, 821, 851, 860, and 940. This is church music arranged for guitar, not guitar music for the church. Recommended.
+ Batastini's The People Sing: A Blueprint for Developing Vibrant Congregational Song has much to offer a Lutheran congregation. We will occasionally disagree, since this is written for a primarily Roman audience (e.g., 71, 92). His desired outcome, "strong, vibrant, grace-filled congregational song" (17) is good, and the author sets his readers up for success by recommending cooperation, intentionality, integrity, practice, and participation.
We thank GIA for the opportunity to catch up on releases from their wider catalog. More information about each of these titles may be found on the publisher's website, linked at the top of this review.
Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster Emeritus and Instructor of Liberal Arts at Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, First Vice-President of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Rhetoric Teacher for Wittenberg Academy, a regent for Luther Classical College, a Director for Steadfast Lutherans and Associate Editor of Curriculum for Steadfast Press, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman, District Evangelism Chairman, District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and District Secretary. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the LSB Hymnal Companion hymn and liturgy volumes, and is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church. He is an occasional guest on KFUO radio. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. Rev. Cain is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, and making music.
