There have been many comments about the hymns in Worship IV on this forum. I think that’s a good thing, as long as the discussions continue to remain intelligent and respectful, even if some folks perceive textual issues.
Now, how about a discussion about what people perceive as the POSITIVE text changes in Worship IV? Granted, some people who have participated thus far in discussions about Worship IV do not have access to the hymnal. But for those who do, what text changes from Worship III or other familiar hymnals seem to be an improvement in Worship IV, and why?
(A DISCLAIMER: Although I was on the Worship IV core committee to decide the book’s contents, I was not involved in the editing of the texts. So, this thread is not meant to elict personal gratuitous comments.)
Let me start with some of the more obvious text changes in Advent & Christmas season hymns that I think were positive contributions of the Worship IV text committee:
1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL), #386: Although the text is in English, as has been the case in GIA hymnals of recent years, the Latin refrain was added as an alternate (“Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel…”)
2. Sleepers, Wake (WACHET AUF), #409: The text by Carl Daw seems to me more poetic and richer than the one in Worship III.
3. Of the Father’s Love Begotten (DIVINUM MYSTERIUM), #415: Worship III had four stanzas, Worship IV has five (perhaps restoring one of the original stanzas?). For the last phrase, “Evermore and evermore,” an alternate Latin translation is included.
4. A Child Is Born in Bethlehem (PUER NATUS), #432: Worship III had four stanzas, all in English. Worship IV has seven stanzas (translated from the original source), and all seven stanzas are printed in both English and Latin.
5. What Star Is This (PUER NOBIS), #448: Worship III had four stanzas; Worship IV has five, restoring the third stanza.
6. The First Nowell (THE FIRST NOWELL), #449: Worship IV restores the text on the second half of the sixth stanza: “…Who made the heav’ns and earth of naught, And with his blood our life has bought.” A clearer connection to the Paschal Mystery.
7. We Three Kings (KINGS OF ORIENT), #452: The fifth stanza is now much more singable (“Glorious now behold him arise…”)
Any other positive changes folks want to mention?
Now, how about a discussion about what people perceive as the POSITIVE text changes in Worship IV? Granted, some people who have participated thus far in discussions about Worship IV do not have access to the hymnal. But for those who do, what text changes from Worship III or other familiar hymnals seem to be an improvement in Worship IV, and why?
(A DISCLAIMER: Although I was on the Worship IV core committee to decide the book’s contents, I was not involved in the editing of the texts. So, this thread is not meant to elict personal gratuitous comments.)
Let me start with some of the more obvious text changes in Advent & Christmas season hymns that I think were positive contributions of the Worship IV text committee:
1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL), #386: Although the text is in English, as has been the case in GIA hymnals of recent years, the Latin refrain was added as an alternate (“Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel…”)
2. Sleepers, Wake (WACHET AUF), #409: The text by Carl Daw seems to me more poetic and richer than the one in Worship III.
3. Of the Father’s Love Begotten (DIVINUM MYSTERIUM), #415: Worship III had four stanzas, Worship IV has five (perhaps restoring one of the original stanzas?). For the last phrase, “Evermore and evermore,” an alternate Latin translation is included.
4. A Child Is Born in Bethlehem (PUER NATUS), #432: Worship III had four stanzas, all in English. Worship IV has seven stanzas (translated from the original source), and all seven stanzas are printed in both English and Latin.
5. What Star Is This (PUER NOBIS), #448: Worship III had four stanzas; Worship IV has five, restoring the third stanza.
6. The First Nowell (THE FIRST NOWELL), #449: Worship IV restores the text on the second half of the sixth stanza: “…Who made the heav’ns and earth of naught, And with his blood our life has bought.” A clearer connection to the Paschal Mystery.
7. We Three Kings (KINGS OF ORIENT), #452: The fifth stanza is now much more singable (“Glorious now behold him arise…”)
Any other positive changes folks want to mention?