Best christian hymns & hymnals books according to redditors
We found 50 Reddit comments discussing the best christian hymns & hymnals books. We ranked the 25 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 50 Reddit comments discussing the best christian hymns & hymnals books. We ranked the 25 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
I'd recommend picking up a The Book of Psalms for Worship. Most hymnals are pretty bad. My elders have about 20% of the hymnal (that the church already had before the Pastor came) that they've approved for use in services, and we pretend the rest isn't there. When you get a Psalter, you know that all the songs will be sound, because it's the Bible set to music.
If you must have a hymnal, the Trinity Hymnal is a classic. If you prefer the original, Presbyterian edition of the Trinity Hymnal, find that here.
The doctrine of the Trinity has very serious implications for human life and relationship. The idea of person assumes a communal and relational existence. I recommend reading Being As Communion by John Zizioulas. It's heavy, but a very very good resource on this topic.
EDIT
You can read a good deal of it here: http://books.google.com/books?id=l4yaKM9SRQ8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=being+as+communion&source=bl&ots=bHc_2oLKNr&sig=9KDCIFVWW724DCdWaR9XPCrLBJs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lZIFUJ3SL-Hg2AWJsr2zBQ&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
The introduction should tackle a few of those questions.
In my opinion, North American Reformed Hymnody reached it's apex with the grey Psalter Hymnal. It's got everything you'd want:
Seriously, go grab a copy. Other options you might want to consider in addition to the Psalter Hymnal (not instead!):
If you are Pentecostal, I'd reccomend that you read the poetry of St. Symeon the New Theologian as it is some of the most chrismatic Orthodox texts out there, although he is actually from the hieght of the Byzantine Empire and not the 1st century.
>Come, true light. Come, eternal life. Come, hidden mystery. Come, nameless treasure. come, ineffable reality. Come, incomprehensible face. Come, everlasting exultation. Come, unfading light. come, trusty expectation of all who are going to be saved. Come, awakening of those who sleep. Come, resurrection of the dead. Come, Might One who always creates, who re-creates and who transforms all things by his will alone. Come, invisible and untouchable, and in every way intangible. Come, You Who always remain immutable, and Who at every hour are wholly altered, and are coming to us who lie in hell, You Who are above the heavens. Come, most beloved name repeated again and again, a name entirely forbidden for us to speak or to know the very person You are, the kind of quality. Come, eternal joy. Come, imperishable crown. Come, purple of our great God and King. Come, crystalline cincture set with gems. Come, unapproachable sandal. Come, royal purple robe and truly autocratic right hand! Come, You Who separated me from everyone and made me alone on the Earth. Come, You Who have become desire itself in me and Who made me desire You, the utterly unapproachable one. Come, my breath and my life. Come consolation of my dejected soul. Come, my joy, and glory, and endless luxury.
>
>I think You because You have become one spirit with me, unmixing, unmoved, immutable God over all things, and because You yourself have become the all in all for me, utterly inexpressible food, and utterly without expense, food that is endlessly overflowing the lips of my soul , and gushing out in the fountain of my heart, garment flashing forth and burning up the demons, purification through incorruptible and holy tears that wash me out, tears that You give freely to those who You visit. I thank You because You have become an unfading light and an unsetting sun to me, You Who have nowhere to hide, Who fill the universe with your glory. For You have never been midden from anyone, but we always hide ourselves from You, not wishing to come to You. For where would You hide, You Who nowhere have a place of rest? Why would You hide? You Who never turn away anyone at all, and You do not turn from anyone of them. And so now Master, dwell in me and inhabit me, and remain continually, and inseparably in me you slave, until my death, Good One, so that I also may be found both in my departure and after my departure in You, Good One, and I shall reign with You, God over all things!
>
>Remain, Master, and let me not be alone, so that when my enemies come, always seeking to devour my soul, when the find You remaining in me, they shall flee entirely, and shall have no strength against me, when they see you Who are more powerful than everything , seated within the home of my humbled soul. Verily Master, When You remembered me, when I was in the world of my ignorance, and You yourself picked me out, and separated me for the world, and set me before the face of your glory. So now also keep within, always standing upright and immovable in your dwelling with me. So that watching You continually, I the corpse may live; and holding You, I, a poor hired man, will always be rich, even richer than all kings; and eating and drinking You, and every hour being vested wit You, I will be reveling in unspeakable holy things. For You are every good, and every glory, and every enjoyment, and to You glory is fitting, You the Holy, Consubstantial and life-giving Trinity. The Trinity in Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit venerated, and proclaimed, and worshiped and served by all the faithful now, and always forever and ever. Amen.
