Which comes first, the words or the music?
Well… yes. Like the chicken and the egg, a hymnwriter can go either way.
Words First
For me, writing a new hymn often begins with an idea for the words (aka text or lyrics). Perhaps some situation in my life or in the world around me suggests a musical parable. Perhaps my Holy GhostWriter prods me to explore a particular Bible passage or theological concept. Perhaps a hymn-writing competition specifies a theme or occasion to write about. Perhaps an intriguing turn of phrase begs to be rhymed and set to music.
Ideally, while I’m writing the words a good tune bubbles to the surface of my memory or imagination. If my verses have a commonly used meter (pattern of syllables per line), I might pick a suitable tune from the metrical index in the dog-eared back pages of my hymnal. Otherwise, a scrounge through the archives of public domain hymn tunes (and maybe a tweak or two to the existing notes) may be necessary to get the right musical setting.
Come chat about my music, my ministry, my writing, my plans for world domination … well, maybe not that one … at the 2018 Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival in beautiful Norwich, New York. The festival runs the whole weekend after Labor Day, but you can find me Sunday, September 9 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Literary Arts Tent outside Guernsey Memorial Library (3 Court Street).
New bookmarks are on the way, to hand out at my book table. Do you like the design? If they arrive in time, I’ll add tassels in various colors for an extra spiffy touch.
2018 opened on a high note, with a song fest celebrating the launch of my new collection of hymns and faith songs. Harpursville United Methodist Church in Harpursville, New York, hosted the event on January 20.
