The Hymnal 1982
The Hymnal 1982 is the hymnal of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is one in a series of 7 official hymnals of the Episcopal Church, including The Hymnal 1940. Unlike many Anglican churches (including the Church of England) the Episcopal Church requires that the words of hymns be from officially approved sources, making the official hymnals perhaps more important than their counterparts elsewhere. The Hymnal 1940 was originally compiled with input from the Joint Commission on Church Music of the Episcopal Church, which was founded in 1919. The Hymnal 1982 was put together based on the Joint Commission's work by the Standing Commission on Church Music. The Hymnal 1982 had a much expanded service music and chant section, which became necessary with the introduction of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.[1] The Hymnal 1982 was approved by both houses of General Convention, the governing body of the Episcopal Church, in 1982. It is published by The Church Pension Fund.[2]
In addition to the service music, The Hymnal 1982 has 720 hymns. It is strongly founded on congregational singing, and takes some beginning steps toward multiculturalism, including eight hymns based on spirituals, two on Ghanaian work songs,[3] two on Chinese hymns, two on "Amerindian" songs, one Hispanic American song, and one by a Mexican composer.[4]
The Hymnal quotes a canon (Canon 24, Section 1), giving the final authority over the music used in services to the minister.[5]
Use in other countries
Because the Episcopal Church in the Philippines was a former missionary district of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, the former still retains a lot of the character of the latter. Since the ECP was only granted Full Provincehood on 1 May 1990, it is still undergoing processes that makes its own identity apart from the ECUSA. Until now, the ECP still uses this hymnal along with The Hymnal 1940 and the so-called ECP Trial Hymnal.
See also
- Carl P. Daw Jr. - Executive Director of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.
- Venantius Fortunatus
- Randall Giles
- List of English-language hymnals by denomination
Sources
- Nicholas Temperley. "Anglican and Episcopalian church music", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed December 17, 2006), grovemusic.com (subscription access).
- The Hymnal 1982 ISBN 0-89869-120-6