08 January 2010

A Question

How many folks are using LSB #406 as the Hymn of the Day this coming Sunday; how many #407? I have not been persuaded that the new tune is any easier than Luther's original tune, and I wonder what others are doing. We will be using the old tune (406) this year, because the preservice music will be Buxtehude's prelude upon it.

23 comments:

Rev. Thomas C. Messer, SSP said...

406 here.

IggyAntiochus said...

Both tunes are outside the scope of my current congregation. That being said, if we are going to endeavor to learn something new, it will be 406. The alternate tune isn't any more singable, if you ask me.

Rev. Charles Lehmann said...

We're using 406. Considered using Hymn 405 instead, but I think my people can handle 406. 407 seemed gads more difficult when Jen and I tried it out.

WM Cwirla said...

Using LSB #405. Sorry, boys. Agree with Iggy though. I'd put my money on #406.

Angela said...

We usually do #407; we do DS setting five at least once a month, and use LSB #824, with the same tune, for the post-communion hymn. We are fortunate as a campus ministry (www.stpaulic.com) to have several pastors' children in our congregation, and many music majors as well - those kids can sing anything!

Anonymous said...

We'll be using 407 for the fourth time since January 2008. (Besides the hymn of the day on the Baptism of our Lord we also used it 28 September 2008). We've sung LSB 824 nine times since March of 2007.

The folks in my congregation weren't familiar with either of the German melodies, but have picked up Elvet Banks quite nicely. I think the first time I asked the choir to use it in rehearsal so at least a handful of people in the pew would know it and be able to help introduce it.

Whichever tune one uses, what a blessing to have the congregation singing Luther's hymns.

Pr. John Rutz

Tapani Simojoki said...

'Twould be nice if we sang either. Working on broadening the repertoire here.

I like 407, though would agree that it's not straightforward. I do wonder whether to the modern ear it better reflects the mood of the text.

Matt Carver (Matthaeus Glyptes) said...

406 for chief, 405 for closing hymn.

+ Robert Wurst said...

406. 407 seemed like a clanging cymbal to my ear . . .

Rev. Karl Gregory said...

#406 here in SD.

Anonymous said...

#405, 06/07 not know - but would take 06 over 07 - both seem equally difficult.

Rev. Luke T. Zimmerman said...

Neither of those at my parish: neither tune is known by the people. So we are using LSB 405 as the Hymn of the Day.

For this Epiphanytide 2010, the people are learning/mastering LSB 401 & 402. (One or both will be sung at nearly every Divine Service through Transfiguration Sunday....FEB 14 for us 3-year Lutherans.) Perhaps 406/407 might get in the rotation in a couple of years.

Christopher Esget said...

Neither! Jesus among the Doctors of the Law for us (Traditional 1st Sunday after Epiphany, Luke 2.41-52), with LSB 410, "Within the Father's House." We'll observe the Baptism of Our Lord on January 13.

William Weedon said...

A cantor (Jonathan) sang verses 1, 3, 5 tonight while the congregation sang the rest. Went quite well, I believe.

Pastor Peters said...

This year I am giving them a break... LSB 404 is HOD and 405 a Distribution Hymn... No 406/407...

Susan said...

406.

Elvet Banks doesn't seem any easier than the original. I enjoy both Elvet Banks and the original for "May God Bestow on Us His Grace." But the message of stanza 6 of Luther's baptism hymn just really really clashes with the tune of Elvet Banks! Just try singing 407:6 and see how incongruous it is.

Anonymous said...

We used #407 in Kitchener, Ontario.

I'm surprised that support for #406 is so strong, especially on "singability" grounds. I would have thought that #407 would be the winner there. It doesn't have the changing rhythms that #406 has.

Susan makes a very good point about verse 6. As organist I did what I could to choose registration for that verse accordingly, but still #407v6 is hard to pull off convincingly.

Christopher Esget said...

We used #406 last night - about 30 people singing, with me plunking it out on the piano. Went fine.

Rev. Charles Lehmann said...

#406 was a complete disaster. It'll be #405 next year.

Christopher Esget said...

One thing I like to do is introduce a new hymn with the choir singing the first few stanzas, and also hammering it out during Bible class. Don't give up, Pr. Lehmann!

Rev. Charles Lehmann said...

A prerequisite for a choir is people who sing. I don't have those.

Christopher Esget said...

That would pose a problem. :(

IggyAntiochus said...

I usually play this type of hymn for prelude if it is outside the scope of the congregation. Nothing fancy, in this case, straight from the hymnal gives the congregation the best idea of the tune. We get to at least hear the tune that way.

Another option is during the offering, with a note in the bulletin that the organist is playing Hymn 406 if people would like to look at words that accompany it.