Songs in the Desert (songsinthedesert.org) is a collaborative conversation about Christian hymns which comes out every weekday in Lent.
Each episode is around five minutes and comes from a different contributor.
This was the final week of the project for this year, and I am so deeply grateful to everyone who submitted episodes and who listened to the podcast.
This week, we heard episodes on
- The Feast of St. Joseph - David Ouzts, Minister of Music and Liturgy at Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, Tenn., on "By the Creator, Joseph was appointed," a hymn specifically included for the Feast of St. Joseph in the Hymnal 1982.
- Tuesday - Alec Peters, a member of West Raliegh Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, N.C., on "What wondrous love is this".
- Wednesday - Suzanne Daniel, Organist and Choir Director at Grace, Yorktown, Va., on "A stable lamp is lighted".
- Thursday - The Rev. Ian Lasch, Associate Rector at St. Peter's, St. Louis, Mo. and co-host of the podcast "All Things Rite & Musical", on "Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle".
- Friday - Westley Hodges, Director of Music at the Annunciation of Our Lady, Gurnee, Ill. and co-editor of Church Music Forward, on "Now let us rise and hymn the grace".
If you would, please take two minutes to complete our Songs in the Desert listener survey. We'd love to know what you've thought of this project.
Many have asked what's next for Songs in the Desert. Based on the positive response and strong interest in our Lent 2018 podcast, we are definitely planning to return next Lent. But we're open to other ideas (and assistance!) too! Get in touch via the survey, or just email David Sinden at dsinden@gmail.com
Labels: Hymnal 1982, Lent, Songs in the Desert
Songs in the Desert (songsinthedesert.org) is a collaborative conversation about Christian hymns which comes out every weekday in Lent.
A friend recently commented on an episode this week "This is the first one of these I listened to. Are they all this good?" The answer, of course, is yes!
Each episode is around five minutes and comes from a different contributor. As we get further into Lent, I have more appreciation for the variety of voices and perspectives in this project.
This week, we heard episodes on
- Monday - a throwback episode to one of the first episodes in this project from its short run in 2017. Abby Schoppe from Boston talks about the fabulous hymn "How shall I sing that majesty" sung to COE FEN.
- Tuesday - The Rev. Loren Lasch, Youth Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, on "I come with joy to meet my Lord".
- Wednesday - Jonathan Wessler, Minister of Music at the First Lutheran Church in Boston, on "Lord, thee I love with all my heart".
- Thursday - Scott Elsholz, Director of Music at the Catholic Church of the Nativity in Bartlett, Tenn. on "Just as I am".
- Friday - David Kurtenbach, freelance singer and chorister trainer at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco on the carol "The Crown of Roses".
Labels: hymns, Songs in the Desert
Songs in the Desert (songsinthedesert.org) is a collaborative conversation about Christian hymns which comes out every weekday in Lent.
Each episode is around five minutes and comes from a different contributor.
This week, we heard episodes for
- Monday - Jillian Smith, the director of Deaconess Anne House, a branch of the Episcopal Service Corps in St. Louis Missouri, on "Come, thou fount of every blessing"
- Tuesday - Michael Kurth, who this very morning is being ordained to the transitional diaconate in the Episcopal Church, on "My song is love unknown"
- Wednesday - Yotin Tiewtrakul, choirmaster at the Anglican Church of St. Thomas Becket in Hamburg, Germany on "Of the Father's heart begotten".
- Thursday - Mary Davenport Davis, digital communications manager at Trinity, Boston on "I bind unto myself today".
- Friday - The Rev. Gary Schultz, kantor at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Terre Haute, Indiana on "A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth".
Labels: hymns, Songs in the Desert
Songs in the Desert (songsinthedesert.org) is a collaborative conversation about Christian hymns which comes out every weekday in Lent.
Each episode is around five minutes and comes from a different contributor.
This week, we heard episodes for
- Monday in the Second Week of Lent - Andrew Klein, a choral singer from Minneapolis, on 'Ar hyd y nos'.
- George Herbert, Priest, 1633 - Jessica Nelson, the organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew' Cathedral, Jackson, Miss. on the Herbert poem "Love bade me welcome", which she thinks should exist in a hymn setting for congregational use. An intriguing possibility!
- Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent - Michael Monnikendam, the director of music at St. Stephen's, Seattle, on another Herbert hymn: "King of glory, King of peace" to the tune 'General Seminary'
- David, Bishop of Menevia, Wales, c. 544 - Meg Carter, who lives in Oakland, Calif. and works in humanitarian aid, on Welsh hymn signing and "Watchman, tell us of the night"
- Friday in the Second Week of Lent - the Rev. Jennifer Deaton, canon for pastoral care at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Jackson, Miss. on a change in the way she hears the words of the hymn "Peace before us" after the Parkland school shooting on Ash Wednesday.
Labels: hymns, Songs in the Desert
Dear friends,
I want to start talking about Lent. Yes, already!
Seems early, doesn't it? But here's what I'm thinking:
It was only in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday 2017 that I decided to attempt to compile a collaborative Lenten devotional on hymns.
