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Conference

The Hymn Society Annual Conference
Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
17-21 July 2005

Parker Chapel
Parker Chapel
Trinity University
Day by day the world becomes more closely connected by technology, economics, patterns of migration, and the images that appear on television and in newspapers and magazines. In these and other ways, we are reminded of our need to learn more about the past, present, and future music of our world in general and of our hemisphere in particular.

We are meeting in a city where cultures have overlapped for more than three centuries. A significant aspect of our time together will be the opportunity to experience some of the representative musical strands that have been woven into worship in this region.

This conference offers an opportunity to become better informed about history and trends, to gain insight into the dynamics of congregational song, to encounter fresh texts and tunes, to become familiar with new resources from publishers, to have our creativity celebrated and stimulated, and to share in times of worship and singing. This a rare and wonderful occasion you will not want to miss!

History and Setting

A picturesque city noted for its plazas, parks, residential districts, and historic buildings, San Antonio is famous for its Spanish heritage and its unique mix of Mexican, Anglo, and German cultures. Located in an area of rolling hills on the San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek, it has a tropical climate, with very hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures in July average a high of 95° F (35°C) and a low of 75° F (24° C), and much of the area’s annual precipitation falls in summer.
Alamo
Mission San António de Valero – The Alamo
In 1691 Spanish explorers named the San Antonio River for Saint Anthony of Padua because they first encountered it on the saint’s feast day (June 13). The city itself grew out of the Royal Presidio of San António de Béjar, a fortified settlement built in 1718 to protect the Mission San António de Valero established at the same time. This mission soon became nicknamed the Alamo, and because of the role it played in the Texas Revolution (1835-1836), it has become San Antonio’s premier landmark and a shrine to Texas independence.
Mission San Jose
Mission San José
credit: SACVB
During much of the 18th century, the San Antonio area was dominated by Mission San José (established 1720), which flourished as one of the most prosperous and influential missions in Texas. Although nearly all the missions in Texas were secularized in 1793 and most nearby mission buildings were abandoned, San Antonio remained the principal settlement in Texas under Spanish, and then Mexican, rule.
After Texas entered the Union in 1845, the city enjoyed rapid growth during the western movement of settlers. In 1860 its population was the largest in Texas, with German immigrants outnumbering both the Anglo and Hispanic populations. The city served as a Confederate depot during the American Civil War (1861-1865). But without a port or complex transportation network, its economic importance was limited until the coming of the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railroad in 1877, after which it quickly emerged as the shipping and manufacturing center of southern and western Texas.
The turmoil of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) initiated an influx of new settlers from Mexico into the area, and the ambiance of the city began to change from Spanish to Texas-Mexican. San Antonio prospered during the world wars of the first half of the 20th century through the concentration of major military bases in the area.
The advent of the automobile allowed San Antonio’s city leaders to migrate to affluent suburbs in the surrounding rolling hills, which made them reluctant to undertake urban renewal and flood control projects for the downtown areas. In response to a series of deadly and destructive floods during the 1920s, the federal government, as part of jobs-creating programs during the Great Depression of the 1930s, paid for the construction of the Paseo del Rio or River Walk (which aided flood control), refurbished the missions, and started other urban renewal projects.
San Antonio Skyline
The San Antonio Skyline
By 1995 the population of the metropolitan area had reached an estimated 1,460,800, making San Antonio the ninth largest city in the United States. While national reductions in the size of the military during the 1990s damaged the city’s economy, during the same period the tourist industry increased in importance. The health service sector also grew, and a major spur to the economy has been the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), allowing the area to draw upon its historic links to Mexico and to solidify its credibility as an international financial center.
Trinity University
Trinity University
Our conference will be held on the attractive campus of Trinity University on the near north side of San Antonio. Founded in Tehuacana, Texas, by Presbyterians in 1869, Trinity subsequently moved to Waxahachie, Texas, in 1902. Forty years later, at the invitation of the city, Trinity relocated to the near west side of San Antonio and to its present campus in 1952. Although governed by an independent Board of Trustees, Trinity maintains a covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Accommodations

Residence Hall
Air-conditioned Housing
Conference housing on the Trinity University campus will be in modern, air-conditioned residence halls configured so that every two rooms share an adjoining bath. Each room features telephones, dataports, and a voice messaging system, and all rooms have built-in desks and ample storage space. Towels and bed linens will be provided.

