Advice for transitioning to a new hymnal/missal
  • ian_udell
    Posts: 16
    I was wondering whether I should make the move to the Source and Summit Missal or OCP's Heritage Missal. I was going transition either one by using just the Readings version of both before actually switching to the hymnal. Currently we use GIA's Saint Augustine Hymnal in which I do not use half of the hymns. To give a bit of background, before I became music director they were like a "I Am the Bread of Life" and "On Eagle's Wings" parish. Then when she left, I got hired to sing the Latin chant propers at daily mass and I moved to the traditional hymns (metered hymns) at Sunday Masses with chant and polyphony on high feast days.

    And so I guess I am looking for people with either Heritage Missal or the Source and Summit Missal to tell me what they like/don't like about it. I requested a sample copy of the S&S Missal and I really liked how I would actually be able to use every hymn and I wondered if the HM would be the same.

    Any advice/input is welcome.
    Thanked by 1RC_Liturgy_Music
  • RC_Liturgy_Music
    Posts: 22
    Hello, Ian!

    Both the S&S and HM are good choices, but we feel they serve different purposes.

    OCP's Heritage Missal is 62% traditional (hymns, chant), 38% mainstream (with music like "I Am the Bread of Life" and "On Eagle's Wings"), and 0% contemporary (drum set, rock, praise and worship style).

    This is a better make up than the St. Augustine Hymnal (which is published by ILP), which is 60% contemporary/mainstream and 40% traditional.

    S&S is a great option that contains a plethora of hymns and chant. If you are looking to fully and quickly embrace this style, S&S is a great choice. It probably aligns best with your vision of chant, polyphony, and hymns.

    HM is also a great choice, but we view it as more of a transitional resource in your case. That is, it has a great amount of hymns and chant, but also contains the very best of the "classics" from the last 60 years that people feel very attached to (like the songs you mentioned). So in that way, this missal could be a good transition: it embraces a clear change while still containing the songs that your predecessor used to use.

    Overall, it depends on your approach (and we see value in both): a quick fast change or a more gradual change.

    BTW - we did want to mention that there is no readings only version of HM - try today's missal instead if you are looking for readings only.

    Hope this helps!
    RC Liturgy and Service Music
    Thanked by 1irishtenor
  • Dr_Haze
    Posts: 26
    My Parish switched to Source & Summit, and immediately my life and work as a Music Director became much easier. We have the printed missals in our pews, but the online planning platform is outstanding. Saves a lot of time. It makes liturgical planning easier with the ability to plan masses months in advance. I use it to plan weekend masses and School Masses where I'm also the music teacher. The optional chant based antiphons are all beautifully rendered by Adam Bartlett, and quite accessible. The platform allows you to easily import hymns from other sources to either print Ordos or allow parishioners to access them on their devices with a link. It's also very easy to create custom Ordos for Weddings, Funerals and other Masses for Various Needs and Occasions. There is a publisher feature on the platform that allows the design of programs/worship aids. Also very easy to use. The Ordos are also interactive. Cantors and Choral singers can access the link, hear their vocal lines to help them practice ahead of masses. Every monthly cantor schedule emailed to my singers also contain links to all the Ordos so they can see and hear the music days or weeks in advance of their scheduled mass.

    Example: https://app.sourceandsummit.com/share/d575a683-937a-4281-a7fd-537e3d187d29?choir

    We'll be entering our fourth year as subscribers, as we have the option of renewing on a yearly basis. The Hymns in Source and Summit are all in the public domain, time tested, traditional and universal. It's been a pleasure rediscovering many old hymns that some of Parishioners hadn't heard in decades. Plainchant isn't that difficult, and how the school children have quickly adapted to singing antiphons on a weekly basis is proof of that.

    Not everyone was pleased with this seemingly radical transition, and as with any major change to liturgical planning and music selections, it really takes a few years for the new format to take hold. For years our Parish was stuck in a lot of the muzak found in Gather, 3rd Edition (which still contained music by David Haas). Folks are still very attached to this music and are still voicing their opposition to the use of Antiphons and Chant because it sounds boring to them. So be prepared for that, because again, you can't please everybody.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen RC_Liturgy_Music
  • RC_Liturgy_Music
    Posts: 22
    @Dr_Haze, you make a great point with the online planning - we haven't used it, but we have heard great things about it!! Thanks for sharing the link - how cool! I suppose OCP's response would be Liturgy.com, but it seems S&S online planning is a step above by a lot!
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