The CRC Synod of 1973 decided to make copies of the songs proposed for addition to the Psalter Hymnal available for denominational use and evaluation. The churches are invited to send their reactions to the Committee no later than February 1, 1975 with a view to approval or disapproval by the Synod of 1975. Reactions are to be sent to the Secretary of the Committee, Mrs. Marie Post, 2105 E. Shiawasseee. S. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this article Dr. Leonard Greenway, pastor of the Riverside en Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, makes observations on some of the songs proposed. Copies of the Psalter Hymnal Supplement may be ordered from the Board of Publications of the CRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave., S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508.
The Centennial Edition of the Psalter Hymnal, used in the Christian Reformed Church, contains a “Statement of Principle for Music in the Church” (see Edition of 1959, p. v). The Principle declares that “the music of the Church should be appropriate for worship.” Two subdivisions are added to this statement:
1. The music of the church should be liturgical – In spirit, form, and content it must be a positive expression of Scripturally religious thought and feeling. It should serve the ministry of the Word.
2. The music of the church should be beautiful – Its religious thought or spirit should be embodied appropriately in the poetry as poetry, in the music as music, and in the blending of these in song. It should satisfy the aesthetic laws of balance, unity, variety, harmony, design, rhythm, restraint, and fitness which are the conditions of all art.
The long-awaited Psalter Hymnal Supplement is now available, and it is only natural that we evaluate its songs in the light of the above Principle. Many of us had hoped that this proposed new addition to our present Psalter Hymnal would serve us well in providing an enlarged selection of songs for congregational singing in our churches. During the coffee breaks and also at meal times at last year‘s Synod I heard many delegates express the desire for the inclusion of old time favorites not now found in our denominational song book. I recall several conversations around the tables when questions like the following were asked: “Why can’t we have some of those good old songs along with more recent compositions that are musically tasteful and doctrinally sound?” The song services and the hymn sings were particularly mentioned as areas where we could profit from a larger supply of songs including choruses our children love to sing.
It now appears—at least to this writer—that our expectations will not be fulfilled. The 63 songs in the Psalter Hymnal Supplement, with few exceptions, are disappointing. Many of them are unsingable by the average congregation, and the guitar arrangements do not reduce the difficulty. I can see the people closing their books in bewilderment after an initial struggle with such songs as 9, 15, 20, 32, 51, 59,62.
The committee was mandated by Synod to provide a more extensive range of music and song and to keep in mind the wide variety of musical taste and experience. There was nothing wrong with the mandate and it certainly was timely. We do not question the sincerity of the committee, nor do we belittle their efforts in seeking to carry out the mandate. But there is a limit to what you can legitimately pour into the cry, “Sing to the Lord a new song.” Not all new songs are singable by a congregation with mixed musical capabilities and appreciation. And certainly the newness of a song does not necessarily qualify it for congregational usage.
Moreover, I am disturbed by the strange mixture of kingdoms in song number 50 which is entitled “God of Concrete.” Here are the four stanzas:
1. God of concrete, God of steel, God of piston and of wheel God of pylon, God of steam, God of girder and of beam, God of atom, God of mine, All the world of power is Thine!
2. Lord of cable, Lord of rail, Lord of motorway and mail, Lord of rocket, Lord of flight, Lord of soaring satellite, Lord of lightning’s livid line, All the world of speed is Thine!
3. Lord of science, Lord of art, God of map and graph and chart, Lord of physics and research, Word of Bible, faith of Church, Lord of sequence and design, All the world of truth is Thine!
4. God whose glory fills the earth, Gave the universe its birth, Loosed the Christ with Easter’s might, Saves the world from evils blight, Claims mankind by grace divine, All the world of love is Thine!
What disturbs me most of all is the communion hymns, “Let us Break Bread Together” (No. 29), the third stanza of which has these words, “Let us bow ‘round the altar . . . .” Where do we have an “altar” in our Reformed churches? Where in the Nave is the area where we bow or genuflect? That third stanza is most un-Reformed! We have no altar before which we bow. We broke away from that unscriptural practice in the Protestant Reformation. I cannot understand why the committee included that song for communion. And I am puzzled, too, by what is meant in the first stanza, “Let us break bread together on our knees.” When and where do we have this “knee” ceremony?
In the light of the Statement of Principle in the Centennial Edition of our Psalter Hymnal, it is my candid opinion, respectfully submitted, that most of the songs in the new Supplement leave much to be desired and are not to be recommended to our churchcs.
Let me now add two postscripts:
1. It is worthy of note that the Statement of Principle mentioned above received commendation from church musicians of many denominations. The president of the Chicago Chapter of the American Guild of Organists called it “the most beautiful statement on church music available.” Several church music conferences used it as their motif.
2. Of a more general nature, Jet me make this remark regarding current trends and innovations in worship. We are seeking to minister to a rising generation that has taken a mouthful of NOW and is choking on it. “Groovy” has been substituted for good! Standards of evaluation are pretty much limited to popularity. We do well to heed the word of caution by Dr. Henry E. Horn in his excellent book, Worship in Crisis (Fortress Press, 1972), “No one can predict where the present currents in worship will take us, but there is no excuse if those at the tiller do not attempt to steer” (p. vi).