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.
406 here.
ReplyDeleteBoth 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.
ReplyDeleteWe'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.
ReplyDeleteUsing LSB #405. Sorry, boys. Agree with Iggy though. I'd put my money on #406.
ReplyDeleteWe 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!
ReplyDeleteWe'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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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
'Twould be nice if we sang either. Working on broadening the repertoire here.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
406 for chief, 405 for closing hymn.
ReplyDelete406. 407 seemed like a clanging cymbal to my ear . . .
ReplyDelete#406 here in SD.
ReplyDelete#405, 06/07 not know - but would take 06 over 07 - both seem equally difficult.
ReplyDeleteNeither of those at my parish: neither tune is known by the people. So we are using LSB 405 as the Hymn of the Day.
ReplyDeleteFor 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteA cantor (Jonathan) sang verses 1, 3, 5 tonight while the congregation sang the rest. Went quite well, I believe.
ReplyDeleteThis year I am giving them a break... LSB 404 is HOD and 405 a Distribution Hymn... No 406/407...
ReplyDelete406.
ReplyDeleteElvet 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.
We used #407 in Kitchener, Ontario.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
We used #406 last night - about 30 people singing, with me plunking it out on the piano. Went fine.
ReplyDelete#406 was a complete disaster. It'll be #405 next year.
ReplyDeleteOne 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!
ReplyDeleteA prerequisite for a choir is people who sing. I don't have those.
ReplyDeleteThat would pose a problem. :(
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteAnother 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.