Hymns and Psalms have a unique way of connecting Christians through time, joining saints in songs of praise, lament and instruction. However, in the past century, hymn-singing in many churches has cheapened and waned, and sometimes been shunned altogether. This abandonment of robust church hymnody has led to many contemporary Christians lacking depth and breadth in their musical expression.
In these talks, Michael Owens, an experienced hymnal editor, will teach us how to better appreciate the beauty of lesser-known and sometimes complex hymns, using a recent hymnal, Cantus Christi 2020, as source material. These talks follow Michael’s overview of Cantus Christi 2020 in June. They will make more sense if you watch this talk beforehand.
If successful, each participant will walk away with a greater esteem for Psalm and hymn singing, and at least 10 new hymn tunes dwelling in them richly.
Conference Details:
Location:
Time:
October 24th, 2020 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm CST
Registration:
Registration is now closed.
Sign up for for our email list here.
Please see Conference Resources below for sheet music and recordings for each hymn sung
Watch the Conference Now:
Watch the five sessions from the 2020 Reforming the Church’s Song on Christ Church Twin Cities’ YouTube Channel where it was live streamed.
To access the notes to these talks, click on the links below:
Conference Resources:
The below talk is Michael’s overview of the Cantus Christi 2020. Watching it prior to the conference will help provide context for the talks.
Please click the buttons below to access the pre-conference materials.
A Fair Warning:
A music conference would not be complete without much singing. So come prepared to glorify our risen Savior through fellowship and song. And be prepared to work:
“Learning [some of these songs] will not necessarily be easy—but one of the things we are abandoning is a convenience store approach to musical worship. There are many songs here which are an acquired taste. We can have confidence as we seek to acquire this taste because we know that in the history of the Church, generations of average Christians used to rejoice in and with these songs. We also have the testimony of modern Christians, like our congregation, who have set themselves to learn this music, and have come to experience how wonderful it is.” -from “Manifesto on Psalms and Hymns”, Cantus Christi 2020
If you have any questions, please reach out to office@christchurchtc.com.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you have any other questions, please email office@christchurchtc.com
Why does the church need to expand its range of musical expression? Why can’t we just keep singing the songs we already know?
Many reasons. Chief among them: God is glorified by Beauty. He designed Beauty, like Goodness and Truth, as a positive good in itself. Just as we are never content with the Truth and Goodness we’ve already picked up, we always delight to find, know, and enjoy more Beauty in every area. And this is especially so in our song, in which our pursuit of Beauty is not optional.
I don’t have a good voice or am not musical inclined…. Why should I attend a music conference?
In His Word, God commands us to sing. He does not stipulate that only those with trained voices are to sing while the rest mouth along—His command is universal. Further, He calls us to work diligently in all that we do, bettering ourselves in tasks of righteousness. Thus, we delight to dedicate ourselves—at least in part—to improving our offerings of praise to our Savior. Finally, this work will pay off, as singing is one of the few crafts that we know we will carry with us into the new creation.
My church doesn't sing from the Cantus Christi 2020. Should I still attend?
This conference is designed for any Christian interested in deepening his or her repertoire of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. While it will be especially valuable to a congregant of a church who is or will be using Cantus Christi 2020, all attendees will still be blessed by the conference, having the opportunity to learn 10 new hymn tunes and understand glorious hymnody in a deeper way.
Michael Owens
Conference Presenter
Michael Owens is a child of God and a native of rural Lancaster County, PA, where he earns a living as a music engraver, hymnal editor and piano technician. With over 20,000 songs across more than 30 song books and hymnals to his credit, he was the editor of Christ Church’s new hymnal, Cantus Christi 2020.
Overview of Cantus Christi 2020:
Cantus Christi 2020 is an update from a prior hymnal published in 2002.
From the description on the publisher’s website:
“Our affections are shaped and molded by the music we sing and hear. Currently, the happy clappy Evangelical church is limited to a very small range of musical expression, and if our music does not train us to vigorously celebrate or to bitterly lament, how will we and our children be prepared when great victories or great tragedies confront us. Will we have the right words come to our minds? This hymnal includes some familiar classics (A Mighty Fortress; And Can It Be; Holy, Holy, Holy; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; etc.) and some memorable but sadly unknown compositions (St. Patrick’s Breastplate; The Son of God Goes Forth to War) and over a hundred and twenty Psalms. “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints.”
Cantus 2020 new songs:
- Complete Psalter with triple the settings: Cantus 2020 contains at least one complete metrical setting of every Psalm (increased from 114 to 300)
- More than double the number of Hymns (increased from 189 to 402, yes now it includes Amazing Grace!)
- More Service Music (increased from 28 to 42)
- More fuguing tunes (increased from 6 to 26)
- Removed all chants, decreased the bulk of the Genevan Psalms by half, and added all 50 through-composed Erb Psalms.
Cantus 2020 new features:
- Page count doubled: 478 to 830 pages. The price did not double: $23.00 list price
- Easy-clean gray Kivar cover stock
- Weight increase: 2.3lbs to 2.7lbs (width increase: 1.5” to 1.75”)
- All-new formatting with high-visibility page numbers and text
- Introductions by Douglas Wilson, Ben Zornes, and Michael E. Owens
- Original, unabridged lyrics for classic songs
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God!
— Colossians 3:16
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
— Psalm 95:1-2
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVENT?
Conference Location:
Redeemer Bible Church
16205 MN-7
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Click here for directions
