I have a copy, so does my parish. I've used it a few times (since I'm such a fan of hymnody). It does contain some "modified" texts, though. It doesn't hold a candle to "The Hymnal 1940" for either its musical or Catholic content. It doesn't waste paper, though, on "G&P" schlock. It is really about hymns.
Ask any Anglican friend. They will have a copy in their library.
It was superceded by our new Hymnal which has much smaller print and harder to read in the dim light of a Vesper service. LOL
Donna
I suspect that this is the renewal from 1968 (28 years from publication), meaning that this is lock up until we are all dead.The ICEL Resource Collection was published into the public domain, which is rather amazing. The first I've heard of this was yesterday. Obviously, getting it online is the step 1.
As I alluded to, H-'40 is like a "stealth" Catholic hymnal. Faber and Caswall are not acknowledged as Fr. or even Rev. But their hymns are there. The "office hymns" are indexed by their Latin incipits as hymn-tune names. The accompaniments are simple and flow nicely (though maybe not as modal as "Nova Organi Harmonia").
If we Anglophone Catholics could only have a "grandfather" clause on the previously authorized English texts of the Ordinary, the H-'40 would be an incredible source for sung Masses. There have also been many, many "Communion Service" pieces written in the USA, GB, and Australia that could be used also. The only problem I can see in it, is that GIA, OCP, etc. composers would have a bunch of (mostly) dead composers to compete with!
Really, any good organist should have a copy, even in only for reference, of "The Hymnal 1940".
I am finalizing a project that will combine public domain hymns with hymns of today's writers and composer who are willing to share their works under Creative Commons.
All of the music will be online for download.
An entire hymnal will be available for download.
A sample hymnal is complete and went through the second editing just last night and a proof copy is being shipped to me.
You will be able to pick and choose and build a hymnal with just the music your congregation needs.
It is all free.
We have this set up so that if you want a hymnal but do not want to do the production work of getting it printed we will do that and we will be paid from production fees for that.
Otherwise eveything is free.
There is a great wealth of music out there that can be sung in the Catholic Church, an amazing amount of it now sung in the Protestant Church that they have claimed that actually was first published in Catholic hymnals and is truly Catholic in theology.
The 1940 hymnal contains much music. The sample hymnal delves into that fine hymnal.
Someone asked how one can determine if a hymn, its music and text, is public domain. There are ways to do a search, but most go to major hymnals, such as the Episcopal 1982, and check the copyright information there and then cross reference other major hymnals. That's the most practical way, since they have copyright departments that study this and they are scrupulous in the work.
If you want to have a look at a sample hymnal and understand that this is in the final proofing status, you may got to www.thecatholichymnal.com and, if you do find errors or anything you question, drop us an email, it would be appreciated.
[note that Be Thou My Vision is included...the current text is under copyright, but this uses a new versification from the original source which is being distributed by the author on www.cpdl.org - we, too, have been scrupulous]
This is wonderful but as I understand your terms of use, a pastor would not be able to bind it and sell it to parishioners or choir members. Is that what you intend to prevent?
The ICEL collection sounds like a great idea, in theory, billing itself as a collection of hymns in the public domain. But hang on a moment before you head for the photocopier - there is a notice at the front of the collection warning that the engravings of these public domain hymns are still copyrighted!
I've had the "loose" version of the ICEL Recourse Collection for years. Right now it's buried away somewhere in unopened boxes of books and stuff from when I moved here a few years ago.
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