We called it Songs in the Desert, and the project was such a big success last year that I want to re-imagine this project for 2018.
This year, with more lead time, I want to ask for more submissions to create another collaborative podcast that would serve as a Lenten reflection around hymns.
I could see that there was tremendous interest in what we were doing, and I thought that with a little more notice we could sustain the project for the full season of Lent.
Who: You! If you're reading this, you should probably just go ahead and sign up. If you submitted a reflection last year, I hope you'll submit again.
When: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018. Hey, that's Valentine's Day! (More on this in a minute.) Beginning on Ash Wednesday I'd like to have reflections to send out for every weekday before Palm Sunday.
What: A short reflection on a hymn. It can be any hymn you want. Because Ash Wednesday is Valentine's Day, I thought it would fun if the theme was "Love" (but is that too cheesy?). Did you know the word "love" appears 867 times in hymns of the Hymnal 1982?. You can address this theme any way you want. If your chosen hymn is about God it's probably about love (because God is love, right?).
How:
- STEP 1: If you're interested, I hope you'll sign up for a reflection here: Songs in the Desert 2018. (If you have any trouble with the sign-up thingamajig just send me an email at dsinden@gmail.com)
- STEP 2: Send me a reflection (at dsinden@gmail.com. Submissions may be written text or audio. If written, I, or another member of the project, will read it aloud. Audio files may be recorded on whatever you have available (even the voice memo on your smartphone can work). Submissions should be no more than 600 words, or five minutes long.
Where: I'll post updates on the project on this blog and at Sinden.org/hymns. The podcast is still live on iTunes, so new episodes will start showing up there too.
Why: Because it will be fun! Because hearing each other's stories about hymns changes the way we sing, hear, and pray them. Because Lent is a great time to examine our faith, and a close reading of hymns can help us do just that.
Thanks for your interest in this year's Songs in the Desert project, and I hope you'll sign up to submit a reflection in 2018!
Songs in the Desert is a Sinden Production of Anglican Media (SPAM)
Labels: hymns, Lent, Songs in the Desert
On this Earth Day, we invite you to listen to a reflection about the hymn "For the fruit of all creation".
This reflection comes from Martha Burford and is part of Songs in the Desert which is available as a podcast.
This project began as a Lenten devotion, but the consensus seems to be that it should continue! Stay tuned for future episodes, or learn how to submit your own at sinden.org/hymns.
Saturday in Easter Week We thank thee, heavenly Father, for that thous hast delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and hast brought us into the kingdom of thy Son; and we pray that, as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to joys eternal; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Joy in God's Creation O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Labels: science and nature, Songs in the Desert
This is an episode of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 9 - Hymn 424: "For the fruit of all creation" (mp3)
Subscribe to the Songs in the Desert podcast.
Today's episode comes from Martha Burford of St. John's, Richmond, Va. and St. Catherine's School, Richmond.
Martha recorded herself by using the voice memo app on her smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
Music includes "Reflections," by Lee Rosevere, distributed under a Creative Commons license.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage. Submissions are still being accepted!
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Hymn 424, Songs in the Desert
This is an episode of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 8 - Hymn 469: "There's a wideness in God's mercy" (mp3)
Subscribe to the Songs in the Desert podcast.
Today's episode comes from Michelle Walker of St. Paul's, Richmond, Va.
Many thanks to Michelle who submitted a written reflection to the project, proving that you don't have to record yourself talking if you really don't want to!
The remaining spots in the project are being filled, so if you're still considering adding your own reflection to the project, don't delay! Visit sinden.org/hymns for details.
Like Episode 4, this episode also features that standout from the Hymnal 1982, Calvin Hampton's hymn tune ST HELENA sung to the words "There's a wideness in God's mercy".
Music used is "Going Home" and "Reflections," both by Lee Rosevere, distributed under a Creative Commons license.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage. Submissions are still being accepted!
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Calvin Hampton, Hymn 469, Songs in the Desert, St Paul's (Richmond)
This is part of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 7 - "Here is love, vast as the ocean" (mp3)
Subscribe to the Songs in the Desert podcast.
Today's episode comes from Matthew Mazzoni, Music Director at Central Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Mo.
Matthew recorded himself by using the voice memo app on his smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
The thing about this hymn, as Matthew says in the episode, is that "it's probably not in your hymnal."
1 Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood, when the Prince of Life, our ransom, shed for us his precious blood. Who his love will not remember? Who can cease to sing his praise? He can never be forgotten throughout heaven's eternal days. 2 On the mount of crucifixion fountains opened deep and wide; through the floodgates of God's mercy flowed a vast and gracious tide. Grace and love, like mighty rivers, poured incessant from above, and heaven's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love.
William Rees (1802–1883)
Explore "Here is love, vast as the ocean" a bit more at hymnary.org, and do note the "appearance of this hymn in hymnals" chart(!).
Music in this episode was performed by Matthew Mazzoni.
Additional music used is "Reflections" by Lee Rosevere, distributed under a Creative Commons license.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage. Submissions are still being accepted!