Early Arrivals

Because of the considerable airfare discounts made possible by a Saturday night stay, the accommodations described above will be offered (subject to availability) for people arriving early for the conference. Please indicate your need of such space on the registration form.

Meals

Most meals will be served in the campus cafeteria. Special dietary needs can be accommodated with adequate notice. Meal tickets can be purchased for spouses or partners not registered for the conference. It is also possible to purchase individual meals at the conference.

Transportation

The Trinity University campus is only four miles from the San Antonio International Airport, which is served by 14 airlines. Special airfares and other travel arrangements for this conference are available through Shannon Hall Walker at Kaleidoscope Journeys. She may be reached by phoning 1-888-429-0229. (Or phone her at 860-429-8177 and she will phone you back.) She is also available via e-mail: shannieone@aol.com. Please note: making your reservation at least 60 days before your travel date will greatly increase your savings.
Information about taxis and/or shuttle service between the airport and the Trinity University campus will be provided with your registration acknowledgment if requested.
Amtrak provides rail service to San Antonio on both north-south (Texas Eagle from Chicago) and east-west (Sunset Limited between Orlando and Los Angeles) routes. For reservation information, call 800-USA-RAIL or consult the Amtrack website. Greyhound buslines also serve San Antonio. For fares and reservations, call 800-229-9424 or visit the Greyhound website.
If you are driving to San Antonio (or plan to use a rental car while in the area), please be assured that this will be a car-friendly conference. There is ample free parking on campus. If you will have a car and will have room for shuttling passengers between the campus and off-campus venues, please indicate that information on the registration form.

Conference Bookstore

Stieren Theater
Stieren Theater
(principal plenary space)
The Hymn Society Book Service will have expanded hours this year and will offer the latest hymnals, hymnological books, and hard-to-find music and worship resources for on-site purchase. As a supplement to these materials, a local music dealer will provide a sales display of hymn-based piano, organ, handbell, and choral music.

Bookstore Hours
Sunday   2:00pm-7:00pm
Monday   10:00am-1:30pm
  2:30-4:30pm
Tuesday   10:00am-6:00pm
Wednesday     10:00am-1:30pm  
  5:00-7:00pm

Silent Auction

If you have extra copies of hymnals and hymnological books, please bring them to donate to the Silent Auction. This is also the place to find some great bargains to take home with you. The proceeds from the Silent Auction benefit the Austin C. Lovelace Scholarship Fund, which enables several full-time students to attend each Annual Conference.

Scholarships

Full-time students may apply for assistance from the Austin C. Lovelace Scholarship Fund. Application forms (due by May 1) are available from the Hymn Society office or online (PDF) here.

The Conference Program

(does not list breaks and meals)
Sunday, July 17
2:00 pm Registration Opens/Bookstore Opens
4:00 pm Organ Recital: David Heller
7:30 pm Opening Hymn Festival: “Hymns with Texas Connections” — David Music and Al Travis
Monday, July 18
8:30 am Morning Prayers: Joel and Raquel Mora Martinez, coordinators
9:00 am Welcome/Announcements
9:15 am Plenary I: “Helping a Congregation Find Its Voice”—Pablo Sosa
11:00 am Sectionals I (see list below)
1:30 pm Showcase I: Cantos del Pueblo de Dios (WLP)
3:00 pm Sectionals II (see list below)
4:30 pm Hymn Concertato Reading Session—Jan Kraybill
7:30 pm Hymn Festival: “Hymnsing along the Riverwalk” [St. Mary Roman Catholic, St. John Lutheran Church, St. Joseph Roman Catholic]
Tuesday, July 13
8:30 am Morning Prayers: Joel and Raquel Mora Martinez, coordinators
9:00 am Plenary II: “Moving Beyond the ‘Traditional’ and ‘Contemporary’ Labels”—Robb Redman
11:00 am Sectionals III (see list below)
Free Afternoon — Dinner on your own
8:00 pm Hymn Festival: “An Evening of Songs from the Americas” with San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble [at San Fernando Cathedral]
Wednesday, July 20
8:30 am Morning Prayers: Joel and Raquel Mora Martinez, coordinators
9:00 am Plenary III: “Using the Music of the People in the Service of God”—Pablo Sosa
11:00 am Sectionals IV (see list below)
1:30 pm Hymn Society Annual Meeting
4:00 pm Showcase II: One Faith, Una Voz [bilingual hymnal] (OCP)
8:00 pm Hymn Festival: “La Posada” [at Mission San José]
Thursday, July 21
8:30 am Morning Prayers: Joel and Raquel Mora Martinez, coordinators
9:15 am Sectionals V (see list below)
11:00 am Concluding Hymn Festival: “With Many American Voices”—Michael Hawn and Jorge Lockward

