Macalester Plymouth United Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, announces a thirteenth international contest for English language hymn writers. It is our understanding that hymns can motivate the church to be more actively involved in social reform, a vital part of its ministry. It carries a prize of $500 for the winning entry. We are looking for new texts which will enable the church and its people to lament, to cry out in anger and frustration to God. This is richly expressed in many of the Psalms, but is a tradition largely neglected by the modern church. We are especially looking for texts that lament war and its aftermath, or cry out against other forms of violence.
This contest is part of a continuing memorial to Macalester Plymouth church member A. A. ("Al") Heckman, widely known as Minnesota's "Dean of Philanthropy." He was one of the first men in the nation to earn a graduate degree in social work and went on to create many private and public partnerships to help the needy. He was a pioneer in the establishment of integrated social services at the city, county and state level, and served on the boards of many philanthropic foundations. His life was an inspiration to those seeking to integrate Christian faith with social action.
This is a search for new texts. We strongly encourage the use of familiar meters which may be sung to familiar tunes. New music for the winning hymn may be sought in the future. Hymns previously published or currently entered in other contests should not be submitted. It is certainly permissible, however, to have a local congregation or other group sample your hymn before submitting it.
Macalester Plymouth Church, a member of both the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ, is a liberal and inclusive church with a history of active involvement in contemporary social issues. We suggest avoiding archaic language (e.g. "Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be") and non-inclusive language (e.g. "O brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother").
There is an entry fee of $3 for each hymn submitted, and checks should be made payable to "Macalester Plymouth United Church" with a memo entry for "Hymn Contest." Entrants should provide four copies of each hymn. The entrant's name must not appear on these copies. Please provide a cover letter with your name, address, telephone number, and the title of your entry or entries. All entries will be acknowledged within two weeks of receipt.
All entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2008. The judges will arrive at their decision by February 15, 2009, and their decision is final. The winning hymn will be announced by February 28, 2008. Only one winning entry is anticipated, but the judges may decide to split the prize among several co-winners. The judges also reserve the right not to select any hymn as the winner. Each entrant will receive notification of the contest winner and a copy of the winning hymn.
Copyright for the winning hymn will be retained by the author, but the author agrees to permit the use of this hymn by Macalester Plymouth United Church in perpetuity. Churches of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (Presbyterian Church/USA), and churches of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ shall be permitted to use the winning hymn(s) for one year (March of 2009 through February of 2010).
Please send entries and correspondence to:
Hymn Contest
Macalester Plymouth United Church
1658 Lincoln Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1949
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:www.macalester-plymouth.org
Macalester Plymouth United Church of St. Paul announces hymn writing contest
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Carillon News
Brian Swager is carillon editor of THE DIAPASON.
Carillon composition competition
On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the city of Rhenen, The Netherlands, and the 50th anniversary of the Van Bergen carillon in the St. Cunera tower, the Cunera Carillon Association is very pleased to announce an international carillon composition competition. This competition is organized in cooperation with the Dutch Carillon Guild.
St. Cunera was a virgin and martyr. She was born a princess from York, England. On October 29, 340, she was strangled by Aldegonde, the wife of King Radboud, out of jealousy. She is now the patroness of the city of Rhenen.
The best composition will be awarded a first prize of €1,500. The second and third prizes are €1,000 and €750. Furthermore, there is an incentive prize of €750 for the best composition by a composer under than 30 years old. Anyone may submit more than one piece. Only pieces that have not entered other competitions or were published before are welcome, and only original compositions for carillon are allowed; no arrangements of existing works. However, variations on a song or an existing theme will be accepted. There is no limitation on the duration or difficulty of the entries.
A piece must be playable on a standard European four-octave carillon: 47 bells, 4 octaves without low c-sharp and d-sharp. Pedal range from c to g1, manual from c to c4. To assure total objectivity, an entry may not have any signs or marks that can reveal the identity of the composer. The names of the winning composer(s) will be revealed to the jury only after their deliberations.
A committee of judges consisting of Ton Hartsuiker (musician and former director of the Sweelinck Conservatory of Amsterdam), Carl Van Eyndhoven (carillonneur and carillon teacher), Marco de Goeij (composer), and Gideon Bodden (carillonneur), will evaluate all entries received by the deadline. The jury judges on originality, musicality, and usefulness or effectiveness for the instrument. The judges may also decide not to award any composition, or to divide the prize money between more than one submitter.
The announcement of the prize-winning piece(s) will take place at the annual meeting of the Dutch Carillon Guild in Rhenen on March 29, 2008. The winning piece(s) and a selection of the other entries will be performed that day. All the composers of the performed pieces will be informed in advance.
Two (good readable) copies must be sent (please no originals!). The date on the envelope will be used to determine the timely receipt. Send them to Freek Bakker, the secretary of the jury (address below). Participants must write their name, address, the title of the submitted piece(s), and a short curriculum vitae in a letter that accompanies the entry or entries. Also, every participant agrees to the publication and performance in the scope of the competition. The prize-winning composition(s) and a selection of other interesting entries will be published and distributed by the Dutch Carillon Guild and the Cunera Carillon Association after the competition.
The deadline for entries is Tuesday, January 1, 2008. For further information, contact the secretary of the jury: Freek Bakker, Van Kluyvelaan 14, 3862 XG Nijkerk, The Netherlands; phone: +31 (33) 245 90 53; e-mail: <[email protected]>.
Nunc dimittis
Nunc Dimittis
Curtis “Curt” John Oliver, 74, died January 29 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born September 6, 1943, in St. Paul, Minnesota, he began piano studies at an early age. By age 16 he became organist at Christ Lutheran Church, North St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1966, Oliver earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in music theory and composition from the University of Minnesota, where he studied organ with Lloyd Endter and Daniel Chorzempa and music theory and composition with Dominick Argento and Paul Fetler. During his time at the university, he served as organist for the Missouri Synod Lutheran student center and later at University Baptist Church. He continued at the university as a graduate student but was recruited by KUOM, the University of Minnesota’s Public Radio Station, where he was the music director from 1970 to 1993.
In 1971 Oliver was named organist at Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, Minnesota. He remained there for 42 years, eventually being named director of music and composer in residence, overseeing various choirs. After he left KUOM, he had more time to compose music. Over the years he wrote many introits, anthems, and cantatas, several of them subsequently published.
In 1981 Oliver earned the AAGO (Associate of the American Guild of Organists) certificate from the A. G. O. He was also a Life Member of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. While at Macalester Plymouth, he studied improvisation with Paul Manz and attended Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, where he studied with Alice Parker, Joan Lippincott, James Litton, and Eric Routley.
Oliver initiated Macalester Plymouth Church’s annual hymn contest, calling for new hymn texts on current issues of social justice that could be sung to familiar hymn tunes. A timely topic is announced each year, and the contest has continued since 1996. From 1996 until 2011, he directed the Prospect Park Community Choir.
Curt Oliver and Gail Hanson, his life partner of 44 years, were married at Macalester Plymouth United Church on November 23, 2013. Oliver composed the music for the service, including several choral anthems.
A memorial service for Curtis John Oliver will be held May 6 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This service will include some of his choral and service music compositions.
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