2019 Raabe Hymn Text Competition
In 2019 the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians invited new hymn texts for the tunes BETHOLD (ELW 317), SEWARD (LSB 415), and ST. CLEMENT (ELW 563, 569; LSB 886, 891; CW93 594; CW21 795).
BETHOLD (LSB) and SEWARD (ELW) are currently paired exclusively with the Transfiguration text “Jesus on the Mountain Peak.” Because these hymns are sung only once a year on Transfiguration, introducing additional texts of a more general nature can assist congregations in learning the tunes. The tunes are in 78 78 8 (ELW) and 78 78 4 (LSB) meter, but since the last phrase is one or two alleluias, they can be considered the same meter. Text submissions for BETHOLD/SEWARD required that they be able to be sung with either tune, so the last phrase of the text had to contain either alleluias or one four-syllable phrase that could be repeated.
The tune ST. CLEMENT is much more widely known, but because the texts most frequently associated with the tune are “evening” texts, the hymn has little opportunity to be sung by many congregations. The meter for ST. CLEMENT is 98 98.
Over 90 submissions were received for the competition. Prizes were awarded to the following two text writers:
The winner of the new text for the tunes BETHOLD and SEWARD was “Praise to God with Voices Sing” by Rev. David M. Blank. Pastor Blank serves as senior pastor at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
The winner of the new text for the tune ST. CLEMENT was “The Night You Gave Us” by Dr. Wayne L. Wold. Dr. Wold is professor emeritus and college organist at Hood College in Frederick, MD; director of music at First Lutheran Church in Ellicott City, MD; and adjunct associate professor and director of the Church Music Institute at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA.
Winning texts have been set in melody and harmony versions in PDF and JPG formats and may be reproduced under OneLicense.net. Please report usage.
BETHOLD: “Praise to God with Voices Sing” by Rev. David M. Blank.
SEWARD: “Praise to God with Voices Sing” by Rev. David M. Blank.
ST. CLEMENT: “The Night You Gave Us” by Dr. Wayne L. Wold.
Funding for this prize was made possible through the generous gift of Dr. William and Rev. Nancy Raabe, who made an additional donation to extend the reach and parameters of the Raabe Prize.