>
>- St. Symeon the New Theologian - The Mystical Prayer.
This book is a collection of 56 other poems like this with many of them being longer.
https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Eros-Theologian-Popular-Patristics/dp/0881413496
In my teenaged years, I spent my summers in rural Texas, where I had to put some effort to finding pianos for practice. Tiny Baptist churches were usually a safe bet for hosting some sort of piano-like machine, often with many working keys. One of those churches was full of shape-note hymnals, some of them this 1956 edition. It was a remote part of the world.
You'll want to get a missal. This one has all the weekday and Sunday readings.
If you only want Sundays, here's a cheaper option.
I have the an older 3-vol St Joseph Missal, which has the Sunday readings in one volume and then the 2-year cycle of weekdays in two volumes. It's the old translation of the Mass, the 2nd edition. The ones above are the new one for the 3rd edition.
The Prolog from Ohrid - daily account of a hero of the Christian faith, together with some challenging spiritual meat to meditate on for the day. It was collected by Nikolai Velimirovich, a Serbian bishop, Nazi concentration camp survivor, and poet.
It's also online here.
I'm glade to hear that and I'm sure that isn't a coincidence. If you like poetry, I'd really recommend this book.
https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Eros-Theologian-Popular-Patristics/dp/0881413496
Here is the first poem,
>Come, true light. Come, eternal life. Come, hidden mystery. Come, nameless treasure. come, ineffable reality. Come, incomprehensible face. Come, everlasting exultation. Come, unfading light. come, trusty expectation of all who are going to be saved. Come, awakening of those who sleep. Come, resurrection of the dead. Come, Might One who always creates, who re-creates and who transforms all things by his will alone. Come, invisible and untouchable, and in every way intangible. Come, You Who always remain immutable, and Who at every hour are wholly altered, and are coming to us who lie in hell, You Who are above the heavens. Come, most beloved name repeated again and again, a name entirely forbidden for us to speak or to know the very person You are, the kind or quality. Come, eternal joy. Come, imperishable crown. Come, purple of our great God and King. Come, crystalline cincture set with gems. Come, unapproachable sandal. Come, royal purple robe and truly autocratic right hand! Come, You Who separated me from everyone and made me alone on the Earth. Come, You Who have become desire itself in me and Who made me desire You, the utterly unapproachable one. Come, my breath and my life. Come consolation of my dejected soul. Come, my joy, and glory, and endless luxury.
>
>I thank You because You have become one spirit with me, unmixing, unmoved, immutable God over all things, and because You yourself have become the all in all for me, utterly inexpressible food, and utterly without expense, food that is endlessly overflowing the lips of my soul , and gushing out in the fountain of my heart, garment flashing forth and burning up the demons, purification through incorruptible and holy tears that wash me out, tears that You give freely to those who You visit. I thank You because You have become an unfading light and an unsetting sun to me, You Who have nowhere to hide, Who fill the universe with your glory. For You have never been hidden from anyone, but we always hide ourselves from You, not wishing to come to You. For where would You hide, You Who nowhere have a place of rest? Why would You hide? You Who never turn away anyone at all, and You do not turn from anyone of them. And so now Master, dwell in me and inhabit me, and remain continually, and inseparably in me you slave, until my death, Good One, so that I also may be found both in my departure and after my departure in You, Good One, and I shall reign with You, God over all things!
>
>Remain, Master, and let me not be alone, so that when my enemies come, always seeking to devour my soul, when they find You remaining in me, they shall flee entirely, and shall have no strength against me, when they see you Who are more powerful than everything , seated within the home of my humbled soul. Verily Master, When You remembered me, when I was in the world of my ignorance, and You yourself picked me out, and separated me for the world, and set me before the face of your glory. So now also keep within, always standing upright and immovable in your dwelling with me. So that watching You continually, I the corpse may live; and holding You, I, a poor hired man, will always be rich, even richer than all kings; and eating and drinking You, and every hour being vested wit You, I will be reveling in unspeakable holy things. For You are every good, and every glory, and every enjoyment, and to You glory is fitting, You the Holy, Consubstantial and life-giving Trinity. The Trinity in Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit venerated, and proclaimed, and worshiped and served by all the faithful now, and always forever and ever. Amen.