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Songs in the Desert
Today we are issuing an invitation to participate in Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
It's not too late to contribute your own thoughts to the project! Visit sinden.org/hymns for more information on how to submit an audio (or written) reflection.
Listen to the invitation:
An invitation to contribute (mp3)
Subscribe to the Songs in the Desert podcast.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage. Submissions are still being accepted!
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Songs in the Desert
This is part of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 6 - Hymn 686: "Come, thou fount of every blessing" (mp3)
Subscribe to the Songs in the Desert podcast.
Today's episode comes from John-Westley Hodges, Director of Music Ministries, St. Paul's, Peoria, Ill., and Co-Founder of Church Music Forward.
John-Westley recorded himself by using the voice memo app on his smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
Music in this episode was performed by John-Westley Hodges.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage. Submissions are still being accepted!
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Hymn 686, Songs in the Desert
Thanks to popular demand from our many listeners, you can now subscribe to Songs in the Desert as a podcast in iTunes!
Labels: Songs in the Desert
This is part of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 5 - Hymn 226: "Come, thou Holy Spirit bright" (mp3)
Today's episode comes from the Rev. Ian Lasch, Associate Rector for Formation and Fellowship, St. Peter's, St. Louis.
Ian recorded himself by using the voice memo app on his smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage. Submissions are still being accepted!
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Hymn 226, Songs in the Desert
This is part of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 4 - Hymn 469: "There's a wideness in God's mercy" (mp3)
Today's episode comes from Robert Richter, Director of Music & Organist, St. Christopher's, Carmel, Ind.
Robert recorded himself by using the voice memo app on his smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
The recording of the hymn, courtesy of Mr. Richter, was made at Christ Church, Bronxville, N.Y., directed by Christopher Wells, with Mr. Richter at the organ.
This episode was edited by Robert Richter.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage.
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Calvin Hampton, Christ Church (Bronxville NY), Hymn 469, Songs in the Desert
This is part of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 3 - Coe Fen: "How shall I sing that majesty" (mp3)
Today's episode comes from Abby Schoppe, Music Director at Faith Lutheran Church, Andover, Mass.
Her chosen hymn, paired with the tune COE FEN, can be found in the English hymnal Common Praise (2000) at Hymn 466.
Abby recorded herself by using the voice memo app on her smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
The music is from a recording a service at St. Peter's, St. Louis.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage.
Generally hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982, but this episode is different because this hymn is not included in that or any other American hymnal that we know of.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Coe Fen, Songs in the Desert
This is part of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 2 - Hymn 696: "By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered" (mp3)
Today's episode comes from Jessica Nelson, Organist & Director of Music at All Saints, Tupelo, Miss.
Jessica recorded herself by using the voice memo app on her smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
The music is provided by Jessica at the piano, with additional piano music recorded in the choir room of St. Peter's, St. Louis.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage.
Hymn numbers refer to the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Bonhoeffer, Hymn 696, Songs in the Desert
This is the first episode of Songs in the Desert, a collaborative audio project designed to explore the words and music of Christian hymnody and our responses to them.
Listen:
Ep 1 - Hymn 324: "Let all mortal flesh keep silence" (mp3)
Today's episode comes from Mary Davenport Davis, Minister for Youth and Social Media at Trinity Church, Boston.
Mary recorded herself by using the voice memo app on her smartphone. (Hint: you can do this too!)
The music in this episode comes from a live recording of Hymn 324 from St. Peter's, St. Louis.
Special thanks to Jason Sims for naming this project.
Songs in the Desert began during the season of Lent 2017. You can read more about the project and learn how to submit your own reflection about any hymn you want at the Songs in the Desert homepage.
Thank you for listening.
Labels: Hymn 324, Songs in the Desert
So many people think that Lent is about giving something up rather than taking something on to go deeper into the faith.
I have so many wonderful, thoughtful readers of this blog. I wonder if you might be willing to team up to create an online Lenten devotional? I was thinking especially about hymns.
This can really take any form you want. I don't have any guidelines, but here are some thoughts to get you started.
Here's the plan: use the voice memo app on your phone to record a thought or two about your chosen hymn and send it to me at dsinden@gmail.com
- What's your favorite hymn, and why?
- What do you wish other people knew about this hymn?
- what words do you think we should notice?
- what's a hymn that you really like, or find interesting, that not many people know about
- in a hymn that has fallen out of favor (e.g. "Onward Christian soldiers") what have we lost by not singing it?
- what hymn makes you weep?
- what hymn makes you laugh?
- if there is a particular passage that speaks to you, feel free to read that as part of your recording
Finally, don't forget to say who you are, where you live, and what you do so we can add that in.
You can speak informally, or write out a script first. It doesn't matter to me. You can talk for as long as you like, but I'll probably edit it down to about 2-3 minutes or so.
My plan is to edit these together with some music and then push them out during Lent.
Labels: hymns, Songs in the Desert
©MMXVII Sinden.org: a site for fun and prophet