SECTIONALS I (Monday 11:00 am)

  1. Text Writers’ Practicum—Mary Louise Bringle [limited to 20 participants]
  2. Worship Music: What Matters?—Barbara Hamm
  3. When Musical Worlds Meet—Christopher Moroney and the SAVAE
  4. God in Time [text and tune collection]—Terry W. York/C. David Bolin [Abingdon]
  5. Vicar’s Tunes [tune collection]—V. Earle Copes [Wayne Leupold]
  6. Angel Songs / Parables [text collections]—Richard Leach [Selah]
  7. Discussion Group I: “Collecting Christmas Carols from Around the World”—Laurie Gruenbeck

SECTIONALS II (Monday 3:00pm)

  1. Acoustics for Worship Spaces—Neil Thompson Shade
  2. When You Pass through the Waters [tune collection]—Amanda Husberg [Wayne Leupold]
  3. Each Breath, Every Heartbeat [text and tune collection]—Rusty Edwards [Abingdon]
  4. Global Praise 3 [hymnal supplement]—S T Kimbrough, Jr. / Jorge Lockward [GBGMusik]
  5. Caught in God’s Embrace [text and tune collection]—Patricia B. Clark / Kathleen Thomerson [MorningStar]
  6. Songs with a Message [text and tune collection]—Edward O. Waldron [Providence House]
  7. Discussion Group II: “Collaboration between a Textwriter and a Tune writer”— Susan R. Briehl and Marty Haugen

SECTIONALS III (Tuesday 11:00am)

  1. Tune Writers’ Practicum—David Ashley White [limited to 20 participants]
  2. Adapting Western Chants and Hymn Tunes to Buddhist Texts—Helen Cummings
  3. Hymns from Brazil—John Wilson Faustini
  4. What Nineteen Years of Teaching Hymns Has Taught Me—David Heller
  5. A Season of Clear Shining / New Collection [text collections]—Edith S. Downing [Selah]
  6. The Hymn Tunes of Ian Kellam [MorningStar]
  7. Discussion Group III: Looking Towards Version 2.0 of the Dictionary of North American Hymnology—Paul R. Powell

SECTIONALS IV (Wednesday 11:00am)

  1. Text and Tune Writers’ Practicum—Hal Hopson
  2. Preparing and Leading Hymn Festivals—Sue Mitchell Wallace
  3. The Music of Hispanic Devotional Life—David Garcia / Peter Kolar
  4. Hymnody in a Pluralistic World—Bill Wallace
  5. [text collection]—Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. [GIA]
  6. E Korin Soluwa [Sing unto the Lord] [tune collection]—Godwin Sadoh [Wayne Leupold]
  7. Discussion Group IV: “What Features Would the Ideal Hymn Selection Software Include?”—Marcus Felde

SECTIONALS V (Thursday 9:15am)

  1. A Conversation with Pablo Sosa
  2. Hope Hymnody Online—Scott Shorney [Hope]
  3. Wellsprings: New Hymn Tunes—Thomas Pavlechko [Selah]
  4. Creating Hymn Tunes and Hymn Arrangements—Margaret R. Tucker
  5. [text collection]—Ruth Duck [GIA]
  6. Voices as One / More Voices as One [teen/young adult hymnal supplement] [WLP]
  7. Discussion Group V: “How Each Generation Selects and Uses Congregational Song”—C. Edward Spann