Review of Hymns Ancient and Modern

Heart publications

I thoroughly enjoyed thumbing through my copy of this hymn supplement.  Fred Coleman has provided a wonderful service for the church at large.  This collection of modern and ancient hymns is written in 4 part hymn format and is accessible for any congregation.  Included are some hard-to-find hymn arrangements like O the Deep, Deep Love.   Fred Coleman also provides a valuable contribution for churches in his introduction to the supplement. He writes in a humble tone and highlights the necessity of congregational singing and that it is "the best musical venue for accomplishing the purposes of gathered Christian worship." The major benefit in the preface is the logical connection of modern hymns to the historic hymns of the church.

Review of Singing and Making Music: Issues in Church Music Today

Singing And Making Music: Issues in Church Music Today by Paul S. Jones

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book was difficult to rate. Paul Jones is clearly qualified as a church musician because of his experience as the lead musician at the 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. His interaction with men like James Montgomery Boice also add to his ability to converse on the theology of worship. Jones writes for both the layman and the accomplished musician. And so, depending on your level of expertise, the relevance will be evidently clear. That being said, his discussion of the theology of corporate worship and song are accessible to all. The section on Composers and Composition might be a bit technical for those not trained classically, but it is readable. For those who are interested in writing new hymns, he offers some excellent advice in how to do this. The book will be provocative for those who gravitate toward's gratification in worship. Jones reminds us that "Worship is not about us, but about the Almighty." This is a must read for those who are starting to re-evaluate their music philosophy, have a desire for a theological framework, or want to consider some corollary issues related to worship in general. I would rate the theological sections as five stars and the technical sections as three stars.



View all my reviews