Center for Church Music

“There in God’s Garden….”

In this month’s issue of the Choral Journal there is a very engaging essay from Jennifer Hutton, a university choir director in Wisconsin. She essentially encourages choral conductors to take a singer-centered approach to music making, thinking of the choir as a garden of individuals with various personalities, a wide variety of needs and growth potential.

The image of the garden, of course, very much resonates with us as church musicians. The Scriptures are full of passages which describe God’s people as a planting within the world, one which he carefully and faithfully tends, usually nurturing but sometimes pruning.

                  As we approach yet another season, I am struck by how this image applies to whatever ensemble is before us. Like us, these volunteer musicians come to rehearsal with unique experiences, emotional and spiritual needs, and a longing for community, meaning, and hope. The strong voice of the Gospel and the power of sacred music equip us well in addressing those needs even as we come together in a common mission to vibrantly and effectively proclaim the Good News to God’s people and aid in the prayers, thanksgiving and faith formation of those in the pews and in the world.

                  What a difference this could make in our year if we see our volunteer musicians as God’s planting of his people among us, ready to blossom and to grow in proclamation of his praise. At the center of this planting stands a Tree---- the Cross of Christ--- our freedom and salvation.                 

Happy gardening!

Barry L. Bobb

Director, Center for Church Music

[Once again, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out Phillip Magness’s book Church Music and the Care of Souls. (Lexham Press, 2023) Highly recommended!]

Resource Room

• Books, magazines, recordings, the Schalk American Lutheran Hymnal Collection (541 volumes) and the ever-expanding archives of the original manuscripts of great American Lutheran composers & hymn writers.
• Liturgical Choir Music Library

Digital Initiative

• All of the volumes in the hymnal collection can be perused online at www.hymnary.org or from this website. See "Hymnal Collection Index."
• Many of the original manuscripts are accessible online at the Center’s website (including Manz, Schalk, Hillert, Pelz, Thoms, Busarow, Bouman and others...) See "Composer Manuscript Indices".

Website

• Devotions, interviews, profiles, essays, forums, ideas, an arts registry

Print publications

• Books and monographs in the Shaping American Lutheran Church Music series available through Amazon and Fortress Press

Encouragement of the next generation

• Hillert Award in Student Composition---open to any undergrad or graduate student at a Lutheran university or seminary in the United States
• Schalk Scholars
  • Creates awareness and access to current research in the areas of music and the arts
  • Provides stipends for research as well as publication and venues for presentations for these emerging scholars
  • Arts Registry
  • Contact information and samples from composers, visual artists, writers, designers, media artists.