>
>- St. Symeon the New Theologian - The Mystical Prayer.
He has about 55 other hymns like this if you are interested. The St. Vladimir's printing of it includes all of the biblical citations (which I left out) in the hymns as well which is great for illuminating biblical imagery.
I think Pope Francis is sincere, but I also think that it is more complicated than merely "doing what is needed to heal the breach." The Schism is as much about people as it is about theology. Human beings and the relationships between them are complicated at the best of times. The self-understanding of these two communities has been distinct for so long that it is easier to argue than to find common ground. There are currently "Byzantine" Churches in communion with Rome and it hasn't worked out terribly well for a lot of them (though there have been bright spots).
If I might be so bold, the "liberal" people (I don't like that word, but I don't have another one) in both camps can hardly see the point in being separate, though they would like to change things in both their Churches in other ways that would make them unrecognizable. The challenge is to have the "conservative" people satisfied with the process and expected result of re-approachment, enough to establish common cause between them. A traditional Catholic has to see that the Orthodox showing up won't force them to budge on things that they are fighting with progressives in their own Church about. The same with the Orthodox. The famous resistor of "false union" Bishop Mark of Ephesus doesn't just appeal to those seeking to preserve the Orthodox faith, but also traditionally committed Catholics.
And what happens if the Catholics are willing to compromise on a great many things, but the Orthodox get difficult on some point? Would not the Catholics feel abused? "We've come all this way and it hurts us and you still won't give up on point 9?" This has been the problem with the Miaphysites. It looks like all the theological issues have been resolved, but we seem to be left with Saints and Anathemas on both sides that have rooted the problem beyond reconciliation. We seem to be "right there" except we have beloved saints on both sides that effectively said, "you can never go there." What do we do with these saints? How do we understand them?
As for something to read. There are several books depending on your interest in using big words. :)
Lossky would be the heavy weight: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mystical-Theology-Eastern-Church/dp/0913836311/
Though I much prefer Zizioulas, more approachable and puts apophatic theology in balance: http://www.amazon.com/Being-Communion-Personhood-Contemporary-Theologians/dp/0881410292/
Of course Bishop Timothy Ware's book is the usual "internet standard recommendation: http://www.amazon.com/The-Orthodox-Way-Kallistos-Ware/dp/0913836583/
If you want something very approachable (almost no technical terms) and a little more "what does this mean" you might try an introduction to sacramental theology in general: http://www.amazon.com/For-Life-World-Sacraments-Orthodoxy/dp/0913836087/
And probably the least "theological" but I think this is both my wife and my favorite: http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Water-Wine-Oil-Experience/dp/1888212918/
Just this week I heard a podcast on some of the background of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and of the author (Julia Ward Howe) in an interview with the author of a new book called "A Fiery Gospel". He says that this seemingly Christian hymn uses Biblical imagery to conflate the righteousness of God and those he uses to do his will with the American military (and more specifically in her time, the Union Army). Even the "of the Republic" in the title implies that.
He also claims that her Unitarian beliefs would have led her to rejected every aspect of the Apostles Creed making her quite un-Christian.
https://www.amazon.com/Fiery-Gospel-Republic-Righteous-Religion/dp/150173641
https://tomwoods.com/ep-1405-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-and-american-righteousness/
I am reading Logic by Gordon Clark, Top 10 Wonderful Stories Behind Christian Hymns and I wanto to get Calvin's Institutes but its way to expensive for me now :(
Here's what I was recommended when I wanted to learn how to sight read:
In both of these, the pieces are pretty easy - not a lot of note changes, not at all technically demanding. However, there are multiple voices in each piece, which is important - sight reading intervals is an important skill.
The point is there's a ton of material in these - Bach's book has 371 pieces, and the hymnal has over 400. This eliminates the task of having to find pieces to sight-read.
