One roadblock to printing your own parish hymnal removed.
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    I cannot bear the thought of creating a parish hymnal with melody only.

    I researched and found that the restriction to only printing SATB hymnals for your congregation (the licensing says that you may only print melody lines) is to prevent people (mainly Catholic, in my opinion) from thinking that they can print copies out of a hymnal for the organ and cantor and choir.

    However, if you ask, they will permit you to publish SATB for your congregation under their license as long as you have purchased the same music for your organist, cantors...and other musicians that play/sing.

    With the PBEH and a license from Onelicense.net, there is little that you cannot print.

    Using Createspace.com and doing your own layout and cover PDF's, you will be amazed at how little your own hymnal will cost.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,979
    I don't have any problem with melody only hymnals, since that is the type my congregation knows. SATB hymnals generally are available for a price, if you want them. Some call them choir hymnals, but for some reason they do seem to cost considerably more.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    for some reason they cost considerably more


    Three reasons:
    1. Sometimes Public Domain melodies have copyrighted harmonizations, for which royalties must be paid.
    2. SATB is four times as many notes (on twice as many staff lines), so there's often more to bulk print and ship.
    3. They can charge more, so they do.
    Thanked by 1Gavin
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,979
    3. And they certainly do. As much as $10. more per copy on one hymnal I examined for purchase.
  • Marc Cerisier
    Posts: 537
    It might not cost much initially, but a hymnal that isn't smyth-sewn isn't going to hold up in the pew very long...
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    Marc's right. There are some choices to deal with this.

    The first one is to buy extra copies and stockpile, which would raise the cost of the project. But Createspace.com locks in the price of your books and you may order 1 or 100 more at anytime, so you;d just order more from your account as needed.

    This beats the newsprint throwaway purveyors at their own game. Chuck out damaged one and replace. You are not chucking books out quarterly.

    You are also not investing in a hard bound hymnal that, due to its cost, shackles the next 4, 5 or even 10 music directors with your choice.

    You may also take the books to Staples and have sturdy covers and spiral binding for $4 each - making them last longer.

    Createspace.com also does hardbook binding.

    The idea here is that you get a smaller, handier book with just what you need. You have control. You are not imposing your choices on future music directors and have a much better chance of getting what you need for your parish today.
  • Priestboi
    Posts: 155
    What are your thoughts on digital hymnals?

    There was a thread a while ago about the evils of an OHP etc. on the santuary or the evils of disposable missallettes (not sure which) wherein I commented that a digital hymnal or a set service sheet could easily be provided through a USB or wireless link to an iPad/tablet - which seems to be becoming rather common place.

    Do you think the people in the pews would consider going digital, or are books (I still love the feel of holidng a hymnal) still necesary?

    Printing, licencing and all other miscelaneous costs would be negated - only issue is the installation of a network and that people remember there iPads/tablets...the other issue being that there may be a few who see this as another form of desposable media...just a futuristic moment...thoughts?
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    Not everyone would have an iPad or other device to bring, especially the people you most want to be there: strangers, visitors, and the poor.

    Not everyone who has one to bring will remember.

    Very few people with an open iPad are going to be able to resist the temptation to check their email and FB.

    Speaking as someone who designs and builds mobile and web apps- formatting for the handful of different sizes and resolutions of iOS devices alone is a major undertaking. Once you include Android tablets and phones of every shape and size... No way.

    Now...
    If you could somehow get a pew set of networked digital ink devices (like a Kindle), that were centrally controlled (so everyone is always on the same page) that might really be something....
    Thanked by 1Priestboi
  • GavinGavin
    Posts: 2,799
    Honest, non-leading question: is it desirable in Catholic worship that "everyone is always on the same page"?
    Thanked by 1Priestboi
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    In reference to a liturgy booklet/program/hymnal, etc... I would say yes.
    That is- it is desirable to me.

    At the least, it is highly undesirable that people be checking their email.
    Thanked by 1Priestboi
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    I recall a recent news article about a company in India vowing to create the $25 version of an iPad (loaded, not some BigLots Android knockoff) that they would then subsidize the distribution to virtually all interested in regions.
    As long as congregants armed with such followed church protocols, I think it'd be a virtual (pun) revolution. Lose paper, lose overheads, a tool that could download specific material for specific liturgical usages. Gotta dream it right.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    Also, BTW - licensing costs would not be negated. For works that require such payment, I imagine the same kind of licensing that applies to projection screens would be required.

    Not, you know, that it matters...
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