While wanting to share my opinion and ask my questions, I will attempt to do so without intending any insult to modern hymn-writers...
Historically (it appears to me) that hymn-writing has always been an act of prayer, praise, supplication, etc. It's the outcome of pouring our one's self to God; a process that is completely the fruit of the Holy Spirit, whereas we are the vehicle by which that Fire tangibly (and audibly) makes itself known to the world by and through our labors.
It seems to me that comoetitions, challenges, and "games" as well as any hymn writing that is forced is "anti-hymn-writing". While in this case, the hymn writer may very well be praying, invoking the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance, and so on, it none-the-less seems to fall into the particularly bad habit of what has coalesced over the last 60 years... that being functional music for functional music's sake... as opposed to hymn writing (and music composition) as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit through an individual for the greater expression of the glory and wonders of God in His Church. Truth, Beauty, Goodness, etc... I.E. perhaps good hymns take time, and even Greater Hymns take more time? But that's not quite what I'm thinking or proposing....
Now, of course we may remember that St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure were asked to both write hymns for the newly established Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Herein, should we understand that they were writing in "competition"? Perhaps... but I doubt that any of us would put ourselves on the levels of Great and Holy Saints of God such as these...
And of course, one can create beautiful "functional" music. Take, for example, the cantati of J.S. Bach. Beautiful pieces of music, based on a formulaic style of writing, that he expanded and added his artistry to to Glorify God in the Lutheran service... this is not all that different from hymn-writing, I believe...
I'm not "poo-pooing" hymn writing, and competitions, and games and such.... I just wanted to put this thought out there to begin a conversation around this topic matter...
Are they [the games/challenges] fruitful? I think yes. Can the fruits be beautiful and wonderful additions to our patrimony? They most certainly can be!
Of course, I am not a hymn-writer. That is not my place; those are not my gifts. Perhaps that is why I'm writing this...
Hymn Writers: what is your process? Do you approach hymn writing in the same way that Eastern Iconographers approach the creation of an authentic Icon? Or is it more of a functional process? How do you feel that your work is understood- creating beautiful, edifying texts for Mass, or just writing because you have to put out a hymn a week, a month, etc...
I'm genuinely curious.
Thanks for your time in reading this! I appreciate you, your service to the Lord, and your thoughts on this matter.
Historically (it appears to me) that hymn-writing has always been an act of prayer, praise, supplication, etc. It's the outcome of pouring our one's self to God; a process that is completely the fruit of the Holy Spirit, whereas we are the vehicle by which that Fire tangibly (and audibly) makes itself known to the world by and through our labors.
It seems to me that comoetitions, challenges, and "games" as well as any hymn writing that is forced is "anti-hymn-writing". While in this case, the hymn writer may very well be praying, invoking the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance, and so on, it none-the-less seems to fall into the particularly bad habit of what has coalesced over the last 60 years... that being functional music for functional music's sake... as opposed to hymn writing (and music composition) as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit through an individual for the greater expression of the glory and wonders of God in His Church. Truth, Beauty, Goodness, etc... I.E. perhaps good hymns take time, and even Greater Hymns take more time? But that's not quite what I'm thinking or proposing....
Now, of course we may remember that St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure were asked to both write hymns for the newly established Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Herein, should we understand that they were writing in "competition"? Perhaps... but I doubt that any of us would put ourselves on the levels of Great and Holy Saints of God such as these...
And of course, one can create beautiful "functional" music. Take, for example, the cantati of J.S. Bach. Beautiful pieces of music, based on a formulaic style of writing, that he expanded and added his artistry to to Glorify God in the Lutheran service... this is not all that different from hymn-writing, I believe...
I'm not "poo-pooing" hymn writing, and competitions, and games and such.... I just wanted to put this thought out there to begin a conversation around this topic matter...
Are they [the games/challenges] fruitful? I think yes. Can the fruits be beautiful and wonderful additions to our patrimony? They most certainly can be!
Of course, I am not a hymn-writer. That is not my place; those are not my gifts. Perhaps that is why I'm writing this...
Hymn Writers: what is your process? Do you approach hymn writing in the same way that Eastern Iconographers approach the creation of an authentic Icon? Or is it more of a functional process? How do you feel that your work is understood- creating beautiful, edifying texts for Mass, or just writing because you have to put out a hymn a week, a month, etc...
I'm genuinely curious.
Thanks for your time in reading this! I appreciate you, your service to the Lord, and your thoughts on this matter.