You go through these pieces slowly, not with the intent of learning them, but just sight reading them. If you make a mistake, you're supposed to keep going, and always focus on keeping the tempo (even if it's slow).
You might also want to take a look at some books that are specifically aimed at teaching you sight reading, like this one:
There are a bunch of exercises on that one that attempt to teach you each meter, rhythm, triplet pattern, etc. in isolation. May be worthwhile, but the first two should suffice.
You know, I would actually recommend you go on amazon and buy yourself a couple of hymnals. There are a lot of them floating around and you'll learn tons of hymns from them. The one I've always been used to singing from in church is the Blue Psalter Hymnal. There's a newer gray edition but the older blue one is the one I know and love. It has hymns dating from the Reformation to the early 20th century.
Well, I guess it would really depend on what tradition you come from, but coming from the SBC tradition and Missionary Baptist churches, I like a lot of the songs in the Heavenly Highway Hymns, The Heavenly Highway Hymnal (Second Edition), and The Church Hymnal for your general low church Hymnal. I don't like the whole "Mother" section in their topical indexes, but I do like the rest of the songs. For High Church or your "First Baptist", "First Presbyterian", etc. or even for use in Low Churches I like The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration or The Baptist Hymnal. These hymnals feature responsive readings, with the Hymnal for Worship and Celebration containing an extensive topical index and the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, and a Contemporary or Modern Creed for use in service. One of my personal favorites, while it's extremely old, and you're lucky if you can find one, is the Northfield Hymnal. There's a lot of good old songs there, and it features a nice little topical index.
Edit: While I'm not very familiar with it, another which comes to mind is The Celebration Hymnal. It seems to be another favorite in High Church, or your "First 'insert denomination' Church" churches.
This one? I've never heard of it, but it looks very much like what I'm looking for. Does it have only morning and evening prayer? The description leads me to think so, but it isn't very detailed.
I enjoyed Being as Communion by John Zizioulas when I read it a few years ago.
The Trinity Hymnal is hard to beat.
https://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Hymnal-Cover-Great-Commission/dp/0934688605
The OPC and URCNA are soon completing a joint project on a revised Trinity Psalter-Hymnal. Keep an eye out for it, I think it'll be a tremendous resource for reformed believers.
I used The Worshiping Church, which you could get right now for under $3.00 on Amazon. It says there are 845 hymns but musically there is probably closer to 500 (there's a lot of text without music).
https://www.amazon.com/Worshiping-Church-Donald-P-Hustad/dp/0916642437
Sorry you didn't get a reply on here, but generally buying a piano book for someone else as a gift, while a nice thought, probably isn't the best gift unless you know exactly what they want to play. Pianists, especially those who have been playing for awhile, generally know what songs they want to play and have a list of songs they want to play next. Buying a pianist a book that doesn't contain those songs is pretty much just asking for it to go untouched for a long time.
That being said, if you were to ask her what songs she wants to learn next you could google that song and find what book has it and just buy that one.
If you want to keep it a secret from her, I would say buying another Mark Hayes or Dan Forrest book is probably your best bet as she is more likely to play a piece in one of those. Before you just go and buy one of those I would take a look at what books she already owns so you know you aren't getting one that she already owns. If those are at the church and you have no way of looking at them I found a book at the intermediate level by Mark Hayes: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Hayes-Intermediate-Pianist-Settings/dp/0893282324
And an advanced level by Dan Forrest:
https://www.amazon.com/My-Fathers-World-Advanced-Piano/dp/B006SLEGDW
You would probably want to pick the advanced one because it is more likely for her to have played intermediate pieces than advanced ones.
Finally, you can't go wrong with the best of books as they collect their most popular songs. That being said it is far more likely she has these.
Mark Hayes best of volume 2 (less likely to have this one than the first): https://www.amazon.com/Best-Mark-Hayes-2/dp/1592352391/ref=asc_df_1592352391/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=266058510895&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2167868115390079040&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019572&hvtargid=pla-599332514364&psc=1
Couldn't find one for Dan though.
Finally, after everything I said - I can say that while a piano book potentially might not be the best gift because it might never get played. It's the thought that counts and i'm sure she would appreciate your interest in her love for piano more than anything an actual gift can give.